VENEERS 105 



clamps for from eight to twenty-four hours under a pressure of 125 lb. 

 per square inch. It was said that eight hours was sufficient, but that for 

 convenience they were released the day following and new courses were 

 placed in the clamps. As a matter of fact, convenience in organization 

 is the determinant factor in this time element. Leaving courses in 

 clamps longer than the required time does not injure the stock. 



After release from pressure the panel or other built-up stock is trimmed 

 to even off the edges. It is then sanded or scraped and shipped to des- 

 tination. 



UTILIZATION OF VENEERS 



There has never been any attempt at an accurate compilation of 

 figures or statistics showing how our various kinds of veneers are used in 

 this country. The different uses that have come into existence for veneers 

 have broadened very greatly within the last few years. At the present 

 time it is estimated that more than one-half of our veneer logs is cut into 

 veneers for purposes other than the original use of veneers which was 

 to cover less valuable woods especially when the figure and grain of the 

 veneer woods were to be brought out to best advantage, as exemplified 

 in furniture, cabinet work and similar lines of usage. 



At the present time the cheaper veneers are most in demand especially 

 for such materials as shipping containers, boxes, fruit and berry baskets, 

 etc. 



The following Ust shows the approximate order in which our veneers 

 are used. A few years ago it was estimated by the Census Bureau that, 

 under average conditions, 6 sq. ft. of surface veneers were produced 

 from each board foot as measured in the log. When veneers are sliced 

 each board foot should produce 12 sq. ft. of surface veneer if cut t^ of an 

 inch in thickness. Six square feet, however, is a good average because of 

 the great amount of waste occasioned in the manufacture of veneers, 

 especially in the form of cores, trimming, and loss in the form of defects, 

 checks, etc. Using 6 sq. ft. of surface veneer as an average from each 

 board foot, an annual consumption of 500,000,000 bd. ft. of logs 

 would yield 3,000,000,000 surface feet of veneers annually consumed 

 in this country. The following table has been made up as a result of 

 visits made to a large number of veneer mills and data secured from men 

 engaged in the industry. The most important fields for the utilization 

 of veneers are taken up in the order of quantity consumed: 



I. Furniture, including tables of all kinds, beds, dressers and other 



