ON-SITE SAWMILLINGANDTIMBER CONVERSION

INFORMATION PACK

TRANSNATIONAL WOODLAND INDUSTRIES GROUP

Loren Eldred,Chiltern Woodlands Project,September 2000.

ON-SITE SAWMILLING

AND

TIMBER CONVERSION

INFORMATION PACK

Acknowledgements:

For everyone who provided useful advice in developing this information pack, namely:

Mike Furness, TWIG Project; David Jones, Forestry Commission; Andy Mason, ForestryCommission; John Morris, Chiltern Woodlands Project; Ulf-Dieter Pitzing, TWIGProject; Russell Rowley, SWA; Gervais Sawyer, Buckinghamshire Chiltern UniversityCollege; Jim Walker, Chiltern Woodlands Project

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Contents:

1. Introduction:i The aim of this sawmilling packii What is On-Site Conversion?iii Why Use On-Site Conversion?iv Adding Valuev Profits

2. How you can utilise your wood

3. Forestry Machineryi Types of Millii Extraction Equipmentiii Other Machinery

4. Practical Issuesi Site Factorsii Millingiii Technical Aspectsiv Legal Considerationsv Health and Safetyvi Provision of Information

5. The Economicsi Costs of Different Operationsii Total Value

6. Case Study: Mobile Sawmilling Demonstration of 02.12.99

7. Glossary

8. Bibliography

9. Lists of Useful Contacts

Plate 1. A mobile sawmill can add a new dimensionto your woodland managementL. Eldred, Chiltern Woodlands Project

1. Introductioni The aim of this sawmilling pack

This pack is intended to illustrate to woodland owners how they can use a mobilesawmill to process their timber. It is not designed as a technical document but toprovide an introduction to one important way of raising revenue from a wood. Ownerscan find out more about the process by contacting sawyers and woodland owners whohave used mobile sawmills.

ii What is On-Site Conversion?

On site conversion is cutting felled timber into useful products within the wood. Usinga mobile sawmill for on-site conversion is one way to do this. Other ways may be to usea firewood processor, woodchipper or a bark peeling machine. Which method ofconversion you use depends on what products are required and the material available.

iii Why Use a Mobile Sawmill for On-Site Conversion?

On-site conversion can:

• Add value to your timber for sale.

• Can make small parcels of timber saleable.

• Convert material for your own use.

• Do away with road transport costs to and from a commercial sawmill.

• Produce many different items such as planks, beams, gateposts, flooring, feather-edged cladding boards and so on, which can be used around your estate. Thiscan provide considerable savings as it cuts out the need to buy raw materialsfrom elsewhere.

• Allow unusual timber, character or sizes to be cut.

• Assist the management of your wood.

• Allow specific trees to be processed into specific products.

• Produce valuable by-products such as sawdust that you can use yourself orsell on as a product.

iv Adding Value

Adding value by one or more of the methods to convert timber is a way to balance thecost of managing a small woodland. It can:

• Increase returns from felled timber

• Reduce expenditure on bought-in wood products

• Give the satisfaction of a known timber provenance

• Provide satisfaction in using one’s own timber

• Stimulate other woodland management

• Encourage other local enterprises/wood uses

• Encourage local resource sustainability and produce benefits for recreation,landscape and the natural environment

v Profits

It may be possible to generate profits of 200-300% through mobile sawmilling if thetimber is sold. A standing tree worth £10 may increase to £150 if planked and if airseasoned may increase to £300 or more (figures from the Mobile Bandsaws leaflet bythe Oxfordshire Woodland Project).

Plate 2. Using a mobile sawmill in your wood can not only converttimber into useful products, but provide satisfaction in using yourown timberL.Eldred, Chiltern Woodlands Project

2. How you can utilise your timberSpecies Uses Durability

Ash Framing, flooring, internal joinery, floors and Not durable asfurniture. Smaller diameter useful for tool handles. exterior woodGates if treated.

Beech Interior joinery, furniture and floors. Not durable asexterior woodalthough will takepreservatives well.

Birch Furniture and floors. Not durable asexterior wood,unless treated.

Wild Furniture, cabinet making, kitchen workshops, Semi durable asCherry high-class joinery and panelling. exterior wood.

Sweet Fencing posts, tree shelter stakes, beams, Durable as exteriorChestnut furniture wood

Hornbeam Charcoal, splitting wedges, traditional for gear Not durable asteeth in water mills, turnery use. exterior wood.

Larch Fencing posts, tree shelter stakes Semi-durable asexterior wood.

English Structural work both interior and exterior. Durable as exteriorOak Floors, stairs, furniture and panelling. Gateposts, wood. (Sapwood

cladding boards for barns and beams for susceptible toconstruction. May be used green in construction powder post beetlebut requires careful sawing & carpentry to avoid infestation).problems on drying.

Sycamore Joinery, furniture and floors. Timber showing Will perish out ofgood figure is especially valuable. doors unless

treated.

