Any tips on reparing damaged veneer doors?

[mattl]

Getting closer to the end of the 50's house project I've been working on for months.  Getting ready to paint.  Issue is the previous renters damaged the aged birch veneer doors.  There are jagged pieces missing the range up to 30" tall along the edges - sort of thin wedge shaped. 

 

I was taking a closer look at the doors today, and while I'm not a fan of stained wood doors there as something about them that makes me want to save them.  I contemplated filling the gaps and then painting the doors, but it feels wrong to me.  Has anyone successfully repaired damaged sections of doors and had it look good? I know it won't be perfect getting the color to match may be beyond my talents, but if it's not too difficult or expensive I'd like to give it a try. Suggestions?

 

[dermacie]

I have two doors that are also birch that need repaired. I have been thinking of "re-skining" with new veneer and staining them with an aged varnish stain that I used to match a new steel front door. The only thing is I don't know where to find veneer.

 

[panthera]

Specialty lumber yards and online

Offer veneers in wide enough rolls to be useful. You still have to fill in the gaps with a level filler. It's an expensive route to go down, though.

 

[mattl]

Yeah, Time and $$.  I have found a source of older doors, I might just replace.