Abstract: A steel caul for forming wood panels is sandblasted to roughen the contact face thereof. The process of roughening the face results in a multiplicity of minute indentations in the surface of the face which function to capture and retain therein carbonized materials which are produced when the caul is employed to press panel products, thereby extending the period which the caul can be used without the need for cleaning carbon deposits from the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hardboard with a smooth, highly-consolidated, dense surface and a method for making it. The method of this invention greatly reduces the need for surface sanding after molding because release from the molding caul is improved and results in a product having a surface more free of defects. According to a preferred embodiment, a dry mat of wood particles is sprayed with from 8 to 30 grams per square foot of a surface coating of a consolidating agent comprising from 50 to 95% water, from 4 to 25% ethylene glycol and from 1 to 25% polyvinyl acetate, prior to pressing at elevated temperature. These percentages are based on the weight of the consolidating agent. The preferred products will have at least one highly-consolidated, smooth surface layer which comprises from 0.5 to 4 grams of polyhydric alcohol and from 0.5 to 4 grams of polyvinyl acetate per square foot of surface.