Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25
BUILT-UP WOOD.
n NeneerlRE Process That Makes
Substantial Furniture.
From the Boston Transcript

From the Boston Transcript.
1t may come as revelation to some to
learn that the veneered table. si6eboard or
other article of furniture With a core of
white pine Is more durable than the solid
pieces of our forefathers. In a high-class
store, where antique furniture is kept. a
close examination of the various aruicles
Will show that most of them have some de-
fects; the wood is warped, checked or
cracked somewhere. This is one of the in
eNltaple mishaps 10 hard woods, no matter
now carefully they are cured and preserv-
ed. IN about nine cases out of ten the
WOOD VIII show defects before half cen
fury old. The old vencered furniture has
its defects also; but they are in the form
OF chips and pieces Knocked out. This can
ne remedied by Neneering over again but
the cracks In solid wood cannot we'll be re-
paired.
The so-called system of building up'
lumber Is now employed in the manufac-
ture OF most of this handsome furniture
L MS Is great Improvement over the old
fashloned one-lay er veneer work and il is
the most durable ever made 1t consists of
ceInentins together thin veneers of differ
ent woods tranSversely with the grain The
Veneerei wood runs in thickness all the
way from one-siXteenth of an inch to half
an inch. Generally only hard woods are
used for veneers; but a core of soft and
iiS Ut Noou Is nearly always pnlD!CNeU,
TINS core of pine the veneers are cemented.
The first layer has the grain running from
rlSht to left; the second layer has the grain
running UP and down. and the third and
1ourth dlagonally, cross-wise and every
other direction. The result is that the
built-up" board can neither crack split
warp nor twist. Moreover, it is lighter
than any solid hard wood board, more fiex-
ible and dura BILE
This ''built-up'' idea of wood originated
In the shops Of America, and 1t has been
worked here more generally than abroad
although all Of the European factories now
aVali themselves of the system. 1t is really
the ola IDEA OF Veneering improved and de-
'eloped. 1t was first discovered and en-
ployed in the manufacture of the old three
ply chair and car seats. The remarkable
durability, strength and fieXibility of these
seats were apparent al o.lce and they
nave been IN vogue ever since. They were
made by cementing together three thin We
neers OF some strong wood, such as maple
ASH OF OAK with the grains running in op-
poslte directions. The amount of strain
these wooden seats would stand was he
You'd belief
From this simple beginning the idea Of
puit-up lumber originated. 1t is now
pelhS manufactured extensively and ON
ployed In new lines of work every wear
The success of the modern bicycle is narfIv
due to 1t. The light wooden wheel rims
are made OF built-up'' lumber. Strips or
Veneers of such tough woods as rnaplr
rock elm, hickory and black walnut arc
glued or cemented together with the grains
running in opposite directions Then tbev
are bert into circle and turned The re-
suit Is the light, elastic, but strong bicycIa
rim OF today that is practically unbreak
able or unsplittable, and which will wear
better than metal rims. 1t was not untiI
thls ldea could be utilized that bicycle man.
ufacturers would guarantee the wooden
RIM wheels; but today every concern has
implicit confidence in them
Architects have taken up the idea. and
concerns are now manufacturing built
up doors, paEelS and boards used for
trims. The doors have a core of white nine
with VenserS of fancy woods. These doors
cannot shrink, warp or split, and while
they nave all the appearance of hardwood
doors, they are so light that they swing
freely and easily on their hinges In Buff
faio factory is now manufacturing built
up doors with the frames left hollow
his not only saves material and cost of
manufacturing. put the doors are lighter
and stronger. The cost of finishing the in
terror of houses with hard wood or expen-
sive wood doors, panels and trimmings is
great; but many of the medium and better
class houses now are finished in built
up boards, with the outside veneers made
of fine maple, birch or other expensive
woods. The effect is very striking
The furniture maker was in the field be-
fore the architect or builder, and he turned
out magnificent sideboards and tables long
before the system was employed in other
departments. Tie furniture has a quarter
Of an inch veneer on the surface of genuine
mahogany, birch, maple or other woods
and so securely and firmly is it cemented
down that neither time nor changes in the
weather will ever affect it. The most beau
tiful effects can be produced by this sys-
tenn. Old antiques are closely initiated, but
with the added advantages of lightness and
greater durability. Modern styles of fur
niture are made in the same way One
thus has the choice of any style, made as
our forefathers never dreamed of, and
which casts into the shade their greatest
efforts. Those who believe that modern in
genuity does not excel that of our country
men of a century ago should study some
of the results of these factories.
The "built-up' timber is destined to play
an important part in all of the future in
dustries connected with the building trades
ard furniture end cabinet making. Inven-
tors have already adopted the idea in
working out schemes for reducing the
weight of wooden articles wherever this is
an important factor.