The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-10-08
How Veneering is Made.

The logs are delivered in the mill yard
in any suitable lengths as for ordinary
lumber. A steam drag cuts them into
such lengths as may be required by the
order in hand; those being cut at the time
of our visit were four feet long. After
cutting, the logs are placed iD a large
steam box, Is feet wide, % feet long, and
6 feet high, built separate from the main
building. This box is divided into two
compartments When one is filed entire
ly full, the doors are closed, and the steam,
supplied by the engine in the main build
ing, is turned on. The logs remain in this
box from three to four hours, when they
are ready for use. This steaming not only
removes the bark, but moistens and soft
ems the entire log. From the steam box
the log goes to the veneer lathe. 1t is
raised, grasped at each end by lathes CEN
tres, and firmly held in position, beginning
to slowly revolye. Every turn brings it
in contact with the knife, which is gauged
to required thickness As the log re-
wolves the inequalities of its surface of
course first come in contact with the keen
edged knife, aud disappear in the shape Of
waste veneer, which he passed TO the en-
CINE room to be used as fuel. Soon, how
ever, the unevenness of the log disappears,
and the now perfect veneer comes from
beneath the knife in continuous sheet,
aud is received aud passed on to the cut
ting table. This continues until the log
is reduced to about seven inch core,
which is useless for the purpose. The
veneer as it comes rolling off the log pre-
sents all the diversity of colOrs and the
beautiful grain and rich marking that have
perhaps for centuries been growing to per-
fection in the silent depths of our great
forests.
From the lathe, the veneer is passed to
the cutting table, where il is cut to lengths
and widths as desired 1t is then con-
veyea to the second story, where it is
placed in large dry rooms, air tight, ex-
cept as the air reaches them through the
proper channels. The veneer is here
placed 10 crates, each piece separate and
standing on edge. The hot air is then
turned on. This comes from the sheet
iron furnace attached to the boiler in the
engine room below, and is conveyed through
large pipes regulated By dampers for put
ting on or taking off the heat. There is
also blower attached which keeps the hot
air 10 the dry rooms in constant motion,
the air as it eoOls passing off through an
escape pipe in the roof, while the freshly
heated air takes its place from below.
These rooms are also provided with a net
work Of hot air pipes near the floor The
temperature is kept at about 1862, aud so
rapid is the drying process that in the
short space Of four hours the green log
from the steam box is shaved, cut, dried,
packed and ready for shipment.
After leaving the dry rooms 1t is assort-
ed, counted and put in packages of one
hundred each, aud tied with cords like
lash, when it is ready fer shipment Birds
eye maple veneer is much more valuable
aud requires more care than almost any
other, and this IS packed in cases instead
Of tied in bundles. The drying process
Is usually slow one, and conducted in
open sheds simply exposed to the air.