Cutting Wood with Water Jets

Research at the University of Michigan indicates that powerful jets of water could be used to replace present-day woodworking tools. Jets could be used to fell trees, delimb logs, and machine furniture parts. The greatest benefit would be the savings in wood now lost as sawdust, which can be as high as 40 percent of log volume. Greater production speeds and less maintenance of equipment might also be possible with cutting jets. Water jets from 0.001 inch to 0.010 inch in diameter, travelling at speeds up to 3,000 feet per second are being used to cut maple up to 2 inches thick. The water is compressed under pressures up to 50,000 pounds per square inch. The small amount of material removed from the ultra-thin cuts appears to be suited to the production of chemically derived wood products. The study is designed to provide basic information on high energy liquid jets. Development into a useful commercial process is yet to be accomplished.

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