Conversion of Timber

The term that describes cutting down trees is....

• chopping

• felling

• knocking

• conversion

The most common type of commercial timber harvesting in Ireland is....

• clear felling

• Selection harvesting

• Shelterwood

• Managed harvesting

Commercial timber harvesting usually happens in

• Winter

• Summer

• At night

• In sunny weather

Advantages of felling trees in winter are....

• The amount of sap is normally low at this time because most trees grow very little in winter.

• Fewer leaves on trees makes it easier to strip branches off tree trunks.

• There is a lower risk of the log drying out too quickly.

• Trees are softer and easier to cut in winter.

Disadvantages of clear felling would be

• Leaves large areas of poor/bare land for many years until area is replanted.

• Doesn't have any disadvantages

• Can leave areas land exposed to land slide.

• Heavy machinery is used to fell and transport the tree logs, which damage the local ecosystem.

Waste products from timber harvesting / conversion such as bark, branches and saw dust can be recycled into the products such as....

• wood pellets for stoves

• bark mulch

• manufactured boards like chipboard / MDF

• These waste products cannot be recycled.

The process of converting (cutting) logs into boards of usable timber is called....

• Boarding

• Conversion

• Cutting

• Planking

Reasons for converting timber logs to boards include:

• allows wood to dry faster.

• produces wood of usable size and shape.

• quality of the timber to be viewed and evaluated.

• reduces defects in timber.

Select common methods of conversion of timber:

• Through & Through Sawing

• Radial Sawing

• Tangential Sawing

• Quarter Sawing

Advantages of Through and Through Sawing include

• Fast

• Low cost

• Very stable boards

• Very attractive grain pattern.