4/4 Hardwood Dimension from Short Bolts: Economic and Processing Comparison of Conventional and Innovative Production

To determine the economic feasibility of using small logs for dimension products, the costs of producing 4/4 dimension lumber from black walnut, black cherry, and yellow-poplar in dimension mills with 8, 2, and 1 MM BF input capacity were analyzed. Internal rates of return varied from 13 to 94 percent and were greater for the higher valued species and for the larger mills. Even using bolts costing $100 more than expected was economically attractive in the larger mills. A present-value analysis of each of the three mill sizes for black walnut and yellow-poplar bolts for four alternative drying methods and three alternative surfacing methods showed that solar-dehumidification drying was less costly than conventional kiln-, jet-, or pressure-steam drying. Likewise, face milling was less costly than conventional knife planing or abrasive planing.

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