The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-29
How Veneering IL Made.

The logs are delivered III 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 AZ
ter cutting, tho logs are placed in large
steam box, Is feet wide, % feet long, and
6 feet high, built separate from tho
main building. This box is divided into
two compartments. When one is filled
entirely full, the doors are closed, and
tho steam, supplied by the engine in
the main building, is turned on. The
logs rcmain in this box from three to
four hours, when they are ready for use,
This steaming not only removes the
bark, but moistens and softens the entire
log. From the steam box the log goes
to the veneer lathe. It is raised, grasped
at each end by lathes centres, and firm
ly held ia position, beginning to slowly
revolve. Every turn brings it in con-
tact with the knife, which is gauged to o
required thickness. AS the log revolves
the inequalities of its surface of course
first come in contact with the keen
edged knife, and disappear in the shape
of waste veneer, which is passed to the
engine room to be used as fuel. Soon,
however, the uncvcnncss of the log dis
appears, and the now perfect veneer
comes from beneath the knife in con-
tinuous sheet, and is received and passed
on to the cuttingltablc. This continues
until the log is reduced to about seven
inch core, which is useless for the pur-
pose. The veneer as it comes rolling
off the log presents all the diversity of
colors and the beautiful grain and rich
marking that have perhaps for centuries
been growing to perfection in the silent
depths Of our great forests.
From the lathe, tho veneer is passed
to the cutting table, where it is cut to
lengths and widths rs desired. It is
then conveyed to the second story,
where it is placed in largely dry rooms,
air tight, except as the air reaches them
through the. proper channels. The
veneer is here placed in crates, each
piece separate and standing Oh 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 regula-
ted by hampers for putting OH or taking
attached Which, h'kka6Sefp ka6Sefps fne }ffGt ,fir hloYf@
dry rooms in constant motion, the mir as
it cools passing off through an escape
pipe i'll tho roof, while the freshly heated
mir takes its place from below. These
rooms are also provided with n net-worl,
of hot air pipes near the floor. The tenn.
perature is kept ut about 1G5 dg. and SC
rapid is the drying process that in the
short space of four hours the groen log
from the steam box is shaved, cut, dried,
packed and ready for shipment.
After leaving the dry rooms it is as.
sorted, counted and put in packages Of
one hundred each, and tied with cords
like lath, when it is ready for shipment.
Birds-eye maple veneer is much more
valuable and requires more care than al
most my other, and this is packed ii
cases instead Of tied in bundles. Tho
drying process is usually slow ono, anc
conducted in open sheds simply exposed
to the air.