Smorfitt, D.B., Herbohn, J.L., and Harrison, S.R. (2001) The role of portable sawmills and chainsaw milling in tropical small-scale forestry. In: Harrison, S.R., and Herbohn, J.L., (eds.) Sustainable Farm Forestry in the Tropics: social and economic analysis and policy. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 77-88.

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Abstract

Various forms of portable or 'walkabout' sawmills have become popular for timber extraction and in-forest milling in tropical forestry in recent years. A number of advantages over larger fixed-site mills have been recognised, such as reduced transport costs and utilisation of smaller logs and branches. Portable bandsaws, with a thin blade kerf generally give rise to a greater timber recovery than traditional circular saws. Chainsaws have been criticised for greater timber wastage, and in some cases their use for timber extraction has been declared illegal. The choice of appropriate technology involves a tradeoff with respect to various factors including capital outlays, maintenance capability and costs, labour efficiency and timber recovery rate. If these items are factored into the overall average cost curve, it becomes apparent that both portable sawmills and chainsaw milling do have an important role in tropical small-scale forestry. the latter are particularly useful for flitch cutting as a first stage of milling.

Item ID:	14335
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	978-1-84064-720-4
Keywords:	chainsaw milling; portable sawmills; small-scale forestry
Date Deposited:	17 May 2013 01:46
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0705 Forestry Sciences > 070504 Forestry Management and Environment @ 100%
SEO Codes:	82 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8201 Forestry > 820102 Harvesting and Transport of Forest Products @ 100%
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