Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and assess the most important aspects concerning the choice between storage of debarked or unbarked saw logs. The study consists of a literature review, an inquiry to saw mills regarding estimated effects from storage of debarked timber, and a field study. In the field study three factors were considered: blue stain, moisture content, and run-off water quality during storage and sprinkling of debarked and unbarked Norway spruce saw logs. The following aspects were identified as important for the choice between handling systems with debarked and unbarked saw logs, respectively: grading of logs according to diameter and shape, grading for inner wood quality, debarking as a bottleneck, bark, chips, sand and dirt, truck handling, handling wounds and piling, cracks, blue stain, sprinkling and environment. There are both advantages and disadvantages with storage of debarked saw logs. The result of the inquiry shows that grading according to diameter and shape seems to be the most important aspect, since the grading can be much more precise without the bark. The field study showed that for the moisture content development sprinkling is more important than the presence of bark. After 12 weeks of storage some blue stain attacks in the wood could be seen, both in debarked and unbarked logs. The expected differences in water quality between run-off from debarked and unbarked logs could not be seen in the field study. According to this study, storage of debarked saw logs seems to be an interesting alternative resulting in possible cost reductions for the saw mill

Published in

Rapport - Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för skogens produkter och marknader
2006, number: 27
Publisher: SPM/SLU

SLU Authors

• Jonsson, Maria

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/8614