Title: Impact of elliptical shaped red oak logs on lumber grade and volume recovery

Author: Rappold, Patrick M.; Bond, Brian H.; Wiedenbeck, Janice K.; Ese-Etame, Roncs

Year: 2007

Publication: Forest Products Journal. 57(6): 70-73.

Abstract: This research examined the grade and volume of lumber recovered from red oak logs with elliptical shaped cross sections. The volume and grade of lumber recovered from red oak logs with low (e ≤ 0.3) and high (e ≥ 0.4) degrees of ellipticity was measured at four hardwood sawmills. There was no significant difference (p = 0.57) in the percent of No. 1 Common and better grade lumber recovered between the two ellipticity classes across the four sawmills. Differences in the percent of lumber overrun was also found to not be significant (p = 0.61) between the two log ellipticity classes. Information collected for this research did illustrate that at several of the sawmills studied yield of lumber from highly elliptical logs could be improved.