Panel Processing

Lightweight panel product meets CARB 2 standard

Avian has reported that its lightweight board meets and exceeds the CARB 2 standards making it one of only a few suppliers of CARB 2 standard boards.

Lightweight panel supply chain directory

The companies in this directory are making investments to make sure that you have the tools and products necessary to develop successful products with lightweight panels.

Stating the case for lightweight panels

Think Light: Innovative Lightweight Panels was held recently in Kentwood, Mich., organized by Virginia Tech and sponsored by FDM, Stiles Machinery and others.

JIT panel processing

Q: I have read every Wood Doctor column you have written and have gained a lot of practical information. But here is a question I have not seen addressed before. As background, our fairly large company has really gone into JIT, just-in-time, manufacturing, which means in-process materials cannot sit around very long at all. Well, this has recently translated into machining our glued up panels (edge-glued on a clamp carrier) within 24 hours after they are glued, or sometimes less. Of course, you know what the problem is: sunken glue joints that are obvious after finishing. My suggestion of waiting three days after gluing, as we have always done, has not been well-received. I am hoping that you have some help for us.

Raised glue joints

Q: We are having a problem with raised glue joints in our solid wood (mahogany) panels and we would like to know what your recommendation is for the amount of moisture content that we could get by with, without causing this problem? This applies also to high-frequency gluing.

Veneer adhesion trouble

Q: We are having some problems with veneer adhesion to our MDF substrate. After we have completed the panel and finished it, we notice delamination (a raised bump) in a few areas in the center. What should we be looking for?

Avoiding warped panels

Learn the causes and cures to achieve flatter edge-glued panels

Gluing it the right way: Mechanical strength

Q:We are gluing two or three pieces of wood together to form a panel. Our joints seem very strong, but sometimes they are very weak. We are looking for a way to test our joints so that we can identify the factors that result in a weak joint. One person has recommended a shear test block and sent us some info on how to run that test. Would this be a good way to proceed?

Gluing it the right way: Thick glue lines

Q: We are edge gluing several strips together into a panel. Occasionally we have a joint failure and when I look at the broken joint, I see plenty of glue, but it just didn't hold together well. There is no wood failure. Can you tell what is going on?

Straight line system boosts rip productivity

Straight line replacement system allows more volume and the ability to cut many special sizes, all while reducing labor.