Characteristics of Four Timber Species on the Yield of Sliced Veneer

Kojo Agyapong Afrifah* and Kwasi Frimpong-Mensah

Department of Wood Science and Technology, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources (FRNR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

Corresponding author Email: kagyapong@gmail.com

Accepted 23 July, 2014

Abstract

Forest timber resources have dwindled in the last few decades with its attendant reduction in the supply of large diameter logs of commercial species for processing.  This study therefore assessed the effect of the declining log sizes and inherent characteristics of the logs on the yield of high quality sliced veneer.  The study was conducted in an industrial setting and determined the sliced veneer recovery factors for Khaya species, Aningeria species, Entandrophragma cylindricum, and Pterygota macrocarpa. Low percentage recoveries of 32.5 % for Khaya species, 39.3 % for Aningeria species, 39.6 % for Entandrophragma cylindricum, and 27.9 % for Pterygota macrocarpa were obtained.  Strong negative correlations were observed between log diameter and yield of veneer implying that large diameters resulted in lower yield of veneer.  By contrast strong positive correlation coefficient values were obtained between log diameter and volume of residue generated due to the high incidence of natural defects in the large diameter logs.  Observations revealed that straight bole and medium sized diameter logs of relatively young trees which possess few inherent defects would be most preferred to produce high quality sliced veneer with improved yield for the studied species.

Keywords: Log, Veneer, Timber, Species, Sliced