The way he was … Karl Goiser operating the gang frame saw in 1955
Politics aside, there is still the matter of economic reality, of dollars and common sense. Much has been said about nitens, putting a spell over those many plantations. However, once the characteristics of this timber are better understood and accepted coming generations might thank us for them, perhaps becoming the base for new industries and more jobs. That is – If the price is right
Plantation tree growers should not be expected to forego a reasonable reward for growing this crop. Far from it. They should be rewarded for efforts of improving the quality by thinning and pruning.
It is at the sawmill where substantial savings can be made by way of productivity and recovery, at this first link in the chain for value adding.
To improve productivity I advocate a milling process cutting quarter sector logs with the round side up or down in one pass through a gang frame saw, followed by a twin edger (optimiser), as outlined in my last year’s TT articles (links below).
Still more important than the much improved productivity is the huge gain in recovery when using this milling process. From the present approximate 30% to better than 60%. Double the output of sawn timber from the same intake of logs. Or if taken the other way the same output of sawn timber from only half the quantity of logs.
Other advantages are:
• all of the log is 100% quarter sawn (radial sawn)
• no need for logs sorting to size
• linear work process without reciprocation
• accurately dimensioned product
• better sawn surfaces
• many wider boards
• simultaneous release of tension
• suitable for logs 40cm to 100 cm diameter
Gang frame saws, although practically unknown in Australia, are by far the most used saw milling machine in Europe. The sawmill in Austria where I served my apprenticeship as a sawmiller had four such machines.
All the above also applies to the milling of other hardwood logs, old-growth, re-growth and other than niten plantation grown hardwood logs.
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