30 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



May 10. 1917 



various operators prefer to cut certain woods cold rather 

 than have them steamed or boiled. Some like to put 

 blocks in the steaming boxes and just get them hot 

 through, some like to boil them thoroughly, and every man 

 seems to develop in a way practices based upon his own 

 instinctive judgment more than upon scientific or posi- 

 tive data. It may be said, too, that the trade is doing very 

 well upon this basis, but is it doing well enough? 



Tlie best order of veneer cutting, whether it be on a 

 rotary machine or a slicer, depends materially upon the 

 condition of the material to be cut. Some woods, like 

 Cottonwood, are very difficult to cut and must be con- 

 ditioned carefully as well as handled with very sharp 

 knives. Other woods seemingly cut easily, but any wood 

 will cut better if it is in just the right condition when it 

 is brought to the machines. It will not only cut easier but 

 the product will come through in better shape, and the 

 capacity of the machine will be increased. 



This being a fact that no one will likely care to dispute 

 or argue about, it is plainly evident that much good for 

 the trade as a whole may be had from a turning to the 

 idea of establishing this conditioning of veneer blocks on 

 a scientific basis with positive data for guidance. We 



need a series of studies of different kinds of wood, of 

 different sizes, which will include a record of the time of 

 boiling or steaming and another record of the temperature 

 and the temperature variations from the start to the finish. 

 With a long series of these accompanied by notes on the 

 condition of the block when it comes to the machine we 

 may easily establish a sort of standard of practices for 

 treating different woods, and certainly in time we will 

 come to understand more thoroughly and definitely what 

 treatment should be given any particular kind of blocks 

 or flitches to put them in the best condition for sawing 

 or slicing. 



The timber, the condition under which it is worked, and 

 the varying stages of moisture content make a nice field 

 for research, but it is neither wider nor more difficult than 

 that of kiln drying lumber and it is so much behind dry- 

 ing practices and scientific development that there is 

 plainly need for more attention to the matter of scien- 

 tifically conditioning blocks. 



This is an age of uniforming and standardizing of prac- 

 tices and not an age in w^hich to cling to rule of thumb 

 and guesswork methods even in the preparing of veneer 

 blocks. J. C. T. 



Panel Edges 



The edges of panels, like the ends of logs, boards and sticks of 

 timber, are points where defect and deterioration are most likely 

 to start. There is some difference between a panel edge and timber 

 ends, but when panels are piled down or lying loosely about, chang- 

 ing moisture conditions have the first effect upon the edges and 

 quite commonly this is the place where the first loosening of 

 veneer is noticeable. 



If the panels are put into their frames soon after trimming, 

 the frame support makes some protection for the edges and 

 ends, but even at that it would not hurt if some means be devised 

 for treating the trimmed edges of panels to fill the pores and render 

 them practically moisture-proof. We treat the ends of logs and 

 timber with paint and special mixtures for filling the pores of the 

 wood to prevent checking, but some of this treatment would not 

 be practical for panels because of the difficulty of applying it to 

 the edge without staining and spoiling the face. Moreover, there 

 has not been a general need felt that has stimulated research work 

 with a view to developing some treatment for the ends and edges 

 of panels. 



This is one of the things we should be thinking about, however, 

 because in the order of progress we will naturally come to it event- 

 ually, and it will be a lucky day \vhen some one devises a cheap 

 composition which will not mar the beauty of the wood by stain- 

 ing and introduce the practice of treating the trimmed edges of 

 panels as one of the safeguards against trouble. It might be applied 

 also in built-up work. 



Asleep at the Switch? — Yes 



The veneer and panel manufacturers have often been accused 

 of not being awake to their opportunities. Individually some of 

 them have demonstrated that they are very much awake and 

 others that they are just wandering along and sawing wood with- 

 out any appreciation or even any concern for the future of their 

 industry. Collectively, the results of attempts at organization 

 work as far as real problems and real results are concerned, total 

 approximately zero. 



A few months back there was a good deal of enthusiastic talk of 

 a propaganda of public education in behalf of legitimate ex- 



pansion in the use of veneer. It was properly felt that the public 

 has an entirely wrong impression of what veneer means and 

 what it is, and that a sensible campaign of education would help 

 immensely. That talk seemingly is as far as the v^ork pro- 

 gressed. 



Is the veneer trade really asleep and entirely unaware of the 

 opportunity that exists right now for spreading this propaganda? 

 Does it overlook entirely the fact that basic and trade conditions 

 as well as the increased popular interest in woods already accom- 

 plished by the advertising of the respective descriptions of hard- 

 wood lumber form a combination of circumstances ideal for 

 sowing the seed in behalf of veneer. Veneer men need energizing, 

 for their chance is here and the opportunity will never be more 

 propitious. 



Saving the Knives 



Rotary veneer machine knives, slicer knives and clipper knives 

 are doubly expensive these days, and they cost enough any time 

 because they require about the highest order of knife steel that 

 is produced. Naturally there is a strong incentive to care properly 

 for and conserve and save the knives. 



We have had a fair share of injunctions about careless guilding 

 and rough handling and have almost entirely neglected what is 

 perhaps the most prolific source of waste, and that is excessive 

 grinding. To save the knives we should spare the wire edges. It 

 is quite the common thing to keep feeding the knife to the grinder 

 until what is termed a wire edge is easily visible. Sometimes this is 

 a small bead-like wire but at other times it is a rather broad flat 

 ribbon. The size or the width of this ^vire that turns over on the 

 edge in finishing ofl the knife is really the measure of the unneces- 

 sary amount of steel that has been ground away. 



One good thing for the trade would be a popular movement to 

 eliminate the wire edge in grinding, for the sake of knife saving. 

 Thoughtful attention given this matter in every grinding room in 

 the country until the habit is fully developed would effect a great 

 saving in knives, for it could perhaps be proven by actual figures 

 that more unnecessary wasting of knives is done in this way than 

 is chargeable to burning and rough and indifferent uses generally. 

 The slogan for the movement should be to put an edge on the knife 

 and stop there. Eliminate the wire edge and save the knife. 



