Question
What are you guys using to edge your veneers with? I'm using a guide board and a router. It gives a tight fit but is very slow. I've seen the veneer slitters used in the plywood processing plants. It would be great but a bit impractical for my small operation. If money were no object what would it be. Now back to reality - if money were an object, where would that put you? Space, on the other hand is always an object. I do not have 8,000 lb machines. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
Forum Responses
(Veneer Forum)
From contributor J:
If money is no object, look into a veneer saw (not the handheld kind) from Hofer, Langzauner or Scheer. These will set you back between $10K and $20K, I think, and weigh in somewhere around 2000 lbs (that's less than 8,000!).
If you're looking for jigs, search "Jointing" on the Veneer Forum here at WOODWEB and you'll find some pictures I posted a while back of simple veneer-jointing jigs.
The prices range is $650.00 to $1,900.00 plus shipping. On the other side you have a Hofer veneer saw, about 27K for a 124 inch capacity. I assume the competitive machines run about the same prices.
If money were no object (from high to low cost) I would use a double knife guillotine then a ten degree single knife guillotine then a veneer saw.
Contributor J - clever way to clamp using the levers let into the pressure board. That is basically the shooting board I use except I clamp it from the front and have to walk my way down the board, cut a bit, move the clamps and etc. This would be easily adaptable to air cylinders and a foot switch while still keeping the shooting board and router.
Contributor E - I've been considering using my Festo rail and saw in this manner. I might give that a try. I'll shoot to keep the overall weight down to a couple hundred pounds and get something made soon.