lvl Definition

• LVL is the English abbreviation for Laminated Veneer Lumber. It is based on the log as raw material to rotary cut into veneers. After the drying, gluing and hot pressing to board. It is a high-strength layered composite engineered wood product used primarily for structural applications. According to the lvl materials, it can be divided to poplar LVL, eucalyptus LVL, poplar and eucalyptus LVL , paulownia and poplar LVL, pine LVL. According to the use, it can be divided into packaging grade LVL, furniture grade LVL, lvl construction. It has the structural features not found in solid wood: high strength, high toughness, good stability, customized size.

LVL specifications

Laminated veneer lumber is originated in Japan, and it is comparable to solid wood in performance, strength, usage, and manufacturing difficulty. LVL is a good substitute for solid wood products and it makes more efficient use of the renewable resource of wood. Here are the main LVL specifications:

LVL wood species:

poplar, pine, eucalyptus, paulownia and poplar, poplar and eucalyptus etc.

LVL Dimensions:

customized size, such as 2×6 lvl, 2×4 lvl, 2×12 lvl etc.

Glue types:

MR glue, environmental protection glue, waterproof glue, WBP glue, F⭐⭐⭐⭐.

Moisture:

it is depends on the products, the furniture LVL is below 14%, the packaging LVL is below 18%,the construction LVL is below 16%.

LVL Production Process

#1 Veneer Grading

Face/back veneer: Seamless

Core board: a few dead knots, live knots, blue changes are allowed

Columns: dead knots, live knots, blue changes are allowed

Veneer size: 1.5/1.8/2.0mm thickness * 810-880mm width * 1270mm length.

#2 Veneer Scarfing

Both ends are need to be scarfed, the width of the veneer is between 10-25mm and the thickness is between 1-1.5mm.

#3 Veneer Drying

After drying, the moisture content of the core board is below 7%, and the veneer is below 10%.

#4 Veneer Repair

Dig out the parts with a large dead knot, and repair the board with a good one. The board has a small gap and can be repaired with repair tape.

#5 Glue Spreader

The ratio of glue to flour is 4:1. Single side coating. Glue amount: poplar is between 160-180 g/cm² and eucalyptus is between 170-180 g/cm² .

#6Lay Up

Lay up the veneers on the table

#7Cold Press

Cold pressing time is more than 1020 seconds

#8 Hot Press

1.Hot pressing time: veneer’s thickness * 80 seconds.

2.Pressure: board area * 10 / pressure coefficient.

3.pressing temperature: 100-120 degrees Celsius (if the temperature exceeds the high limits it will cause the large board to open the glue, and if the temperature is too low, the adhesion of the large board will be insufficient).

#9 Seasoning

7 – 15 days

#10 Sanding

1.Sanding machine (double-sided sanding, suitable for coarse sanding). 2.Polishing machine (single-side sanding, suitable for finer polishing, can be used for polishing).

3.The smoothness of the surface is determined by the sand number of the sandpaper. The sandpaper of ourfactorycurrently has 60/80/120/180/240.

#11 Formaldehyde Catcher

The formaldehyde trapping agent is sprayed on the surface to avoid mildew.

#12Width and Length Cutting

#13Strip Cutting

#14Inspection

#15Lab Test

#16Packing & Delivery

LVL Advantages

exterior lvl can disperse and stagger the defects such as knuckles and cracks of logs, thus greatly reducing the influence on strength, making it stable in quality, uniform in strength and small in material variability. It is the most ideal structural material to replace solid wood.Here are the main LVL advantages:

Customized Sizes(lvl depths, lvl widths, lvl lengths)

Sizes can be adjusted freely, and it is not affected by the shape and defects of the logs. The LVL sheet can be up to 8 meters in length and up to 300mm thick. According to the condition of the materials, the size can be chosen and cut freely.

Specific process

• Drilling, Moulding, chamfer, slotted etc.

Stronger

LVL hasanti-insect, anti-corrosion, fireproof, waterproof and other features, mainly in the production process for the corresponding pre-treatment or the use of special adhesive.

LVL hasstrong seismic performance and shock absorption performance and can resist periodicity Fatigue damage caused by stress.

Due to the low variability and randomized wood properties in thin layers, so LVL has high strength.

Environmental

The non-polluting, and use high-quality environmentally-friendly adhesives in the production process. So the formaldehyde emission is far below the national standards and meets the standards of developed countries to ensure your health.

E2 (≤5.0mg/L), E1 (≤1.5mg/L), E0 (≤0.5mg/L),F★★★★(≤0.3mg/L)

No fumigation

LVL Applications

Because its strength, workability, stability, and weight, So LVL has a wide range of applications as the following:

lvl framing

bed supports

lvl studs

lvl wood beams

lvl scaffold boards

Now It’s Your Turn

I hope you enjoyed my article on WADA 2019 the Latest analysis on Laminated veneer lumber.

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