J-.ine 25, 1922 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



57 



Should Educate the Panel User 



A rather new thought in connection with proposed plans for 

 enhancing the trade standing of veneers and plywood in the wood- 

 working arts was contributed to a representative of Hardwood 

 Record a few weeks ago by a ranking pioneer in the industry, a 

 man w^ho has spent practically a half century in the production of 

 veneers and panels, and who has not only personally experienced 

 most of the development of the industry in this country, but has 

 contributed tremendously to that development. 



In putting to Christopher W. Johnson, president of the St. Louis 

 Basket and Box Company, St. Louis, Mo., a query as to what is 

 necessary to the further advancement of the panel industry, Hard- 

 w^ood Record" s representative was rather startled with the sim- 

 plicity of the reply. Mr. Johnson's attitude manifests complete 

 sympathy with the plan for giving publicity to plywoods, but his 

 own minute knowledge of the business demonstrates to him, at 

 least, that in addition to gaining publicity of a general nature, it 

 is necessary to carefully educate the panel user in those practical 

 points which if ignored will cause dissatis- 

 faction and thus react to the detriment 

 rather than the benefit of the panel manu- 

 facturer. 



Ninety per cent of the difficulty experi- 

 enced in handling panels is, according to 

 Mr. Johnson, attributable to improper dry- 

 ing and improper finishing. In the matter 

 of drying there are many factors involved 

 and provisions for removing moisture must 

 be calculated on two essential require- 

 ments, i. e., to quickly remove the moisture 

 down to three to five per cent moisture 

 content after redrying, and to provide such 

 equipment as w^ill effect this quick removal 

 even w^hen weather conditions actually 

 work against speedy operation. The dry- 

 ing problem demands earnest attention. 



Mr. Johnson emphasized the need for 

 expert supervision in the redrying room, 

 particularly to provide for speedy removal 

 of the excess moisture administered 

 through the application of water stain. 

 Haphazard and careless treatment both 

 during the operation and following it, is 

 apt to cause excessive penetration result- 

 ing in more or less disintegration of the 



fiber or glue joints. Thus this moisture must be removed at the 

 earliest possible moment and the panels maintained in a safe con- 

 dition of moisture content. 



In the matter of finish and as involved primarily in the sanding 

 operation, Mr. Johnson particularly emphasizes the value of com- 

 mon sense and the great difficulties which could result from ig- 

 noring ordinary precautions. It very frequently happens that the 

 sanding operator has been running on solid lumber, which per- 

 mits of a much freer motion and is less exacting than is the sanding 

 of an expensive panel with a thin sheet of fancy face veneer. The 

 Sander being set for lumber naturally operates with a greater 

 degree of lost motion w^hen employed on fancy work than if set 

 expressly for panel sanding, and in addition the operator who has 

 been running on lumber is apt to exert considerably too much 

 weight in sanding the panel, causing his sandpaper to go clean 

 through the face veneer. 



The commercial panel man selling fancy face panels to a new 

 customer should emphasize the importance of closely supervising 

 the sanding operation in order to educate the woodworker in the 

 requirements peculiar to handling this product. 



Mr. Johnson's observations included, too, the man who buys his 

 veneer and makes his own panels. In his own shop the firm and the 



Christopher W. Johnson 



loose side of veneers are plainly marked, it being absolutely es- 

 sential that the loose side be put against the inner ply. Even if 

 this requirement is rigidly adhered to and the tight side is placed on 

 the outside of the panel, it may be that if too great pressure is ex- 

 erted during the sanding process, the abrasive will cut through the 

 tight outer surface and penetrate to the loose side, thus destroy- 

 ing the possibility of applying a fine finish. If the veneers are im- 

 properly laid, the fault lies with the panel man, but with the firm 

 side exposed to the sander this harmful result will come only when 

 the sanding is improperly done. 



These points are emphasized by Mr. Johnson not for the purpose 

 of schooling the bench man or the artisan, but because they truly 

 reflect broad principals involved in the utilization of panels, which 

 if not properly observed will unfavorably react upon the panel in- 

 dustry. Proper education in such essential features will, in Mr. 

 Johnson's opinion, greatly tend to advance the cause of the industry 

 and secure a widening market for its product. 



Other requirements reflecting back to the 

 panel manufacturer in his own plant involve 

 principally the matter of production cost 

 and selling price. No business can be per- 

 manently built without a thorough under- 

 standing of the cost details of every phase 

 of the operation, whereas with such com- 

 plete record of cost, many of the difficulties 

 ordinarily experienced will automatically 

 right themselves, purely by virtue of the 

 fact that through such figures they are 

 self- revealed. The great trouble in many 

 businesses is. according to Mr. Johnson's 

 experience, (which is considerable,) that 

 errors and inconsistencies are not discov- 

 ered in time simply because they are not 

 revealed through a proper understanding 

 of costs. Today many items of panel man- 

 ufacture are actually selling below the 

 cost of production and with this point 

 properly recognized, the trade would reg- 

 ulate its production and sales in conform- 

 ity to that fact, thus automatically cor- 

 recting what otherwise is apt to become a 

 a truly sinister influence. 



Mr. Johnson's career, by the way, would 

 prove distinctly interesting reading to al- 

 most anyone desirous of making his mark in any line of business. 

 He has obtained a notable position by dint of consistent unremit- 

 ting labor. Mr. Johnson goes back to the old Michigan white pine 

 daye, his first experience with veneers taking place in Muskegon, 

 Mich. Way back in the seventies he cut walnut veneers for the 

 Singer Sewing Machine Company. He went to St. Louis in 1883, 

 becoming plant superintendent at the age of twenty by virtue 

 of a notable record in his previous connections. At the time 

 he went with the present plant it was apparently on the toboggan, 

 being in debt for some $80,000. It seems that he made a splen- 

 did impression on the local representative of the western capitalists 

 who owned the outfit and through him acquired the plant in the 

 early nineties, since which time it has been brought to its present 

 splendid state of'development. During these years a tremendoua 

 reserve of timber has been acquired and manufacturing and plant 

 facilities of the most extensive dimensions and best obtainable 

 character have been provided. Today Mr. Johnson is able to view 

 with considerable complacence not only this going business, the 

 product of his diligence and foresight, but a far reaching and im- 

 portant association in other notable business and industrial enter- 

 prises. And to fill his cup of contentment, he is, at the age of 

 fifty-nine, the father of an eight- months-old son who not only 

 carries his father's full name but has already developed a striking 

 resemblance to him. 



