Power consumption and lumber yields for reduced-kerf circular saws cutting hardwoods

Abstract

Two 50-inch diameter headsaws were used for sawing (a) hardwood cants into boards, and (b) hardwood bolts into pallet parts. One saw had a 9x10 gage plate with 114-inch kerf teeth, and the other had a 7x8 gage plate with 9/32-inch kerf teeth. Power consumption for the two saws was determined with a watt-hour meter, measuring power used for paired cuts in 6-inch thick hardwood cants. Product yields for the two saws were compared by sawing matched samples of hardwood bolts into pallet parts. The 114-inch kerf saw consumed an average of 15 percent less power than the 9/32-inch kerf saw. Product yield for the 114-inch kerf saw averaged 8 percent more than yield for the 9/32-inch kerf saw. Both power consumption and product yield differences for the two saws were highly significant.

Citation

Cuppett, Donald G. 1982. Power consumption and lumber yields for reduced-kerf circular saws cutting hardwoods. Res. Pap. NE-505. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6p.