Yew Decorative work, carvings and veneers. Durable as exteriorSmall diameters used in turnery work. wood.

(Source-British Grown Hardwoods The designers’ handbook,TRADA Technology 1996)

However, with the use of chemical treatments some timberscan be used out of doors which may not have been used in thatrole in the past.

Plate 3. Planks and beams produced with a mobile sawmillJ.Morris Chiltern Woodlands Project

3. Forestry Machineryi Types of Mill

Static Mills – several types are widely used and are either circular or band saw mills.

Static mills may be a small saw bench used on a farm for occasional use or a larger sawused at a timber yard.

Conventional circular saw benches are widely used by many people to convert timber.They are reasonably simple to use but the saw has to be carefully maintained to achievethe best results. Maintenance of the circular saw involves both tensioning (which needssawdoctor expertise) and sharpening (relatively easy for a trained operator). The depthof cut may be a restriction.

Circular Double Slabbers are simply two circular blades mounted on the same bench,which make two cuts at the same time. This decreases the time to convert a piece oftimber but requires lots of power to run two blades at once. It can process short lengthsof timber quickly but has diameter limitations. They have fewer teeth compared with acircular saw, sometimes as few as six. Usually two operators are required for thedouble slabber.

Vertical band saws are used at most timber yards and can process logs over 25cmdiameter and 2m in length. The bandsaw blade needs sharpening after several hourswork. Band saws produce a thinner cut than other types of mill (down to 1mm thickness)and can work faster. They have a low energy requirement.

Mobile SawmillsMobile sawmills are the type of mill that a small woodland owner is likely to use.There are many different models on the market from small, portable saws to trailer-mounted saws. Mobile sawmills are useful for cutting round timber over 25cm in diameterand 2m in length. Power can be from the mill’s own engine, or from a tractor powertake-off. Some of the sophisticated versions use a hydraulic system to load the timberand turn it to meet the saw. Most require just one operator although a second personcan help with the loading and unloading of the logs and timber products.

For more information on the different mobile sawmills models available and acomparison of their performance, refer to the Bibliography and Useful Addresses atthe end of this pack.

Chainsaw mills are the cheapest types of mill to purchase. These are very effective atproducing minor amounts of timber on site for the small-scale user.They are portable and easy to set up. Although cheap to buy, they areslow and more waste is generated because of the wide cut of the chainand are therefore not suited to producing valuable timber. The chainwill have to be filed to a new profile for ripsawing and sharpening thechain can be a long process because the chainsaw has to be firstdismantled from the mill. The chain tension will need checking assawing progresses. Technical versions are available where the chainsawis attached to an aluminium frame and is wound along on a rail. Thesetypes of mill have the advantage of making the chainsaw a more versatiletool from felling the tree to converting it. You must ensure that youhave a current chainsaw certificate and have been properly trained.

Plate 4. Chainsaw mill in actionForestry Commission

Mobile bandsaws have a fast cutting speed, a narrow saw cut and lowenergy demands. Many weigh about a tonne, are towable behind afour-wheel drive vehicle and take very little time to set up, sometimesonly 10 minutes. Narrow or wide bandsaws are available. Narrowbandsaw blades are able to take several resharpenings and are disposable.Wide bandsaw blades require sharpening by a skilled sawdoctor and areextremely accurate in their cutting. Mobile bandsaws are the mostcommon mobile sawmill for hire and can cut logs as large as 90 cms indiameter into products ranging from beams to veneers.

Mobile circular saws are generally very compact to transport and canprocess timber quickly. Trailer-mounted, modern high speed circularsawmills are the fastest cutting mills for small diameter logs and are very popular inScandinavia. The saw sits within a carriage unit which runs on rails either side of the logand is pushed or wound through the log. Two-cut circular saws can swivel through 90°to cut in the horizontal and the vertical planes while the log remains at ground level.Due to this sawing method, there is no requirement to turn the log as with mobilebandsaws which cut in one plane. The depth of cut is limited compared with a bandsaw,so in order to saw wider pieces such as beams, the saw can be reversed for a second cut.Metal rails can be joined on some models enabling very long logs to be sawn. Mobilecircular saws generally produce a wider cut (kerf) than mobile bandsaws. The BlossomDouble-Slabber is a type of mobile sawmill that uses two circularblades at once. It has been designed to process low-grade, smalldiameter timber originally for use in Welsh small woods and produceproducts like flooring boards and fence posts.

Mobile sawmills are best hired in when you have plenty of material toprocess. To purchase one of these can cost between £5 000 to £30 000(chainsaw mills cost less), so for processing small amounts such asthree logs or more, hiring a mobile sawmill with an operator is morecost effective. Hiring a mobile sawmill can cost between £200 – 280per day. All types of sawmills require skill and care and should notbe operated without proper training.

ii Extraction Equipment

In some cases, it may be possible to bring the sawmill close to the felled trees. If this isnot possible, the timber will need to be extracted to the milling site using a form ofextraction equipment.

