By-Products from the Redwood Lumber Industry

A lumber operation based on Coastal redwood calls for facilities and operating techniques quite different from the practice generally followed in mass production sawmill operations. Redwood is a specialty wood. Its mark of acceptance has been mainly for specialty uses, and markets require quality manufacture to capitalize fully on the unusual physical and chemical properties of the species. Redwood bark has found a national market in insulation and industrial applications. Bark fiber insulation is prepared by shredding the bark in a hammermill operation, following which it is cleared of debris and dried. Finally it is baled and marketed for loose fill insulation. It is unusually fire resistant for a cellulose fiber but can be treated with flame retardants when this property needs to be increased. Further refining produces a product known as Fiber A which is used in oil filters for diesel engines, and in mattress filling. Bark fiber sheets are made from Fiber A and used as separators in batteries. Other debris removed from the earlier product is used in a mulch and soil conditioner which increases moisture-holding capacity of the soil, permits better aeration, and has longer life than peat moss. Bark dust is also recovered, and its use for certain chemical products is under development. Dry waste from lumber is used in the production of pres-to-logs. Redwood pulp is used in plastics and in oil-well-drilling mud to prevent loss of circulation during drilling operations. Through edge- and end-gluing operations odd lengths and widths of kiln-dried lumber can be formed into useable board products. Low density insulation board is made from extracted redwood bark pulp residue. It is necessary for all wood-consuming industries to examine the possible potential value of residual waste, and thus spread the costs which are now being charged only against lumber.

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