North Central Research Station

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North Central Research Station
1992 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

(651) 649-5000

Publication Details

Note: In October 2006, the North Central Research Station and the Northeastern Research Station joined to form the Northern Research Station. New publications are being added to the Northern Research Station Publications & Data site.

This publication is also available at: http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/972

Title: Thin Kerf Sawing: A Technology Worth Adopting

Author: Bratkovich, Stephen M.

Year:

Publication: Misc. Publ. [Newtown Square, PA:] U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Area State & Private Forestry

Abstract: The saw kerf has a significant impact on conversion efficiency (referred to as lumber recovery). A crude but effective way of calculating the amount of sawdust that develops during sawing is to determine the total wood usage per "pass" (logs being processed as a sawmill generally move or "pass" back and forth through the saw blade). Wood usage per pass includes the average thickness of the piece being sawn plus the saw kerf. For example, in cutting a board that is 1.125 inches thick with a saw kerf of 0.300, the total wood usage per pass is 1.425 inches. Calculating the saw kerf as a percentage of the total wood usage per pass results in 21% of the wood removed as sawdust or about one-fifth of the log resource. A band saw with a kerf of 0.140 inch would result in an increase in lumber recovery of about 10%.

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USDA Forest Service - North Central Research Station
Last Modified: March 31, 2006