For small-scale extraction on an undemanding terrain, tractor-based machinery isadequate. Single drum, 3-point linkage winches are often used which can cost justover £1000 and can enable the logs to be pulled to the loading or working area. Askidding cone can be fixed in front of the logs to prevent them from digging into theground when being winched. Logs can be attached to a skidding bar on a 3-pointlinkage and driven out behind the tractor although cleaning the logs after extraction willbe necessary to prevent damage to the saw blade during processing. Small, hand-portable winches are useful across shorter extraction routes and difficult terrain and

Plate 5. A mobile bandsawmaking the first cuts through a logForestor – Standrange Ltd

Plate 6. A portable circular saw which cutshorizontally on the forward run and vertically on thereturn. Forestor – Standrange Ltd

Plate 7. A mini-forwarder beingused to haul out timberM. Furness, TWIG

cost around £1000 including wire cables and strops. Purpose-built timbertrailers with hydraulic loaders mounted on them are more expensive(around £8000) but are useful in larger woodlands. Extraction usinghorses, a mini forwarder and trailer, or a pedestrian-operated machinecould be considered. These three latter examples do not cause the rutsthat may occur through using heavier, tractor-based machinery cause littlecompaction and are more manoeuvrable. Most forms of extraction maycause some damage to soft or wet ground, hence extraction is preferablein dry conditions.

iii Other Machinery

Using a mechanical firewood processor is a practical way to convert reject pieces oftimber into something valuable. They cost below £1000 and can process the materialnear the felling area.Peelers and pointers arealso available which canmake fencing stakes.Shredders and chipperscan convert surplusmaterial into a usefulproduct for mulches orwoodchip heatingrequirements. Some ofthe equipment is availablefor hire to the woodlandowner. Various forestmanagement shows areheld every year in the UKand are an ideal place to see mobile sawmills and other machinery in action.

Firewood processors can also add value to wood and there is a range of differenttypes available. Plate 8 above shows a small portable version (M. Furness, TWIG)

and below, Plate 9, a tractor mounted version(L. Eldred, Chiltern Woodlands Project)

4. Practical Issuesi Site factors

Most broadleaf trees should be felled in autumn or winter when the sap is down. Iffelled at other times of year, staining can result and decrease the value of pale timbersuch as sycamore and ash. Felling outside of autumn or winter may disturb wildlife.Beech should be processed soon after felling as it can be affected by fungal attack oncefelled although spalted beech may fetch a reasonable price for its use in turnery orfurniture.

Extraction is preferable during a dry or frosty period in winter as tracks can easily beruined through the use of heavy machinery during wet weather. Provision of a hard-surfaced track so that the vehicles and machinery can move right up to the timber in thewood will assist extraction or milling work. There should be enough space for themobile sawmill and vehicle to turn around. Extraction routes should be planned beforefelling begins.

Wherever possible, logs should be moved without skidding them along the ground asstones and mud can become lodged in the logs and damage the sawblade. Also ensurethe logs have no nails, fencing staples or wire in them for the same reasons. If the loghas supported a fence and has to be sawn, ensure that the side of log which held thefence is marked clearly for the saw mill operator to see. Be wary of trees adjacent tobomb craters as shrapnel can be embedded in trees. A metal detector should locate anymetal embedded in the wood although a quality one may be costly to purchase. Thebark should be removed from the log at least on the side where the sawblade enters thewood. Using a pressure washer is a modern alternative to blast out stones and grit fromthe log. Many commercial static sawmills will refuse to cut small timber parcels unlessthey can be assured freedom from metal contamination.

ii MillingIt is vital to know your timber size requirements before the logs are felled or plankedup. If you plan to sell the wood, then it is vital to know your markets before hiring ina mill. If the timber is processed to the wrong dimensions, it can be worthless or end upas firewood. A cutting list should be drawn up to give to the sawyer. Allow for timberto shrink as it dries. An experienced sawyer will be able to incorporate shrinkage intothe cutting dimensions. If shake is discovered in the wood as it is being milled, ask thesawyer’s advice on how best to utilise the timber. Allow for waste if the timber is goingto be planed rather than left rough sawn such as 1/8 ”(about 3mm). It may be useful tocontact local sawmills and ask for the prices per cubic foot for the various timbers theyhave.

The sawyer’s time is your money. It is important to be organised and ensure the sawyerspends the maximum time sawing rather than moving timber around. If necessary,provide labour and machinery to help the sawyer with the moving of timber but beaware of safety regulations.

