Improving the Surface Quality of Ripsawn Dry Lumber

Ripsawing of five common species of dry lumber with standard 12 inch diameter circular saw was carried out varying saw, speeds, feed speeds, lumber thickness, tooth set, and protrusion of the blade above the table. Power consumed and sawn surface quality were recorded, and size of particles removed from the kerf was examined. Power requirements increased as lumber thickness, saw speed, feed speed, and wood specific gravity increased. Consistent increases in sawn surface roughness were only found when feed speed and blade protrusion increased. At the minimum blade protrusion, sawn surface quality was best and approached that of a planed surface. Long, ribbon-like particles were found in the kerf material removed by the saw in that case. It is therefore possible to improve sawn surface quality and, conceivably, to recover useable kerf material and mix it advantageously with chips in pulp or particleboard production.

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