,27//f ; £/66£ -/ ~7^ USES FOR SAWDUST AND SHAVINGS By Forest Products Laboratory ,— Forest Service U. S. Department of Agriculture The most economical disposal of sawdust and shavings is a concern to the wood industries. In some cases the problem arises from the need of reducing the cost of getting rid of material that clogs production; in others, from the desire to get some return or profit from material that ia the log form has represented a considerable outlay of money. Steam-power plants that used wood waste for fuel at the point of its production have been replaced to a large extent by plants that use electric power or internal-combustion engines, so that many of these major outlets for sawdust as fuel have been closed. On the other hand, certain uses for sawdust and shavings have been extended. Thus, from various angles, the subject has considerable current interest for wood- working concerns. This report summarizes the be3t available information on. uses for sawdust and shavings in order to facilitate reply to the large number of inquiries received ■by the Forest Products Laboratory. On some of the uses the information at hand is reasonably dependable; on others, where the use is small and Localized, the information is fragmentary and may not be currently applicable elsewhere or under other conditions. Major emphasis in this report is placed upon the established uses rather than. upon potential uses. Potential uses will seem much more important to many inquirers, but for the most part such uses are a matter for further research and investigation. This report aims to cover normal trade outlets and makes y.o attempt to report on the status or results of research projects. Quantity uses for sawdust and shavings are open to the individual producers of such waste. Many of the uses, however, do not require large quantities. Many of them call for the retailing of special qualities of material and often of material in relatively small lots, the demands for which are customarily sup- plied by dealers who specialize in sawdust and shavings. Most of the larger cities have such dealers, whose names are r -| y 1 f 1 i"^*TfTTr1 ane ]f'rf\ directories and similar lists. HUME LIBRARY On an industry-wide "oasis the bulk of the sawiust is green. Thus farlit has not been considered economically feasible to try sawQigs* awtif iciallyl G-reen sawdust has limited use except as fuel at the! producing p" anw'cC-reeiJ hardwood sawdust, however, is used in fairly large amo|unts for meat smoking, fen certain -^Maintained at Madison 5, Vis., in eooperat i di^wltSl^n^^iOli^/Onfrfa? Wisconsin, Report ! T o. R1666-1 -1- localities green softwood sawdust, and to a les3 extent hardwood sawdust, is used in special sawdust furnaces for domestic heating. Shavings ordinarily come from air-dried or kiln-dried wood. Shavings and sawdust produced from machining dry wood afford their producer the test irospeots for marketing waste material of this kind. Tor most uses only fresh material is acceptable. Sawdust and shavings, when exposed to the weather, very rapidly deteriorate and lose much of their use value. As in other fields of wood use, it is better to prevent the waste or to mini- mize its occurrence than to salvage it after it occurs. After waste is pro- duced, however, its most economical disposal depends more upon the i ; .ve and selling ability of the producer than upon almost anything else. Available information is tabulated in tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this report under the following four general classifications: (1) Uses because of special physical equalities. ( 2 ) Fue 1 us e s . (3) Fiber uses. (4) Chemical uses. Such classification is not entirely satisfactory because some uses may be clapped in more than one group. In seeking a market, it is well to recognize that intrinsic physical quali- ties (table 1) of sawdust and shavings, as well as their cheapness and avail- ability, govern certain types of their use. Recognition of this i lp the producer to find local markets not specifically listed in table 1. Saw- dust and shavings sometimes are chosen for use because they are: (l) acsorb- ent , as for spilled liquids, as a carrier of liquid manure; (2) abrasive, as in hand soaps, metal polishes, fur cleaning, sweeping