I've got some powdered urea-formaldehyde glue now (Resintite, aka Cascamite, Extramite) and done a few test glueings and it seems good to me. It needs very little water added to the mix and sets good and solid more like one would expect of a resin than PVA does (PVA is also a resin).

I've also got some fine wire mesh so I'll try putting that on top of the veneer and then some tissue paper on top of that to help absorb moisture.

One more question - what do you guys do for bags? AirPress bags are really expensive and I've tried those vacuum bags for putting duvets / clothes in storage and although they work, the plastic is very soft so it easily gets small holes from any sharp edges. Yes I know I need to tape over the edges etc.. but it till happens.