At an early stage, discuss the log stacking area with the sawmill operator to assesswhether the site is practical for their machinery. Your stacking area may be situated inthe woodland or at a yard depending on the practicalities of processing the timber. Thestacking area should preferably have a hard surface and at least one day’s worth ofmillable timber should be stacked. The logs should be as straight as possible and crosscut

carefully into required lengths leaving square and clean ends. The logs should bestacked with their butt ends together on 15cm high bearers to keep them off the groundand help with handling. There should be adequate room around the stack to enable thesawmill to work efficiently particularly if the mill has to be moved due to sawdust blow.Also, consideration must be given to the stacking area for the sawn timber which willtake up more space than the unsawn logs. Again, an adjacent level site is needed andthe intention should be to prevent double handling so each log is moved just oncefrom the saw and onto its drying location. Contact different mobile sawing contractorsfor quotes and ask other woodland owners which sawyers they have used. After that, itis up to the sawyer to get on with processing your timber.

iii Technical aspectsUnless you are using heartwood oak for timber buildings, making roof shingles orselling to green woodworkers, the timber should be dried before it is used for its intendedpurpose. Air drying is a lengthy process and both the species of tree plus the size oftimber will reflect how log it has to be dried. Oak, for instance, has a much highermoisture content than ash so a thick oak board will take longer to dry than an ash one.Timber will shrink as it is dried and will shrink around the circumference more thanfrom the centre or radially. If the timber is to be used inside a heated building, it should

be kiln-dried to lower the moisture content even further otherwise splittingwill occur as the timber dries out too quickly. This will mean loweringthe moisture content to around 10%. The timber can be taken to acommercial kiln for which there will be a cost to transport the timberand dry it.

The aim is lower the moisture content to around 15-25% and stackingthe timber correctly will help this process. To measure the moisturecontent of your piece of wood, a meter can be purchased (see List ofUseful Contacts for details). The stacking site should not only be levelbut the stack should be covered from the rain and out of direct sunlight.A suitable site for air seasoning sawn timber would be on the north sideof a barn where the timber will dry out slowly. The lowest timber must

be kept off the ground on bearers laid flat and level on the ground. As the timber isstacked, it should be separated from other timber pieces by stickers (thin pieces ofsoftwood) to provide sufficient airflow through the stack. An adequate number ofstickers should be used to prevent the timber planks from bending and enough weightplaced on top of the stack to avoid warping. Stickers are usually 15-20 mm thick andplaced about 0.4 – 0.5 m apart. The top of the stack should be weighted and the endspreferably strapped to avoid warping. An exception is sycamore which is ‘end-racked’or stood up on its end between slats screwed to a wall as this prevents staining. It isimportant to spend time in stacking the timber evenly and neatly especially if it is to besold. The appearance of the stack can help achieve a good price.

Sealing wax can be used on the ends of the timber to prevent it from drying out tooquickly and splitting. If splits occur the timber will lose some of its value as the endswill be waste. An emulsion of wax can be sprayed onto the ends of the timber using aknapsack sprayer if the timber quantities are large enough.

Plate 10. It is important tostack timber carefully to helpthe drying processJ.Morris,Chiltern Woodlands Project

iv Legal ConsiderationsFelling licences – if more than 2 cubic metres of material is felled, then a felling licencefrom the Forestry Commission is needed. This may be as part of a Woodland GrantScheme (WGS) contract. Owners may fell up to five cubic metres per calendar quarterwithout the need for a licence as long as no more than two cubic metres are sold. Pleaseconsult your local Forestry Commission office for more advice.

Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas – if these exist on the woodlandthen permission must first be obtained from the relevant local authority (usually thedistrict or borough council) before any woodland management begins.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves – Consent must beobtained from English Nature before any woodland management is undertaken.

Felling should avoid the bird-nesting season in the spring.

Greater care and consideration should be taken when felling near or adjacent to publichighways including public rights of way and permissive access, other ownerships andeasements.

v Health and SafetyIt is good working practice to carry out a risk assessment on your woodland andwoodland management operations.

Chainsaws, sawmills and other forestry equipment are potentially dangerous and sufficienttraining in their use must be ensured. Check that your contractor has undertakenrecognised training.

Use appropriate personal protective equipment (ppe) when carrying out woodlandmanagement whether it is yourself or a contractor carrying out the work. A reputablecontractor will wear the correct safety gear at all times.

Fresh green wood is very heavy! Avoid backstrain when handling green wood byusing human or mechanical help.

Respect your neighbours’ requirements when using noisy machinery, especially ifyour wood is adjacent to domestic properties.

Ensure the milling site is separated from livestock, the public and children. Temporaryfencing may be needed.

Ensure timber is stacked neatly and safely.

Ensure any arisings from the woodland operations are disposed of in a safe manner.By-products like sawdust, bark and chippings may even be valuable as a product.

Avoid pollution of watercourses and do not disturb other areas of the site unnecessarily.

Avoid damage to sensitive areas such as important wildlife areas and archaeologicalremains.

Public Liability Insurance – An appropriate level of cover should be taken out. TheSmall Woods Association runs an insurance scheme for woodland owners. You couldalso contact an insurance broker who may be able to offer a similar scheme. Ensure thatyour contractor has sufficient public liability insurance.

vi Provision of InformationIf your wood has public access, then it may be sensibleto install temporary signs before any woodlandmanagement goes ahead. Such signs are compulsoryfor safety reasons and to comply with local authoritypermission. It is useful to reassure the public at anearly stage that the work is part of a long-term plan tobenefit the wood so they become used to seeing workhappen. The signs should be simple and state the typeof work to be carried out, why it is being done, itsduration and a contact name and number. Some of thepeople reading the signs may even be interested inbuying the products that you make from the timber.

