Techniques for Drying Thick Southern Pine Veneer

This paper is the second of four describing a system for manufacturing laminated beams of uniformly high strength from southern pine boltwood. Heart-center cants in sizes from 4 by 4 inches through 12 by 12 inches were sawn through-and-through to produce veneers thick enough to be surfaced green to 7/16-inch. These 545 veneers were then dried: 1) in air, 2) in a lumber kiln, 3) in a jet dryer, 4) in a conventional roller veneer dryer, 5) in a hot-plate press with ventilated cauls. Temperatures in the last three treatments were as high as 300?F. Press drying was the fastest (23 min.) and caused least distortion. Veneers from the jet dryer, conventional dryer, and hot press showed heavy resin exudation that would cause gluing difficulties unless removed by surfacing. None of the treatments significantly affected stiffness of individual veneers. Beams from veneer dried on mild schedules were not significantly stronger than those from veneer dried on accelerated schedules.

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