Characteristics of Rotary-cut Veneer of Boiled Jabon and Sengon Logs.

Abstract

Fast growing Jabon and Sengon are largely rotary-cut to produce veneer for plywood, com-ply and LVL. In order to provide better information on veneer production and utilization, the effects of wood juvenility and veneer thickness on lathe checks of Jabon and Sengon rotary-cut veneer were evaluated. Before peeling, jabon and sengon log were boiled at 50 and 75 oC for 4 and 8 hours, respectively. The boiled logs were peeled to produce veneer of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm in thickness. Lathe checks of veneers were measured under an optical video microscope. The rotary-cut veneer was grouped and evaluated separately at every segmented of 1.0 cm width from bark to pith. Results showed that wood juvenility and veneer thickness had an important effect on lathe checks for the rotary-cut veneer. In general, the number of lathe check of the veneer increases with increasing veneer thickness and decrease from pith to bark. Boiling of logs before rotary-cutting could decrease the value of lathe check. The results indicated that boiling of logs at 75 oC for 4 and 8 hours could minimize the number of lathe checks in manufacturing of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm rotary-cut veneer from juvenile jabon and sengon woods.