Plate 11. Positive signs can help you with your woodland managementJ.Morris, Chiltern Woodlands Project

5. Economicsi Costs of different operations

It is very difficult to put prices to the costs of converting timber because there are somany variables. Factors like quantity and quality of timber, the sawing costs, use ofother machinery, the health of the timber market, the skill of the sawyer and the distanceto transport the products will all determine the final cost. Activities which can becosted are felling, snedding, crosscutting, extracting, sawing, seasoning and delivery/haulage (if not for own use).

It is possible to achieve profits of 200-300% provided that you are selling qualityhardwood to a known market. At the Mobile Sawmilling Demonstration of 02.12.99.(See 6. Case Study):

• A three-metre long oak log took under 10 minutes to convert to a beam witha value of £40.

• If the sawyer can make seven of these an hour, then the value of the sevenbeams is £280.

• Minus the sawyer’s hourly rate of approximately £40/hour

• Then the value of the beams is £240/hour or £1800/day.

Please note that:

o You may need to pay for haulage costs if the timber is to be sold on.

o You should allow for drying time.

o Labour may be needed to assist with stacking the timber.

o Machines can break down!

o 1/3 of the log can be lost as waste when sawn

Three examples of sawn timber prices*

• A 4 x 4” x 8ft post in untreated hardwood: £15

• A 12ft half-round rail: £3.60

• A 6ft. pointed half round stake: £1.80

Waste sawdust can be processed into fuel pellets, pet bedding or have uses in pottery. Ifused for heating requirements, it is worth about £50 per tonne delivered and equal to13p/litre (heating oil equivalent).

* All prices for untreated hardwood, excluding VAT. For products in softwood, divideprices by half. Year 2000 prices.

If you intend to sell your timber, one of thelatest ways is through ‘Woodlots’. This is anational ‘exchange and mart’ type ofpublication that is free to advertise in. Thesawmill contractor may be able to assist inselling the processed timber.

ii Total valueWoodland management has to be concerned with more than trying to make a profit andmust look at the total value of utilising timber from your wood. By beginning to managethe woodland, it can be brought out of neglect and develop a use for the future. Manywoodland owners feel personally satisfied to initiate work in their woods and ‘makethings happen’. It can be satisfying to produce practical items like gateposts or claddingfor your own use on your land from your own trees. It can bring improvements to thelandscape and produce locally manufactured and sustainable materials. It can educatelocal people about woodland management. Utilising trees for milling opens up areaswithin the wood thus letting in more light for both ground flora and naturally-regeneratingtrees. By-products are generated like sawdust which can be used as a fertiliser or petbedding material if clean and bagged. It can stimulate the local economy by using localforestry contractors.

6. Case Study:Mobile Sawmilling Demonstration – 02.12.99.

A mobile sawmilling event was held in December 1999 to demonstrate to woodlandowners the practicalities of using mobile sawmills and to generate interest in addingvalue to woodland products.

Twenty-six people attended the event at Horseleys Green, near Stokenchurch,Buckinghamshire to watch contractor, John Ayres demonstrate the use of his Woodmizersawmill to convert timber into saleable material. A three metre long oak log was

converted into a square beam for construction use in less thanten minutes. Four cuts of the saw increased the value to thisitem from firewood worth £2.00 to a new value of £40.00. Beechplanks were sawn for flooring for the owner’s use.

Costs for machine hire tend to be around £35 per hour plus thelabour costs for an operator and their assistant. John Ayres usesa hydraulic lifting arm on a timber wagon to load the logs ontothe saw bed.

John Ayres was pleased to provide answers to questions on mobilesawmilling after the demonstration. Half of the people attendingthe demonstration were students from Buckinghamshire ChilternUniversity College Forest Products degree course whilst half werelocal woodland owners and managers interested in the use ofmobile sawmills in their woods.

The event was arranged by the Chiltern Woodlands Project aspart of the Trans-national Woodland Industries Group (TWIG)project.

Plate 12. Demonstrations like this one at Horseleys Green,Bucks can encourage woodland owners to consider the useof mobile sawmills in their woods. J.Morris, Chiltern Woodlands Project

7. GlossaryAir-drying Traditional way of seasoning wood outside which can take twelve months or more

depending on the type of wood and the thickness

All-Terrain Bike (ATB) Small, four wheeled vehicle based around a motorbike andor quad bike used over cross-country

Bearer Strips of wood a timber stack rests on

Cross-cut Cutting wood across the grain

Firewood processor A machine to split wood into firewood

Forwarder A forestry machine which can transport cut timber out of the forest – usually a tractorwith grab & trailer

Kerf The width of timber removed by a saw as sawdust

Kiln drying Using a heated kiln to season wood for interior use

Mobile sawmill A machine that can be taken on site to process timber

Moisture content The amount of water in the wood

Natural regeneration Trees & shrubs grown from the seed of surrounding parent plants

