5 ply Cross Laminated Timber Layup and Press

Vaagen Timbers 5 ply CLT being produced for a client in the Seattle area. This process focuses on the lumber layup, gluing, and press.
If you want to learn more go to www.vaagentimbers.com or
call us at [phone]
#crosslaminatedtimber #ecofriendly #masstimber #vaagentimbers #kallesoe

[@PNWKURT]

Awesome process! Some of the best CLT manufacturing technologies/methodologies around yielding some of the cleanest, best looking, and highest performance panels on the market. Way to go Vaagen Timbers!

[@russvaagen3004]

Thank you Kurt. Hope you’re well.

[@serge.crispino418]

There is a CLT greenfield project being built in my neck of the woods - interesting to see how it's done and how I can pick out techniques used in this process that have been well proven in the manufacture of other engineered panel products.

[@fonetikly]

This is incredible. What does the moisture content of the wood need to be before using this method?
I wonder if there’s a glue similar to this that would hold as well that a DIYer could try?

[@aleksandrad7302]

Awsome!

[@Amaru7298]

Hi, I have a question about the pressing process. Does it apply pressure laterally at the same time as pressing down to make all joints closing correctly?

[@kooz76]

Great stuff! What exactly are those HF radiowaves for?

[@russvaagen3004]

They create heat and the heat activates the adhesive. It’s very efficient because the glue is conductive and attracts the HF waves, so the heat is concentrated where it’s most effective.

[@NSResponder]

What species of wood are available from your facility? I have a specialty application in mind that I'd like to do with maple, oak or cherry.

[@russvaagen3004]

We use softwoods, but we will be testing some hardwoods later this year.

[@NSResponder]

@@russvaagen3004 So, how did your hardwood testing work out?

[@russvaagen3004]

@@NSResponder it’s works well. We’re actually doing some further work with a partner from the east coast that will result in full certification of hardwoods. I would expect that to be completed sometime this fall. Initial testing when well. The most difficult part is having a lumber handling system on for dimensional softwood and thinner hardwood boards. Most systems don’t do it all. Our system is not ideally setup for 1” boards and thinner so we may have to make some adjustments.

[@hairaw3580]

May I ask what is the price of the finished 5 ply wood panel with that length for sale? in dollars?

[@russvaagen3004]

We don’t typically quote a panel price like that because each project has unique attributes that impact the price. We don’t sell panels, we sell projects and the panels are a part of the project. Lumber price, quality, strength, and species also impact the price of the panels. To give you a rough price would be something like $32 USD per square foot. So a 40’ panel in 5 ply would be 160 sf, so the panel would price $5,120. That gives you a rough idea of pricing.

[@hairaw3580]

@@russvaagen3004 Thanks for your answer, it's really valuable to me. Wish you many good things.

[@NSResponder]

@@russvaagen3004 Wow, that's a whole lot less than I would have guessed. I think that makes CLT cheaper than plywood by the board-foot.

[@russvaagen3004]

@@NSResponder when you consider that you not only get structure, but you also get a premium exposed finish on your ceilings and feature walls, it’s a pretty incredible value.