98 FOREST PRODUCTS 



wheels and a spindle with chucks to hold the log in position. The 

 machines are graded by the length of the knives, which are usually 

 made in the following lengths: 24, 30, 50, 60, 65, 76, 90 and 124 in. 

 They are 6| in. wide, f in. thick and made of the finest cutting steel. 

 The logs are centered on the chucks and cutting is done by revolving 

 them against the stationary knife, the veneer coming over in long con- 

 tinuous sheets. An automatic geared device feeds the knife toward the 

 log so that at each revolution it approaches the log nearer by the thick- 

 ness of the veneer. The knife is usually sharpened after every thirty- 

 five to forty hours of cutting. It must be changed more frequently with 

 thick than with thinner veneers. It must be very sharp and uniformly 

 so or a poor grade of veneer results. The shafts which hold the logs 

 can be regulated to hold a short or a long log. Generally 24 to 28 revo- 

 lutions are made per minute except on the very largest logs and con- 

 tinuous sheets are cut off down to a core of from 6 to 10 in. 



As the veneer comes from the cutting lathe it is conveyed to the clipper, 

 a machine which trims off defective portions and cuts the veneer to the 

 desired sizes. This consists of a sharp knife from 5 to 10 ft. in length, 

 worked by steam or foot power, extending across the conveyor table. 

 The knife descends directly to the veneer and clips it in rectangular 

 sections. A straight edge on one side insures a right angle in 

 clipping. 



In some mills, a wringer located back of the clipper eliminates any 

 superfluous water in the veneer. A die-stamping machine is sometimes 

 used to stamp out chair or drawer bottoms, covers, berry-box patterns 

 or tapered peach-basket staves, etc. This machine will make from 20 to 

 30 strokes per minute and will stamp out from 52,000 to 400,000 pieces 

 per day depending upon the thickness of the stock turned out. 



Next the veneer goes through an automatic dryer. It is necessary 

 to dry it artificially, as it warps, twists, checks and curls very badly when 

 air dried. Although several types of dryers are on the market one of the 

 most common types is described as follows : The veneer is slowly passed 

 on revolving rolls through a long roller dryer which is steam heated and 

 from which the moist air is carried off in hot blasts. One of the larger 

 driers is 130 ft. long, 12 ft. wide and 5 rolls high. From fifteen to forty- 

 five minutes are required for passing through the rolls, depending upon 

 the thickness and kind of wood and the veneer is thoroughly dry when 

 taken out. For example, in one mill it required forty minutes for ^ in. 

 veneer to pass through while with ^V-in. stock only twenty minutes were 

 required. Five tiers of i-in. steam pipes, 44 pipes in each tier are used 