Pedestrian-controlled A small, powered machine which can be used to extract timber where tractors cannotmachine be used

Personal protective The safety equipment necessary to be worn when carrying out work such asequipment chainsawing

Ripping Cutting along the grain

Saw doctor Person who can maintain and repair blades for circular and band saw blades

Sealing wax A wax applied to end grain of drying timber to reduce splitting

Shake A split defect in felled timber

Skid cone A lightweight, conical device fitted to front of timber bundle when hauling out

Skidding Dragging a log behind a tractor

Snedding Removing the branchwood from log leaving flush surface

Sticker Thin pieces of softwood used to separate drying timber in a stack

Sustainability Using resources prudently to allow for their replenishment

Thinning Removing trees to make space for others to grow

Veneer Thin strips of wood peeled off a large log by a thin blade. The most valuable timber usedon high quality cabinet making.

8. Bibliography• Adding Value to Farm Timber paper, Marches Woodland Initiative

• Adding Value to Farm Wood May 1997, Forestry & British Timber magazine(taken from Technical Note below)

• Adding Value to Farm Wood, Forest Research Technical Note 21/96

• Caring for Small Woods, by Ken Broad 1998. Earthscan Publications Ltd.

• Evaluation of the Blossom Double-Slabber Portable Sawmill, Forest ResearchTechnical Note 23/98

• Evaluation of the Lucas Mill, Forest Research Technical Note 6/98

• Harvesting, Extraction & Processing of Low Grade Broadleaves: Case Study,Forest Research Technical Note 25/96

• History in Chiltern Woods, 1999, Chiltern Woodlands Project

• The Jonsered 600+ Chainsaw Mill, Forest Research Technical Note 5/98

• Laks Sawmill, Forest Research Technical Note 10/98

• Mobile Bandsaws Information Leaflet, Oxfordshire Woodland Project

• Mobile Sawmills leaflet, Anglian Woodland Project

• Small Wood Information Pack, National Small Woods Association,

• Woodland Owners Handbook, Coed Cymru

Addresses for bibliography:Anglia Woodnet, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2SG

Chiltern Woodlands Project, 8 Summerleys Road, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP279DT

Coed Cymru, The Old Saw Mill, Tregynon, Newtown, Powys SY16 3PL

Earthscan Publications Ltd, London

Forestry and British Timber, United Business Media, Miller Freeman House, SovereignWay, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1RW

Forestry Commission, Technical Development Branch, Ae Village, Dumfries, DG1 1QB

Marches Woodland Initiative, Forestry Commission Offices, Whitcliffe, Ludlow,Shropshire SY8 2HD

National Small Woods Association The Cabins, Malehurst Estate, Minsterley, Shropshire,SY5 0PF

Oxfordshire Woodland Project, Cultural Services Dept, Holton, Oxford OX33 1QQ

9. List of useful contactsContractors: Mobile Sawmills

Contact Name Address Phone No. Role

John Ayres Woodlyn, Wycombe Road, Stokenchurch, Bucks, 01494 483366 Mobile sawmiller andHP14 4NF contractor

Martin Drew Trenoweth, Watery Lane, Clifton Hampden, 01865 407675 Mobile sawmill and contractorAbingdon, Oxon, OX14 3EJ

Patrick Hart 3 Taylors Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts 01462 731095 Mobile sawmill

Marcus Mason, 120 High Street, Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Bucks, 01296 651524 Contractor with chainsaw millHeathfield & Mason HP18 0JF

Rob Perry Thames Valley Arborists, 101Chapel Hill, 0973 261539 Mobile sawmill and treeTilehurst, Reading, Berks RG31 5BX surgery

Martin Wright Pang Valley Charcoal, 01189 714057 Mobile sawmill and charcoalmakers

Contractors: Static Sawmills

Peter Barnes Barnes Branch, Brook Street, High Wycombe, 01494 525761 Sawmill & timber merchantBucks HP13 5HR

Beaumont Forest Burtley Sawmills, Hedgeley Lane, Windsor Road, 01494 675226 Sawmill & timber merchantProducts Ltd. Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2SE

Blenheim Estate Combe, Witney, Oxon OX8 8ET 01993 881206 Sawmill fencing & timberSawmills merchants

Bouchier Fencing Ltd The Yard, Goring Road, Woodcote, 01491 681265 Sawmill and fencingHenley on Thames, Oxon

NR Cox The Sawmill, Scotts Common, Checkendon, 01491 680671 Sawmill & timber buyerNr. Reading, Berks RG8 0TH

Kenny Earle Glendale, North End, Henley on Thames, 01491 638624 Sawmill, timber merchant &Oxon RG9 6LQ forestry contractor

Eynsham Park Cuckoo Lane, North Leigh, Witney, Oxon, 01993 881391 Sawmill & timber merchantsSawmill OX8 6PS

