Day 2: Forestry Products

Today's visit was to observe timber uses and the economics in producing a quality product.


The first stop was Hammer Pellet Fuel,which produces stove burning pellets. This company makes wood pellets that are used for pellet stoves; pellet stoves came about during the 1973 oil crisis. What once was a waste product in which companies had to pay in the millions for disposal, sawdust and wood chips are used by this company to produce wood pellets.

• Procedure: 



Formed Pellets (Hot)



Pellets

• Depending on the supplier the sawdust or chips comes in with a moisture level of 50% (green) to10% (kiln), and is brought to a moisture level of 8 to 6 percent. Upon the material entering the hopper the company will create a blend using different hardwoods (e.g. popular, maple, mahogany, oaks). Upon finishing the drying process the sawdust and chips are compressed and heated to form the pellets.
• Questions:

1. What is the benefit in blending together different species of wood?
2. How does the development of wood pellets help the timber industry and the ecosystem?
3. What are the benefits of using wood pellets vs. firewood?
4. What is the reason for lowering the humidity level?

Loaded Kiln (Sugar Maple)

Kiln (105C)

The second stop was to visit a lumber company that was able to take rough lumber from the saw mill and be able to plane, kiln dry, and sort lumber according to grade. The Frank E. Wilson Lumber Company Inc. is able to perform these functions according to customer requests. One of the interesting operations are the large kilns that are used to lower the moisture level of the lumber to 8 or 6%. The kiln would operate with the input oh radiated heat (from boiled water) and insert of water for the humidity. It all depends upon the species of tree for the length of time for lumber to reach the desired moisture content. Oaks are around four weeks, popular around a week, and maples are around 2 to 3 weeks.

• Questions

Scale (Determine Moisture)


1. What is the purpose of lowering the moisture content in lumber between 8 and 6 percent? How does the atmospheric humidity play role in kill dried lumber?
2. What is your prediction of the lumber had a moisture content of 2%?
3. If the purpose of the kiln is lower the moisture content, then why do they increase the humidity in the kiln?

 The two pictures are of the Frank E. Wilson Lumber Company. The picture to the left is the number for high quality lumber. There two grading systems for lumber: one being the high quality lumber from 1 to 2; two being the most common lumber from 1 to 3. The picture to the left is already sorted out by grade rough cut lumber. They are waiting for the next step in the process.

 
The third and final stop was the sister company to lumber company, Wilson Quality Millworks specialize in molding for customers that are looking for unique moldings, doors, flooring, stair parts, and others. They are able to make the knives in house, and are also able to replicate any molding that you desire. Whats unique about this place is that I am able to see what is considered almost the final product.