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Dynamics of Lumber Production from Buttressed-Stumps of Logging Residues Using a Fuel Powered Horizontal Mobile Bandsaw Machine



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DOI:10.17265/2162-5298/2016.02.004

Logging residue can be defined as any form of wood, which under the highest stage of technological development could be used in manufacturing but is left in the forest during logging. Lumber production from logging residues of a previous logging activity by a timber firm was undertaken with the objective of determining the suitability of utilizing buttressed-stumps as raw material for the timber industry. A horizontal mobile bandsaw machine was used to process the buttressed-stumps into lumber. The machine was characterized by a thin-kerf sawing technology (kerf-width 1.6 mm) compared to the conventional bandsaw machines of kerf-widths ranging from 3.0-4.5 mm. Lumber value and volume yields, fuel consumption rate, frequency of tool replacement and lumber production rate were assessed. Results indicated that there is the potential to increase timber production from logging residues by utilizing buttressed-stumps. Lumber value and volume yields of eight timber species investigated in this study ranged from 5%-31% and 34%-54% respectively. Fuel consumption rate which increased with increasing wood density, ranged from 5-14.5 liters/m3 of lumber produced. Frequency of saw replacement increased with increasing wood density. The number of saws required to produce one cubic meter of lumber, ranged from 1 to 7. Lumber production rate ranged from 0.10-0.38 m3/hour, increasing with decreasing wood density.

Buttressed-stumps, downstream processing, logging residues, lumber value and volume yields, mobile bandsaw machine