veneer

Veneering

Manufacturing of veneers is virtually the same from tree to tree. Logs are debarded and cut into a desire length (either for ease of hanling or a specific application.) The logs are then heated with steam or hot water to soften the materials for cutting.

There are three basic ways to make veneer:

Sawing, which is used on hard brittle woods
Slicing, which is used for fine, figured woods
Mechanical rotary peeling (basically a wood lathe)

The rotary method is by far the most common in which a log is placed in a lathe and a stationary knife extends across the length of the log and as the log is turned a large peel of wood is unrolled sort of like unrolling a roll of toilet paper.

Rotary lathing of a softwood.

The veneers are then cut in a continuous operation and run through mechanical dryers.

Cutting of veneers into sheets for plywood manufacture.

To go back to the plywood main page click here.