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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



August 25, 1917 



I came across an instance which illustrates this very 

 nicely. It concerned cutting and putting up "slabs," as 

 they were termed, for box making. These were sheets 

 of built-up lumber that were cut up into a certain type of 

 box panel. Most of the sheets were being made in two- 

 ply, both plies running the same direction. There was 

 three-ply being made, but as a rule, the three-ply was 

 incidental to the other and in order to make a clean-up. 



We might find in the door panels that it would simplify 

 the cutting of the veneer, assembling of the stock and 



working it up to make the panels of straight-way stock 

 all the same size. Then from the waste, stock with bad 

 ends, etc., might be cut fillers and enough used cross- 

 wise to utilize this waste. The result would be a simpli- 

 fying of the work and a saving of time and some mate- 

 rial even in making three-ply work. In the making of 

 two-ply work, which it would very naturally lead to in 

 other instances, there would be a saving of one glue joint 

 and a saving in cutting because two thicknesses w^ould 

 take the place of three. 



Veneer in Latin- America 



Prospects of Developing a Market in South American Countries 



l^^nlSlDE FROM a considerable business done with 

 KtA Canada in both veneer and panels for furniture 

 making, the main export trade in veneer until 

 recent years has been in box shook stock and 

 in quantities of common veneer for Europe. The indica- 

 tions now are, however, that during the next few years 

 considerable interest in the veneer and panel trade will 

 be developed with Latin-American countries. 



Several of those countries have long been buying 

 furniture from us and they will always be bigger cus- 

 tomers for furniture, perhaps, than for veneer. There is 

 a preference in much of the southern territory for solid 

 lumber both in the furniture they buy and the furniture 

 made at home. One point to keep in mind in develop- 

 ing the furniture and veneer trades is that conditions and 

 prejudices must be met and overcome in this territory. 



There is a tendency in many of the countries south of 

 us to do more of their own furniture making and this 

 provides an opening for the sale of more veneer and 

 panels. 



Taking Brazil as an example, we find that some of 

 the furniture factories there have been buying a little 

 veneer, usually from France or some part of Europe, and 

 they have been impressed with the idea that veneer from 

 Europe is superior to that which comes from the United 

 States. That this idea is erroneous is well enough known 

 to the veneer trade here, but in extending trade in Latin- 

 American countries it will be necessary to convince the 

 people of this fact and to get them to use more Amer- 

 ican veneer. 



In addition to this unfair prejudice, other conditions 

 must be overcome, one of which is the hot, humid 

 climate. Another is the ants and other insects which 

 prey upon wooden furniture. In some respects the 

 problem looks easier for the veneer and panel trade than 

 for furniture because often the outside finish of furniture 

 which prevails here becomes tacky in the humid climate 

 of the south countries and objection is raised on this ac- 

 count, whereas if the people down there buy their veneer 

 and panels and do their own finishing, the finish would 

 be more in keeoing with the needs of that climate. 



The Latin-American field is a market which should 



furnish a chance for those who have waterproof glue to 

 demonstrate its staying qualities in humid climates. If 

 it will stand up under conditions which cause failure in 

 ordinary glued work, this will make a talking point worth 

 something in building up the Latin-American trade in 

 panels for those who use a composition of this kind. 



Consular reports from Brazil show that among the 

 veneers used there, is stock or built-up work for making 

 billiard tables, and they are familiar with a veneer ob- 

 tained from France that seems pretty closely related to 

 our bird's eye maple. If they are fond of the light colors 

 there is no place on earth that can furnish a better line of 

 maple veneer than this country. Neither is there any 

 country which can furnish better stock for billiard table 

 tops and other built-up work. 



We ought to be able to develop a good volume of 

 trade in veneer, both in common and face stock, and sup- 

 plement this eventually with a fair volume of business in 

 built-up panels and tops. 



One of the objections heard from Brazil in regard to 

 veneered furniture, which also holds in its application 

 to panels and tops in this country, is that the cores are 

 usually made up of soft woods and these are readily at- 

 tacked by the termite or wood ant and other insect pests 

 which abound there. We have heard frequently of these 

 insect ravages in the Latin-American countries and the 

 metal people have used it as a basis for promoting metal 

 furniture. There is no doubt of the preference for 

 wooden furniture if it can be made properly resistant to 

 climatic conditions and to insects; which, by the way, af- 

 fect solid lumber as well as veneer stock, and there is 

 a problem here in developing finishes or treatment that 

 will discourage insects and protect the wood. 



We are making some progress and will make still fur- 

 ther progress even though there are difficulties and prej- 

 udices to be overcome. The prejudices are already being 

 rapidly removed and some of the countries, notably Cuba 

 and Argentina, are already doing a big volume of satis- 

 factory business with us which should help in promoting 

 a better understanding and a larger trade with other 

 Latin-American countries in veneers and panels as well 

 as in furniture. 



