Log cutting and rejoining process

Abstract

A process for making composite lumber products from generally cylindrical logs includes the steps of cutting a log radially into a plurality of sector-shaped pieces, rejoining two of the cut pieces by bonding them together along opposed radial faces such that the thin edge of one is approximately adjacent the thick edge of the other and then machining the bonded pair into a desired shape. The sector pair can be machined into a rectangle or a parallelogram. A plurality of compatible parallelograms or rectangles can then be edge bonded together into wider planar shapes after which the wider composite member can be rip cut longitudinally to selected widths. A method is described for proper sizing of the sector pieces depending upon log size and desired thickness of the composite lumber product. Taper is captured by reversing longitudinally one sector piece of each pair prior to bonding. The resulting composite product has many improved characteristics and offers a vertical grain pattern over its wider dimension. Greatly increased lumber yields result when manufacturing lumber products according to the present process, especially when converting smaller diameter logs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.