D. Layton Layton Timber, Pyrton Hill, Watlington, 01491 613222 Sawmill & timber buyerOxon OX9 5DF

M. MacKrory, Nettlebed Sawmill, c/o Cherry Dene, 01491 575723 Sawmill and forestry1 Elizabeth Close, Henley on Thames, (home), contractorOxon RG9 1RE 01491 642033

(mill)

Narcot Timber Narcot House, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks 01494 872550 Fencing, planking and roughServices cut timber

Simon Wingrove Bluebell Sawmills, 82 Kingsmead Road, 01494 530650 Sawmill and tree surgeryLoudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1HY

Other Contractors:

John Bunce Pine Ridge Farm, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, 01344 771063 Horse loggingBerks RG40 3ND

Andy Burnage 72 High Street, Toddington, Beds LU5 6BY 01525 874273 Timber extraction, coppiceworker

James Dyer 2 Pond View Cottages, Village Road, Coleshill, 01494 721370 Forestry contractorAmersham, Bucks HP7 0LH

Fountain Forestry Unit 3, Willows Gate, Stratton Audley, 01869 277077 Forestry contractorsLtd Nr. Bicester, Oxon OX6 9BA

Mike Harvey 31 Bowness Avenue, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8NF 01235 813619 Forestry contactor

Nicolson Nurseries The Park, North Aston, Bicester, Oxon, 01869 340342 Forestry landscaping advice,OX6 4HL contracting service and tree

nursery.

Nick Pitcher Leighton House, Aston Gardens, Aston Rowant, 01844 353660 Timber merchantWatlington, Oxon OX9 5SY

Henry Rimmer Ferndale Forestry, 52 Shelbourne Road, 01494 452525 Forestry contactorHigh Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3NQ

Peter Leybourne 14 White Hart Fields, Quainton, Bucks, 01296 655565 Pest controlHP22 4AT

LJ Reed & Sons Ltd Unit 6, Reeds Ind. Estate, 28 Plantation Road, 01494 721468 Timber merchantsAmersham, Bucks

South Bucks Pyebush Lane, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2RX 01494 671921 Timber merchantsEstates Ltd

Charlie Stockwell Stockwells Timber Care Centre, Ibstone Road, 01494 483771 Kiln drying & timberStockenschurch, Bucks merchants

Mick Tapping 13 Highfield Road, Princes Risborough, 01844 345731 Forestry contractorBucks HP27 0HG

Peter Whipp Ridgeway Woodlands, 33 Hillway, Amersham, 01494 433944 Forestry contractorBucks, HP7 0JL

Woodland Management Advice

John Morris Chiltern Woodlands Project, 8 Summerleys Road, 01844 271315 Local woodland managementPrinces Risborough, Bucks HP27 9DT advisor in the Chilterns

David Rees Oxfordshire Woodland Project, Cultural Services 01865 810206 Local woodland managementDept, Holton, Oxford OX33 1QQ advisor across Oxfordshire

Russell Rowley Small Woods Association, The Cabins, 01743 792644 A charity bringing togetherMalehurst Estate, Minsterley, Shropshire, everyone with an interest inSY5 0PF small woods.

English Nature Foxhold House, Crookham Common, 01635 268881 For advice on Sites of specialThatcham, Berks RG19 8EL Scientific Interest and National

Nature Reserves

Forestry Commission The Old Barn, Upper Wingbury Farm, 01296 681181 Local office for forestry grants,Wingrave, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 4RF felling licences, advice and

information

Forestry Commission Alice Holt, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey, 01420 23337 South East England RegionalGU10 4LF Conservancy office for forestry

grants, felling licences, adviceand information (Bucks, Berks& Oxon for the Chilterns)

Forestry Commission Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0TJ 01842 815544 East England RegionalConservancy office for forestrygrants, felling licences, adviceand information (Herts & Bedsfor the Chilterns)

Farming & Wildlife Berks Bucks & Oxon FWAG, Oxon Spires 01865 845152 Whole farm conservationAdvisory Group BusinessPark, The Boulevard, Kidlington, advice and plans(FWAG) Oxford, OX5 1FR

Dougal Driver Timber Growers Association 11 Florence Road, 01276 32208 Organisation representing theCollege Town, Sandhurst, Berkshire, GU15 4QB interests of the timber grower

and publishes regularnewsletter.

Ian Barrow Barrow & Holding Tree and Woodland 01442 252339 Tree & woodland managementManagement, 58 Glenview Road, Boxmoor, and arboricultural consultancyHemel Hempstead, Herts, HP1 1TB

Peter Hale Hale Associates, Payn’s House, Oxhill, 01295 688100 Forestry consultantWarwick CV35 0QR

Geoff Hopwood Oaklands, Little Hampden, Great Missenden, 01494 488346 Forestry consultant Bucks,

Rod Morrison 1 Forge House, Cryers Hill Road, 01494 716126 Forestry consultantHigh Wycombe, Bucks HP15 6LJ

Rik Pakenham Chiltern Forestry, Stoney Lane Cottage, 01844 278849 Forestry consultantLittle Haseley, Oxon, OX44 7LU

Gervais Sawyer Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, 01494 522141 For advice on sawbladeHigh Wycombe Campus, Queen Alexandra Road, maintenance, drying,High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 2JZ preservation and mould control.

