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Methods of Moisture Content Measurement in the Lumber and Furniture Industries

By: Phil Mitchell Wood Products Notes

This brief factsheet discusses methods of moisture content measurement commonly found in the lumber and furniture industries.

Methodology for Determining Forest Sector Contributions to North Carolina's Economy

By: Eric McConnell, James Jeuck, Robert Bardon, Dennis Hazel, Clayton Altizer, Barry New Forestry Impacts

This factsheet describes in greater detail the methodology used to estimate the economic contributions of North Carolina’s forest products industry. It is a companion piece to the bulletin North Carolina’s Forests and Forest Products Industry By the Numbers, where a variety of figures and statistics are provided on the management and conversion of standing timber into primary and secondary wood and fiber products.

Understanding and Minimizing Veneer Checking on Furniture Panels

By: Craig L. Forbes Wood Products Notes

This wood product note helps wood manufacturers understand and minimize veneer checking on furniture panels.

Wood Surface Inactivation and Adhesive Bonding

By: Craig Forbes Wood Products Notes

From the instant an adhesive is applied to wood until the adhesive cures, several important steps must take place in order for a good glue bond to occur. If any of the actions do not occur, the glue bond will be faulty. Such is the case when gluing wood which is surface inactivated. The definition, causes, and prevention of surface inactivation in wood will be discussed in this factsheet.

Using the Differential Shrinkage and the Cupping of Lumber Spreadsheet

By: Phil Mitchell Wood Products Notes

Wood shrinkage is often calculated with the assumption that the radial and tangential shrinkage occurs parallel to the lumber surfaces. As a result, the calculated shrinkage has a built-in error in calculating the change in dimension as it ignores the curvilinear nature of the growth rings. This paper describes an Excel spreadsheet that considers the curvilinear nature of growth rings to calculate the transverse wood shrinkage and the amount of cup that might develop. The model is dependent on wood species, initial and final moisture contents, and location of the board within the log.

Heat Sterilization of Hardwood Pallets and Pallet Material

By: Joe Denig Wood Products Notes

Manufacturers of hardwood pallets are faced with the prospect that they will be required to sterilize their pallets or pallet parts prior to export to Europe. The purpose of this factsheet is to give some insight into heat sterilization so manufacturers can make better decisions in the future.

Developing a Marketing Plan for Hardwood Bark Landscaping Mulch

By: Craig L. Forbes Wood Products Notes

A viable alternative for dealing with hardwood bark residue is to market the bark as hardwood bark mulch. This factsheet provides a succinct overview of the hardwood bark mulch industry and discusses considerations of developing a marketing plan for this product.

White Oak Quality Index, 2016

By: Eric McConnell Wood Products Notes

This note describes how a quality Index can be used to predict the lumber product value of white oak logs.

Handling and Storage Procedures Prior to Kiln Drying Affect Brown Stain in White Pine

By: Stephen J. Hanover, James G. Shroeder Wood Products Notes

This wood products note highlights a case study involving the kiln drying of 4/4 eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) from the mountains of North Carolina. The study was designed to determine the effects three different handling and storage procedures prior to kiln drying have on the severity of brown stain in the kiln dried lumber. Kiln drying very soon after sawing the log was the only procedure to prevent brown stain.

Drying Softwoods for Value Added Markets

By: Joe Denig Wood Products Notes

In this wood products note, suggestions on how to select a proper target moisture content, conventional temperature schedules for quality drying, equalizing for a uniform final moisture content, and conditioning for stress relief will be discussed.

Strategies for the New American Furniture Industry

By: Phil Mitchell

This publication suggests ways in which North Carolina's furniture industry can be competitive in domestic markets.

Developing an In-Plant Training Seminar on Rough Mill Yields

By: Stephen J. Hanover Wood Products Notes

This wood products note offers suggestions for developing a training seminar on rough mill yields.

Quality Control for Edge Glued Panel Manufacturing

By: Craig L. Forbes Wood Products Notes

Edge glued lumber panels are an important component of many high quality furniture designs. To insure panels of consistent good quality, it is important that the manufacturer carefully monitor several crucial aspects of the edge gluing process. The purpose of this report is to discuss proper manufacturing techniques necessary for quality panels.

What Happens When a Fan Goes Out in Your Pine Kiln?

By: Stephen J. Hanover Wood Products Notes

This wood products note highlights a case study involving drying 4/4 pine boards in a conventional track kiln where a fan went out during the cycle. Airflow measurements and ending moisture content figures are shown by location within the kiln. General comments are made concerning what to do and what to expect when one or more fans do go out during a drying charge.

Stresses Develop After Redrying

By: Stephen J. Hanover, Robert C. Gilmore Wood Products Notes

Properly kiln dried lumber stored, dead packed in an enclosed, unheated shed may pick up moisture. Redrying may be necessary. Drying stresses do develop during redrying and should be relieved.

Fine Tuning Equalizing and Conditioning

By: Joe Denig Wood Products Notes

This wood products note describes how to equalize and condition lumber during drying to avoid problems such as warped or split panels.

Northern Red Oak Quality Index, 2016

By: Eric McConnell Wood Products Notes

This note discusses how a Quality Index can be used to predict the lumber product value of northern red oak logs.

Economic Contributions of North Carolina's Pine Straw Industry

By: Eric McConnell Forestry Impacts

This note provides an overview of the pine straw industry's contributions to North Carolina's economy.

Five Year Movements in North Carolina Hardwood Lumber Prices, 2011 to 2015

By: Eric McConnell Wood Products Notes

Lumber price trends provide key information to parties across the hardwood value chain. The prices illustrated in this note are representative of a typical mix of hardwood species that might be sawn in western and eastern North Carolina.

Sawmill Safety

By: Joe Denig Wood Products Notes

The purpose of this wood products note is to help sawmills develop their own safety program.

Suggestions for Preventing or Minimizing Veneer Checking

By: Robert Gilmore, Stephen J. Hanover Wood Products Notes

This wood products note offers suggestions to help furniture manufacturers reduce or prevent the problem of veneer checking.

Notes on Computerized Kiln Controls

By: Joe Denig Wood Products Notes

This wood products note describes a list of benefits that can be derived by using computerized kiln controls.

Consumer Perceptions of Character Marks on Cabinet Doors

By: Larry Jahn, Matt Bumgardner, Craig Forbes, Cynthia West

What do consumers think of character-marked cabinet doors? If consumers do not object to character marks—naturally occurring features, such as knots, mineral streak, and grain variation—then manufacturers have the potential to increase the value of lower grade veneers.

Lumber's Carbon Product Value

By: Eric McConnell Wood Products Notes

This note provides an economic estimate of North Carolina's lumber as a carbon storehouse.