Sawing Method Effect on the Production of Cherry Lumber

Eighty, randomly selected cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) sawlogs were randomly divided into two equal groups and processed into lumber in a northern Pennsylvania hardwood sawmill using a single-cut band headrig. The logs were sawn into lumber using two different sawing methods. One group was processed by grade sawing and the other by live sawing. The effect of sawing method was evaluated by means of a detailed input-output study, a time study, an analysis of variance, and a cost analysis. Live sawing in comparison to grade sawing resulted in a significant 58 percent increase in the rate of lumber output (board feet per hour) with only a slight decrease of 7 percent in NHLA lumber grade recovery (lumber value in dollars per MBF). Sawmill productivity, expressed on the basis of lumber value in dollars per hour, was increased by 47 percent. Time study data revealed the major reason for the increased production rate for live-sawn logs was the considerable decrease in the time spent in turning and sawing these logs. The number of turning and sawing elements was decreased by 81 and 43 percent, respectively. Cost analysis indicated live sawing log run cherry logs in comparison to grade sawing them would result in an increase of gross profits of over $230 per day, a 45 percent increase. Live-sawn lumber was wider, contained more all-sap or all-heart, and had more edge grain than the grade-sawn type.

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