Tilhill Economic Standhill Court, Little Haseley, Oxford, 01844 279911 Woodland managers andForestry Oxon OX44 7LN contractors

Sawmill Manufacturers

TR Autotrek Timber Resources International Ltd, 01428 741349 Mobile sawmill manufacturerPO Box51, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7YL

Blossom Design Ltd Blossom Works, New Inn, Pencader, Dyfed, Manufacturer of double slabberSA39 9AY

Evergreen Mobile Berrymead Farm, Hunston Road, Chichester, 01243 782930 Mobile sawmill manufacturerSawmills West Sussex, PO20 6NP

Forestor Upper Norton Farm, Sutton Scotney, 01962 761622 Mobile sawmill manufacturer(Standrange Ltd) Winchester SO21 3QF

Jonsered Power Oldends Lane Industrial Estate, Stonedale Road, 01453 820310 Chainsaw mill manufacturerProducts UK, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, GL10 3SY

Laimet Fuelwood Harvesting, Abbey St Bathans, Duns, 01361 840251 Mobile sawmill manufacturerBerwickshire, TD11 3TX

Lucasmill, Marlwood Ltd, Court Lodge Farm, Forge Lane, 01622 728718 Mobile sawmillEast Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent ME15 0HQ manufacturer

Lumbermate Charterhouse Richmond, Weydown Industrial 01428 643328 Suppliers of LumbermateEstate, Weydown Road, Haslemere, Surrey, mobile sawmillGU27 1DW

Laks Mekaniska AB PO Box 16, S-820 82, Jarvso, Sweden 0046 651 Electrical framesaw and415 80 circular resaw unit

Pezzalato Calder Wilkinson Ltd, Station Road, Sowerby Agents for Pezzalato millsBridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 3LA

Wood-Mizer High Oak Farm, Oswaldkirk, York Y06 5YF 01439 788030 Mobile sawmillmanufacturer

Miscellaneous Contacts

Protimeter PLC Meter House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Bucks 01628 472722 Manufacturers of moisturemeters.

Thames and Kennet Michael Brown, Bracken, Loxwood Road, 01403 752556 Coordinate the machineryMachinery Ring Ltd. Alford, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8HN ring for this region

The Vale Training Marsh Hill Farm, Marsh, Aylesbury 01296 612201 Independent trainingGroup Bucks, HP17 8ST providor for land based and

rural businesses

Useful Publications and Associations

APF News APF, 7/9 West St, Belford, Northumberland 01668 213937 Association of ProfessionalNE70 7QA Foresters magazine

The Chiltern Wood C/o The Twig Project, 8 Summerleys Road, 01844 271316 A directory of wood usersDirectory Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9DT across the Chilterns.

Eco-ads C/o Jonathan West, Vegetation Consultancy, 01730 265933 A companion paper to69 Grange Road, Petersfield, Hants GU32 3NE Woodlots to promote the

management of land andwildlife.

Forestry & British United Business Media, Sovereign House, 01732 377543 Magazine for BritishTimber Sovereign Way, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RW forestry.

Woodlots To subscribe: Beacon Forestry, 2A Rutland Sq. 0131 228 4176 An exchange and mart typeEdinburgh, EH1 2AS magazine to buy and sellYour regional coordinator: Loren Eldred, 01844 271315 timber and woodlandChiltern Woodlands Project, 8 Summerleys Road, productsPrinces Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9DT

© Chiltern Woodlands ProjectSeptember 2000

About TWIG:

This On-Site Sawmilling and Timber Conversion Information Pack has been producedby the Chiltern Woodlands Project for TWIG.TWIG - the Transnational Woodland Industries Group – is a European funded projectaiming to revitalise local woodland economies in the Chilterns, with partners in NorthEvia in Greece and Trier and Thuringia in Germany.

For information about TWIG contact:Mike Furness, Project Manager8, Summerleys Road Princes Risborough. Bucks HP27 9DTTel: 01844 271316 Fax: 01844 271319e-mail: twig@chilternsaonb.fsnet.co.uk

About the Chiltern Woodlands Project:

The Chiltern Woodlands Project (registered charity no. 1002512) aims to promote andencourage the sensitive and sustainable management of woodlands in the Chiltern Hills.It acts to encourage owners to care for their woodlands, organises a series of annualtraining workshops and is the Regional Co-ordinator for Woodlots in the Thames andChilterns region. The Chiltern Woodlands Project is a partner in the Trans-nationalWoodland Industries Group.

For information about the Chiltern Woodlands Project contact:John Morris or Loren Eldred8, Summerleys Road Princes Risborough. Bucks HP27 9DTTel: 01844 271315 Fax: 01844 271319e-mail: john@chilternwoods.freeserve.co.uk