The durability of serpentine-end-matched joints during veneer slicing

The availability of quality flitches for the moulding and millwork industry has decreased, resulting in increased veneer prices. This project investigated the feasibility of using serpentine-end-matched (SEM) joined material for veneer flitches. Eighteen ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) veneer flitches were randomly selected and crosscut into paired samples. The samples were then crosscut and machined with SEM joints such that one sample of a pair received a joint with the amplitude equal to its width while the other received a joint with the amplitude equal to two-thirds of its width. The joints were then glued together with a cross-linking polyvinyl acetate adhesive, cured, and sliced into three veneer thicknesses, 1/16 inch (1.6 mm), 1/12 inch (2.8 mm), and 1/8 inch (3.2 mm), using typical industry processes. The flitches produced 468 veneers, only 14 of which had bonds that failed during manufacturing. The veneers from 14 flitches were also tested in tension for ultimate load and failure mode. No significant differences in stress levels were found among veneer thicknesses or failure modes, or between joint designs. Partial wood failure occurred in 69 of the 107 veneers analyzed. The average wood failure involved approximately a third of the joint and typically occurred anywhere along the glueline except at the joint apex.

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