Veneers are produced in three different ways according to their manufacturing method.
1.1. PRODUCING VENEER BY THE SAWING METHOD
These are veneers produced by cutting with special sawing machines, with a thickness typically ranging between 1 and 1.2 mm.
The Sawing Process
To produce veneer using this method, dried lumber is fastened to the carriage of a sawing machine, which resembles a band saw and operates either horizontally or vertically. After the desired veneer thickness is set, the machine is activated. As the carriage moves forward at a controlled speed, the first sheet of veneer is sawn off.
On machines equipped with a double-edged saw, once a cut is completed, the log is automatically raised by the set thickness, and the carriage begins to move backward, cutting another sheet on the return pass. On machines with a single-edged saw, the carriage is quickly retracted, raised by one veneer thickness, and then moves forward again for the next cut.
With each pass, an amount of wood equal to the saw blade’s thickness is lost as sawdust (kerf). Although this production method is not very common, it is the most suitable for valuable woods that would discolor if softened (through steaming or cooking).
Characteristics of Sawn Veneer:
1.2. PRODUCING VENEER BY THE SLICING METHOD
These are veneers with a thickness ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 mm, produced by cutting with special slicing machines.
The Slicing Process
In this method, the logs intended for veneer production are first squared off. To prevent cracking and to facilitate the softening process, they are soaked in the factory’s water ponds. Following this, they are placed in hot water and steam vats at 85–95 ˚C for a period of 48–72 hours, depending on the wood species, to remove sap and soften the wood. The temperature and softening of the wood are critical for both the slicing and peeling methods of veneer production.
Afterward, the water is drained from the vats, and the logs or flitches are removed and left to rest for approximately 24 hours. They are then mounted onto the veneer slicing machine, and the veneers are cut to the desired thickness.
In this process, the log remains stationary while a knife moves back and forth. As the knife retracts after cutting each sheet, the log is automatically raised by the set veneer thickness, and the process continues.
The veneers, which are sliced and stacked sequentially, are fed into the drying conveyor in the same order and are counted. The dried veneers are then collected from the conveyor in the same sequence. The veneers exit the drying oven with a moisture content of 8–10% and are bundled, typically with 24 or 32 sheets per bundle. Generally, face veneers are bundled in sets of 24, while core veneers (astar kaplamalar) are bundled in sets of 32. After resting for a day, the veneers are trimmed to their final length and width, tied at both ends with string, and labeled. The label specifies which pallet the bundle belongs to, the log (bilye) and bundle number, as well as the length, width, sheet count, and total square meterage of the veneers in the pack.
Sometimes, logs are cut into halves or quarters (flitches) before being mounted on the machine. If a log is quarter-cut, the resulting grain patterns appear as straight, parallel lines. Veneers with this straight-lined pattern are referred to as “quarter-cut” (freze) veneers.
Characteristics of Sliced Veneer:
1.3. PRODUCING VENEER BY THE PEELING METHOD
Veneers produced by peeling with special machines are known as rotary-cut veneers.
The Peeling Process
In this method, similar to the slicing method, the logs intended for veneer production are first softened by placing them in hot water and steam vats.
There are two main types of peeling. In the first method, thick veneers known as “papel” (plies), primarily used for plywood production, are obtained by peeling the log circumferentially. A log, lifted by a crane, is centered and mounted between the spindles of a rotary lathe. It is then rotated against a knife, peeling off a continuous sheet of veneer until a core of 8–10 cm in diameter remains. This process can produce a very wide and long, continuous sheet of veneer.
In the second method, the log is first cut in half along its axis. This half-log is then mounted on a different type of lathe and peeled from the outer edge toward the center. This method is suitable for obtaining wide, light-colored veneers—a desirable characteristic for beech—as it peels from the sapwood inward.
It is also possible to find veneers on the market that have been produced by these methods and then subjected to further processing. Through computer-aided dyeing and reconstruction, veneers with various non-natural colors and patterns can be created. This process allows for the production of richly colored veneers that mimic natural grain patterns like quarter-cut (freze) and figured (hareli) wood.
Characteristics of Peeled Veneer:
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