comjounds (atsorbence also involved); (3) bulky and fibrous, as for wood flour, cushion: packaging, light-weight cement aggregate; (4) nonconductive, af for insulation, ice storage; and (5) granular, as for textured surfaces, oatmeal wallpaper. Four main classes of fuel uses (table 2) for sawdust and shavi: e recog- nized: (1) for power and heat at tne producing plant (with other wood waste); (2) in public buildings and power plants (with hogged waste); (3) witr. special domestic sawdust burners (sawdust onl; id (4) as briquettes (dry sawdust and shavings). The first class is count ry-wide and large in volume, although decreasing. The last three classes ?re of special significance, mostly in the Pacific "orthwest. The fourth class is arousir..-- increasing Interest, from which a. t ; or.s of this use in other parts of the country may develop. Uses of sawdust ar.'.i shavings as fiber (table 3) have received considerable attention, but as yet have not actually developed to any important degree. Sawdust and shavings are not a generally acceptable material for pulping, because of various technical and economic factors involved in their use for such purpose, '.vood flour, an important use, is fibrous, tut it is classi- fied in this report under uses for special physical properties. In certain os, use is teir^.; made or has been tried for ti.ref types of fiber jrc I , 1666-1 -2- namely; (1) filler for saturating felt, asphalt shingles, and the like; (2) low-grade pulp for container liners; and (3) pressed board or shaped products with resin or other binding agent. In the United States uses of sawdust and shavings for production of chemicals (table 4) are of potential rather than immediate importance, except for their time-honored usage in connection with the smoking of neat. Established chemical-conversion processes are employed to some extent for products of (1) distillation and (2) extraction; while laboratory or commercial pilot- plant tests are in progress for chemical production by (3) hydrolysis, (4) fermentation, and (5) hydroge nation. A\>ril 1947 Report No. H1666-1 -3- Table i.~y*e* of *»^Mi rCI ABSCXBD tiMt factories Jlft& market* Hotel kltdieoi Machine *hop* Meat Mrxati Packing plant* Taonerie* Tawern* Vegetable market* ■erenouse* Grasshopper Bait LnUir larttof tlgnor Sig nal Socket* and Jlreworke Zrea* lrm and • Sdqc1»1-Pujt>o** Ho* - pltml Mattr*»»e* FCR ABBAS! VI TIBS: Cloan*ln< Soap* B) *T*mf Co *m re 1*1 Specie* Specif lcatlon* i L'eer* or purcL***r«; lurat :Dry ifhlte plne.bmeevocd, poad*ro*a pin*, and otter *o ft wood* and .-.: ;* : -it -ryilaaterx. red cedar Soft absorbent, non-:Cniefiy feme re end * wood* pre- ferred. Mood* con- taining tannine not desired Principally dry iwduil utof*. Som *nmTl*g* accepted far Working Cleaning I retting •7*1*4 Metal ttniahm Cleaning DryLng PblUhlttg (From pickling o*tt. PUH04 . 1 at rat machine*, and EnLlO r±*ttoVl U ••■■ ttaiini Cm. roo random ■•port Bo. -r 7 Dq Dry Dry Dry '-rj Iry :ry Dry "Box Shop,* a mix- ture of nmrdwood* •ad softwood* *■ produced at box fac- torial , f urnltur* factories, and otter woodworking plant* Ponderesa ploa, cot- ton* ood ffcite pica o: light-aelfcbt.ll,.ht- eolored nonstainlng woods Dry showings Cry, nonreslnoas, • ignt species preferred ■eathorod plaa (2 /•ari), groan or dry rood Soft, clean, non- «talnlng specie* ■hit* pine wood a Smwdust dealer* Furcnaeed tn rough aaadaat dealer* or directly from pro- ducer Government and local LtlM Country- • -:• Many urban ClOtl.'l Bconcejlcal -g l cooemmp- ; Large Relatively largo i Farmer* and nurtcry- *en Hardwood and toft- •ood Any epeciee rilc-irled *ugmr maple, a birch, and a email •mount of *oftwood Sifted, fine, for impregnating with exlcal* Clean, elfted, • terlle : Screened to 3& »e*i- Dry etock aiftad to :1c to 20 seen or finer. Mght- colored. I weight wooda pre- ferred i«0 »eeb maple [c1*m lng), lb to $0 Bean for dreeelng and dyeing :r 7 Jtorttem Plain* State e Airal area a 500 allae :9aall or leee Specialty manufac- turers Uade and dlatrlbated ty nuneroue oil, chealcal, and Jani- tor supply companies for use in echoole, •tor**, office bulkl-< - -._„ .lie Koueeholcere Many urban center* Tor cleaning. drylogxFlater* ' eewda*t and pel !