All about wood chips

Many people know that in the woodworking industry there is usually a lot of waste that is very problematic to dispose of. That is why they are reused, or rather reused, while the quality of the subsequent raw materials does not suffer. After wood processing, not only branches, but also knots, dust and sawdust can remain. One of the simplest methods of getting rid of waste can be called their incineration, but this method is considered quite costly, and therefore wood waste is properly processed, obtaining the so-called chips. About what it is, how it is produced and how it is used, we learn in detail in this article.

In simple terms, wood chips are shredded wood. Many argue about how valuable it is, because it is still a waste, or it is often called a secondary product. Nevertheless, this raw material is widely used for various purposes and industries, including it is used as a technological raw material.

The cost price of wood chips is very low, which is why it is often used as a raw material for fuel. The peculiarity of such a secondary production of a product is that it can be produced all year round.

Chips are obtained using special chippers and other devices, for example, combines. Residues from wood are simply processed in compliance with a certain technology. Drum chippers are also used for these purposes. In general, the technique can be very diverse. Raw materials are produced both in large enterprises and in small private workshops. Harvesters are usually used by specialized companies that directly work with wood. Chippers are used for the production of technological chips or fuel.

In the production of a homogeneous mass of chips, a very high product quality can be achieved in the end. Manufacturing capabilities can be enhanced by additional installations in the production, such as sizing grids. Also, in the production of wood chips, ultrasonic treatment is often used, which in the future also improves the quality of raw materials, especially if it will be used for wood concrete. Arbolite is widely used in construction.

Wood chips can be obtained from different types of wood, but their density and weight can vary. An average cube can weigh up to 700 kg / m3. As for the density of wood, it is very diverse for different species. So, for example, for oak chips, the actual density is 290 kg / m3, for larch this value is slightly more than 235 kg / m3, and the density of fir is only 148 kg / m3. It should be noted that the bulk density of crushed sawdust from wood with a fraction of up to 8 mm is within 20% of the density of ordinary wood.

Outwardly, chips from different tree species look the same; at first glance, a layman is unlikely to see the difference, but it is still there. The use of chips from different types of wood has already been tested by time in certain areas of life, and therefore we will consider this issue in more detail.

For many years, recycled oak raw materials have been actively used for a variety of purposes.Oak chips are often used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, very often wine. Light burning of wood chips allows drinks to get a delicate vanilla or floral aroma, but strong burning - even a chocolate aroma. In terms of their characteristics, oak chips can, to some extent, be considered even unique for the preparation of wines and blended spirits.

Alder chips are often used for smoking fish, meat and cheese products, since they do not contain harmful toxins. The smoke from alder is considered to be quite mild. Despite the fact that alder is suitable for smoking a wide variety of dishes, experts recommend it to a greater extent for fish dishes and delicacies. Alder chips can be purchased neat, complete with other tree species, or you can prepare them yourself if you have the appropriate experience.

Birch chips are sold by manufacturers as raw materials for smoking. Raw materials without bark can be used for the manufacture of fuel pellets, as well as for the production of cellulose.

Oriental or forest beech is great for making chips, beech wood is excellently crushed and dried, with a minimum of resin. Beech chips cannot spoil various dishes; they give them a subtle smoky aroma. The advantage of raw beech is that it can be stored for a long time without use, without losing its properties.

Pine chips are usually used in the garden. This pine material is considered soft, environmentally friendly and odorless. When used in landscaping, it is colored with safe coloring pigments. The advantage of such decorative raw materials is its unpretentiousness, there is no need to take care of it annually, and also change it to a new one.

Apple chips, as well as pear chips and chips of other types of fruit trees, are among the most popular for smoking. Apple contains a ton of essential oils that can give any dish an unrivaled aroma.

Cherry chips have a great aroma; they are often used for making alcohol at home, as well as for smoking a variety of dishes. All fruit species, including cherries, contain healthy essential oils that, when smoked, emit a lot of fragrant smoke.

As a rule, juniper chips are not used in their pure form, using it, for example, together with alder. It is rarely used in its pure form in large volumes, since it can give a very strong and often unpleasant odor.

Coniferous chips are often used for the manufacture of wood concrete, that is, it serves as the basis for the further manufacture of building material. Arbolite in composition is usually 70-90% wood.

Deciduous chips are great for mulching the soil, and they are also used to decorate paths in the garden, in personal plots. It is often mixed with raw materials from fruit trees, and then used for smoking at home or in production.

Cedar chips can be used as a decorative material for mulching the garden, with its help you can create an optimal microclimate in the soil. To maintain the moisture balance, as well as for the antibacterial effect, cedar chips are often laid out in the basement or in the pantry.

Different chips have their own purpose, as well as marking. According to GOST, technological chips have the following grades.

• C 1. Wood pulp suitable for the manufacture of regulated trash paper products.
• C-2 differs from Ts-1 only in that it is intended for the manufacture of paper products with unregulated trash.
• To the brand C-3 includes sulphate cellulose and semi-cellulose varieties for the manufacture of paper and cardboard with unregulated trash.
• Wood chips PV used in the manufacture of fibreboard, and PS - chipboard.

The wood has a very wide range of uses after the shredder. Chips can be used as fuel for the operation of gas generating plants. Fuel chips are often used for boilers operating not only in enterprises, but also in ordinary houses. Such raw materials perfectly ensure the proper supply of heat and steam.

There are also gas generators that work great with wood waste. Such generators are very economical, and therefore the demand for wood chips is very high for them. An interesting point is the use of alder chips, which meat and sausage producers hunt for. Its use by large factories and manufacturers is due to the fact that it gives an excellent smoking smell.

Pressed raw materials in sheets are used in construction. There are also positive reviews about roofing chips. A chip roof can last for almost half a century, in addition, such a roof does not require special maintenance in the future. Manufacturers who have special painting machines in their production can sell painted wood chips, which are often used in landscaping, as well as for decorating lawns. Decorative chips are usually sold packaged in bags.

It should be noted that chips can be made to order for various purposes and products, it can be of different fractions, as well as with specified dimensions. So, for example, special technological chips are used to make wood-based panels, and wall blocks are also made from chips. Such blocks are also called wood concrete or arbolite, they are made on the basis of chips and cement mortar.

Chips are actively used in the manufacture of plywood, fiberboard, chipboard, paper, cardboard and drywall. Usually, for these purposes, not large chips are used, but small-fraction ones. In general, it can be said that wood chips are a very valuable secondary product.

The storage of small wood waste must be correct, only then they will not become unusable. Chips can be stored:

• in containers;
• in special dry bins;
• in heaps.

For a small volume of raw materials, warehouses or bunkers are usually used, from which raw materials can be quickly and comfortably loaded into a car. But usually in such places, raw materials are stored for no more than a week.