Evaluating two methods of coping with tree shear damage at the sawmill

Damage to sawlogs caused by hydraulic tree shears has made that method of tree felling increasingly unpopular with sawmill managers in British Columbia. A study was made of different methods used by two saw-mills to minimize losses caused by shear damage in alpine fir [Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.]. Mill A removed the damage at the log cut-off saws. Mill B trimmed the damage off at the lumber trim saws. Lumber yields from 163 shear-damaged butt logs were compared with yields from 654 nonbutt logs. Total value loss attributable to shear damage was 13.7 percent at Mill A and 3.9 percent at Mill B, indicating that efforts to remove shear damage should not be made until the full extent of the damage is visible.

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