■-<'.:•* dieted dry nard ample It ware, tllo-drled :e>e*n and fiter; white: ■ugmr maple la pre- :plne duet 8 Men and: ferred. for ott*r :flier. Cften ecrveoatk cleaning and drying, : to get unlfon elie : light eoft woode are:and free of Specie* of high tax. ,*.l . reilrw :or acid content not : •**!* :Ugbt-*eight *p«cl*e:Slf ted. fine The fur amnufactnr- lng trade concen- trated in Saw Tork City; also t.m#wui claanera elte- -* D**r* ****>iXj eup- plled by eawduat dealara Smaduat deaiera wid* Creasing and dyeing lnduitry. cblefly in Sew Tork City ; clem ni lng in aU cities Cp to :Hod*rmte about 300 :mao.u,ta mU*a 1,000 to 2.000 • Lie* center* Viuaily * • roc . cai : plant ■ Moderate ■ ■ I ■ Moderate „'ect ■ ion ts atlllee wmia- 1 '.Able ly lost Abeor.enta *f greatest single out- ^rmi. aaadaat ahouXd be acceptable In aoe* cases :*olsoaed with arianlc. "aed only In critical yaar* has ll<ec -•• imwjemwl •* combined wikn and a* a carrier of ferti- lising amtter For apeclei uae only. Extent probably rary 111 :*.♦! ireec sawc.st used in one type mow triad A* a B**t retardan*. for W>*pt*4 bmseaiaat I •■ • mmterlml fox * ling on icy step* domes- tic outlets lr. *ae. njwMroo* lot* ar* poe- aible Stock coming largely from mmple-floorlag riant* Vied chiefly 1* : Bellowed to be oml/ ; Manufacturer* of :abraelve* Baitarn Olslm* B** • kiV*r* (Sheet I of 2) Table 1.— Uses Of mdutt and iMTloKi becaus e of spe cia l physical qualities (Continued) Sawduit ; Shavings Speclei Spsciflcstions : Users or purchassrs; : Economical: Uarket l shipping : location : distance : Annual consuap- FOH BULK QUALIHESi 91 rem Rings and Hiding Stables Clay Products- Special Porous brick and til* Co m petition flooring : :Dry Molded Novoitiss Dry Packing ; : Olass, china. t :Dry canned and bottled goods. Metal ware Building- ttone drapes Nursery stock Plaster Board §awdust- Cement Con - crete Poured Dry Cast blocks and panels Stuffing Toys Anloals and dolls food Flou r Special types for burn-out me en In ceramics Usual types FOE SCUCOHDUCTIYX QUALITIES: Concrete Protection Insulation Building Ice houses Refrigerator cars Sound Water pipes FOB GRANULAR QUALI- TIES: DlBplaj- Window Decor - ation Teztuxla/ Oatmea; Wallpaper Dry Dry Dry Species taut :Often sifted for :uniform site ihegular dealers and :Circue irldlng stables : towns : Specialty manufac- :turers Hardwood or mixed hardwood and soft- wood Limited commercial experimentation Dry :Varied, usually dry, isoft species, non- I staining. nonacld.U :to 50 percent as :flller. Coarse soft- iwood base. Fine : hardwood top. Usually: : sifted for site Light-weight hard- :Dry stock, ground to: Small novelty pro- woods and softwoods jproper fineness. :ducers ;Must be clean 1 Various species, but jHontannlc or acidic low density pre- :epeclee for packing ferred ;metal ware. Light- . :colored ,llght*weight^ :soft, absorptive :stock preferred. All : stock dry and clean White plne.bestwood, :Light-colored,light- ponderosa ploe ;welght,nonstaining : stock Spruce, Doiglaa-f lr, : Cutlcal stock, air- white fir :drled, clean. sifted Cedar, white pine, ponderosa pine, basswood : Sof t . absorbent :woods. chiefly shav- :lngs and shingle toi White pine, pondero-:Medium-coaree stock sa pine and other :of species listed, light-colored, light- :Muat be nonstalning weight woods :and no&acld Permissible Bpecles :Lar E e, coarse, hard t definitely es- :partlcles of woods Dry :Dry tebllshed. Spruce, Norway pine, Jack pine, and aspen re- ported satisfactory Leached stock of other species may be:cement) satisfactory. Woods : said to be avoided: : cottonwood. oak, birch, maple, Douglas-) fir, western redcedari Same as above : having no detrimen- tal extractives. : (Extractive content ;1b a factor affect- ing setting of the Shippers of liquids, glass, china, and other fragile items Shippers of building Indiana, stone New Tork and other quarrying regions California grape Central growers and south- ern Cali- fornia Nurseries Country- wide Certain plants mak- ing plaster board Scattered building contractors Widely t dispersed 1 Light-weight hard- :Dry stock; fine mesh; woods and softwoods :any mixture except :hlghly reeinous : woods Southern yellow pine: Doll manufacturers :Some manufacturers :of firebrick and :ceramlcs White pine, ponderosa: Dry stock (9 percent : Specialized plants :plne, Douglas-fir, :moisture