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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



August 10, 1918 



Apportioning Veneer Among Industries 



Commercial Output Divided Into Distinct Classes 



O STATISTICS have ever been collected and 

 published which give details of the distribution 

 of veneer among the various industries which 

 use it. That has been done in the case of lum- 

 ber, and it is known within reasonable limits how much 

 lumber finds its way to every important industry where 

 it is used. It is to be regretted that no similar informa- 

 tion exists for veneer. 



Of course, the making of veneer is an industry much 

 smaller than that which produces lumber, but it is quite 

 large, nevertheless. As nearly as can be ascertained 

 from existing data, about eighty times as much wood is 

 converted into lumber as into veneer, and lumber reaches 

 many factories and shops where veneer never goes; but 

 in many others, both products find a place. 



Large manufacturers of veneer no doubt have pretty 

 accurate opinions as to what industries are the largest 

 users of their product; and they likewise know something 

 about where the rest of it goes, and the relative quan- 

 tities bought by numerous small industries. But the gen- 

 eral public has little information along that line. Nearly 

 500,000,000 feet of logs are cut into veneer every year. 



but 



probably 



Made in Si Louts by 



Stlouis Baskets Box Co. 



WE MANUFACTURE 



Built- 



iplete line of 

 p Stock in most 

 any size or thickness, 

 including Walnut, Ma- 

 hogany. Quartered 



and Plain Oak, Ash. 

 Gum, Plain or Figured 

 ch, Yellow Pine. 

 S y c a m ore, Cotton- 

 wood, etc. 



obtainable. The surface measure of the output of veneer 

 will run into the billions of feet, perhaps as much as ten 

 billions. The question which has not yet been answered 

 is. How is this enormous output divided among the 

 industries? 



The bulk of it goes to three or four. Probably the 

 largest consumer of veneer is the shipping container fac- 

 tory, where boxes, crates, baskets and berry cups are 

 made. They take cheaper grades, rotary cut, and largely 

 softwood, such as pine, fir, hemlock, tamarack, and 

 spruce. Some hardwoods are included, notably cotton- 

 wood, beech, maple, birch, elm, tupelo, yellow poplar, 

 magnolia, and basswood. Woods which are plentiful, 

 convenient, and cheap are taken, for the requirements 

 are generally not very exacting. Great strength is not 

 demanded, and while light weight is preferred, woods 

 for veneers of this class are seldom rejected on account of 

 weight. The demand is large ar.d widespread, and mar- 

 kets are generally near the mill that makes the veneer. 



Another rather large market is found among the users 

 of certain classes of woodenware known as picnic plat- 

 ters. The small, shallow plate commonly used by the retail 

 handler of food is not very important considered singly, 

 but its importance improves when the output is measured 

 by millions of such plates. The range of woods of which 

 they are made is rather lengthy, but three woods pre- 

 dominate. They are beech, birch, and maple, with yellow 

 poplar and red gum active rivals for high place. 



Veneer fills more exacting positions than in pie plates 

 and berry cups. That which goes to factories making 

 furniture, fixtures and interior house finish is such. Two 

 general grades are used, one intended for the interior, 

 concealed parts of panels and of table and counter tops, 

 and that which constitutes the outer, visible portions of 

 these articles. Relatively cheap woods suffice for the 

 concealed parts, and hardwoods and softwoods answer 

 for these. Certain qualities must be possessed by veneer 

 which is so used, but it need not have attractive color or 

 any figure at all. The plainest wood, like basswood, 

 poplar or Cottonwood, is as good as any, because no one 

 ever sees it after it has been put in place. The less tend- 

 ency it has to warp, the better it is liked; and its ability 

 to hold glue is a quality insisted on. Glue and veneer 

 must work together in panels, and "useless each without 

 the other." Most woods hold glue well enough, but some 

 are better than others. 



Furniture and finish provide the market for most of 

 the finely figured and highly colored veneers. They are 

 the skins which cover what lies beneath; and it i* not nec- 

 essary that beauty be more than skin deep The out- 

 side is all that the purchaser ever sees; and if 

 visible pleases his eye, he cares little for what lies 

 provided it gives him no trouble. 



v^hat is 

 below. 



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