Which of the following is obtained by rotating a log of wood against a sharp knife of rotary cutter?
🪵 From Log to Board: Manufacturing Wood Products
Different engineered wood products start with the same raw material—a log—but process it in fundamentally different ways. The method of breaking down the log determines the final product. This question describes a specific technique known as rotary peeling or rotary cutting, which is used to produce a key component for many other boards.
📝 Detailed Analysis of the Options
(a) Laminboard & (d) Batten board
These are types of blockboards. Their core is made from solid strips of wood (battens or laths) glued together edge-to-edge and then faced with veneers. Laminboards use strips with a width not exceeding 25mm. They are not made by rotating a log against a knife.
(c) Plywood
Plywood is a secondary product. It is made by gluing together several layers of veneers. While veneers are the essential ingredient for plywood, plywood itself is not the direct product of the rotary cutting process.
(b) Veneers
This is the correct answer. Veneers are thin sheets of wood, typically between 0.4 mm and 6 mm thick. The most common method for producing them is by placing a whole log on a large lathe and rotating it against a long, sharp knife of a rotary cutter. This action essentially "unpeels" a continuous sheet of wood from the log, much like unrolling a paper towel. These veneers are the fundamental building blocks for making plywood.
📊 Manufacturing of Wood Products
| Product | Primary Manufacturing Process | Core Material |
|---|---|---|
| Veneers | Rotating a log against a rotary cutter. | - (This is the raw material) |
| Plywood | Gluing veneers in cross-laminated layers. | Veneers |
| Laminboard / Blockboard | Gluing solid wood strips edge-to-edge. | Solid wood strips (laths/battens) |
💡 Study Tips
- Rotary Cutter = Veneer: This is the key association to remember. The process of rotating a log against a knife is the definition of how veneers are made.
- Veneer is the Ingredient: Think of veneers as the primary ingredient. You use them to make other products, most notably plywood.
- Distinguish the Core: The easiest way to tell these boards apart is by their core. Plywood has a core of layered veneers. Blockboard/Laminboard has a core of solid wood strips.