Homegrown eucalypts tested for veneer: more results
Part of the SFF project 'Minimising growth-strain in eucalypts to transform processing' was a peeling/LVL trial to test the suitability of NZDFI eucalypts for LVL production. These eucalypts have a higher stiffness and density than radiata pine. They are also naturally durable.
On the other hand, they are more challenging to process. Logs often split making peeling into veneers difficult. Splitting is thought to be associated with internal growth-strain in the trees. Ultimately our aim is to select superior trees for breeding with low growth strain properties.
Second peeling trial at Nelson Pine Industries
A second peeling trial at Nelson Pine Industries (NPI) in Richmond involved rotary peeling of 15-year-old E. bosistoana and E quadrangulata logs. Logs were peeled, and the veneers returned to UC for analysis.
Results were encouraging, indicating for example that the E. bosistoana veneer would out-perform radiata in terms of stiffness as predicted. In future the use of spindle lathes for the peeling process could greatly enhance veneer recovery from small logs. Some spindle lathes peel logs to leave a core, which could be marketed as a ground durable post. Other lathes can handle smaller logs, but there would be no bi-product of a post from the core of each log.
The next phase of research at UC will look at suitable gluing techniques for the eucalyptus veneers.
Read the full report of the peeling trials here.
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E. bosistoana and E. quadrangulata ready for peeling at Nelson Pine Industries..
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Representative sample of E. quadrangulata veneer
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E. quadrangulata veneer 2
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E. bosistoana veneer – a potential component of LVL.
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E. bosistoana veneer 2.