content and:drawing waste from :maple, aspen, birch, :lo»er) ; softwood : planing mills, box ;hamlock :preferred; any si so. :factories,millwork : Southern pine if low;plants :ln resin t :Nonstalnlng Bpecles :Dry sawdust and :shavlngs; any kind. :but light weight and :llght color (clean) ipref erred Building contractors Builders and opera- tore of use items listed In Col. 1 : Mostly especially cut; light color : Suitable for dyeing I Or staining to dif- ferent colors : Screened for sis* Relatively :For reducing density small :and weight :Ussd with various :cements to give lnsu- ilatlng and resilient :properties Plaques, novelty Jewel cases, furniture orna- ments, and the like few thou- sand tons Several thousand tons Chiefly New York City A few Halted locations Packed between finished stone on flat cars, and the like Cften made specially by cutting » Packing about roots of plants, shrubs, and the like, in shipping Usual mix U to 5 percent by weight. Is being re- placed by foaming com- pounds Hot widely used, but sometimes advocated for cow and poultry barn floors From local supplies Scattered tUp to ap- ln differ- ent sec- tions in East. Mid- west, and lest proximate- ly 300 miles Urban stores Precast to panels or blocks for easy handling and to avoid cracking and warping in setting. Includes certain patented formulas and special trade names Relatively small Approxi- {Gradually increasing use mately :in manufacture of lioole- 80.000 :um, plastics, and the tons :llke : Coverage to prevent too : rapid drying :Used formerly more than :now. Possibilities :probably not fully ex- ploited Specialty paper manufacturers j Probably : small Report So. 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Tablo 3. — Hbir u»»i of tawiluet and «h»Tlm, Use Sawdust Shavings Species Specifications Users or purchasers Annual consump- tion Remarks Container Board Palp Green Dry Pine Head- saw sawdust, green Probably none In normal tiroes A war measure; about 25 per- cent put in digester for making low grade liner PaD«r Pulp Ore an Dry Green Dry Softwoode Not known Probably none in : normal times ; It it reported that one pulp mill has used 50 percent saw- dust in one digester Pressed Board or Core Stock Green Dry Green Dry Unimportant Ho exact specifica- tions, but light- colored, light- weight woods pre- ferred To be made at source of raw materials Negligible Various groups now working on molded sawdust and shavings. Products - none yet commer- cially important Saturating Felt (Asphalt roofing) Green Dry: : Not specified Screened or fine aawduet Some saturating felt manufacturers Moderate amount As filler in asphalt roofing Table U. — Chemical uses of sawdust and shavings Use - Sawdust . Shavings Species : Specifications Heart stock. Ground to wood-flour mesh : Users or purchasers : Market : location Annual : consump- ; tion : Remarks Distillation Cedar oils Green Dry 1 Green Dry Mexican cedar.Eaet- ern redcedax t Ten plants in South- ern States .Most plants lo- cated in Tennessee Destructive Dry Softwoods and hard- woods A few chemical plants Midwest and West Negligible A wartime outlet; otherwise largely experimental Steam Turpentine Green Dry Longleaf pine Wood with high resin content None at present Commercial production discontinued Dyes Green 3ry Green Dry Osage-orange , sumac Heart stock Not known Little current importance Ethyl Alcohol Green Dry Green Dry Various species Softwood stock for highest yields One pilot plant now in commercial operation Fodder least Green Dry Green Dry Any softwoods, hard- woods Mixed with hogged mill waste At present experi- mental only Pilot plant in operation lijenln Plastic Dry Hardwood, especially maple Dry. Stock contain- ing no bark Industrial applications not developed Meat and Fish Smoklnx Green Dry Hardwoods, chiefly hickory, maple, birch, beech, oak, walnut, gum Green or dry. Chief- ly head-saw stock. Factory stock also used Meat packing plants Country- wide About 30.000 tons Softwoods not desirable. Merits of various hardwood species- some- what controversial food Sugars and Molasses Green Dry Green Dry Various species Few special require- ments One pilot plant now in operation Report No. R1666-1 Z t>. 72S»iJY i JNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA r 3 1262 08924 3439