Varieties of wood chips and their scope

The woodworking industry is one of the largest. At the same time, in the course of the production and manufacture of various sawn timber, not only the main product, but also a secondary product is formed, one of which is wood chips. This type of raw material is quite popular and widespread, and is widely used in various fields of human activity. In addition, the material exists in several varieties, which differ significantly in their key characteristics. Today in our article we will talk in more detail about wood chips.

Wood shavings are a waste material from wood machining. Although it is a by-product and not a main product, it is quite valuable and has many beneficial qualities. The widespread use of this raw material is also explained by the fact that it is quite cheap in terms of its cost, as well as environmentally friendly. In appearance, wood chips resemble sawdust.

Interesting fact: some manufacturers consider wood chips to be unnecessary (or even hazardous) waste and try to get rid of it in every possible way. In fact, the material can be used as an environmentally friendly secondary raw material, from which various materials and goods are made that do not harm the environment and humans.

In order to make wood shavings, it is necessary to use specialized equipment. The quality of the produced chips depends on which machine for the production of the material you will use. Relevant factors in production:

• the degree of drying of the material in a specially designed drum;
• power indicators of the above-mentioned drying drum;
• the duration of pressing and planting the press on the strips;
• raw material costs and much more.

As for the direct device required to create shavings, it must consist of several mandatory parts:

• impeller;
• drum;
• Electrical engine;
• outer case.

In addition, it is necessary to note the obligatory presence of cutting elements, thanks to which the procedure for making shavings takes place. The cutting element must be carefully positioned and, if necessary, adjusted.

It is important to remember that all of the above items need to be replaced regularly. Only in this case will the work of the machine be as efficient and effective as possible.

A similar technology is also used to produce a useful material such as wood wool.

In appearance, shavings are very similar to sawdust and chips.At the same time, it should be noted that there is a difference between these raw materials, which is regulated by such an official document as GOST.

However, at first glance (especially for professionals) it can be quite difficult to distinguish between these types of raw materials, since it is not known by what method and as a result of what processes it was obtained. In this regard, a simpler and so-called "philistine" classification of materials has been adopted.

So, you need to focus solely on the size of the particles of the material. If the curl length is less than 0.5 cm and the thickness is less than 1 mm, then this material is sawdust. Thicknesses over 1 mm indicate that there are chips in front of you. As for the overall dimensions of the chips, its length should be more than 5 mm, and the thickness should be less than 1 mm.

Today in the construction market you can find a wide variety of types of wood shavings. For convenience and structuring, there are several classifications:

• large, medium and small chips are divided by size;
• according to the method of production, it can be handcrafted, as well as made with the help of specially designed equipment;
• depending on the moisture content, the raw materials can be normal, wet or dry.

In addition, there is another classification of material, which is considered the most important and relevant. These are several categories of shavings, depending on what material it is made of:

• wooden;
• oak;
• juniper;
• from coniferous trees;
• birch;
• from natural pure wood;
• beech and so on.

Wood shavings are widely used in various areas of human life. For example, it can be used as filler, for packaging, for decoration, and more. Let's consider several common areas of use of the material.

Such popular building materials as chip concrete and wood concrete are produced from wood chips. Moreover, they are made both in large and powerful enterprises and in small factories.

In addition, shavings are a raw material for the manufacture of chipboard and laminated chipboard.

Wood waste is often used to make bedding and rollers for pets and livestock. Besides, pressed shavings in bags are often used as insulation (for example, in sheds).

If you want to use wood raw materials in this way, then you should consider one important factor, namely: you cannot use production waste from resinous wood species, since the substance released from them will stick to the skin or animal hair.

As mentioned above, one of the distinctive properties of wood chips is the fact that they have high thermal conductivity. In this regard, the raw material is often used as a solid fuel. Thanks to this fuel, gasoline engines and electric generators function. In addition, due to its low cost, the material is often used for heating.

Wood waste is used as fertilizer.This is primarily due to the fact that they have a beneficial effect on the soil. So, shavings are actively used for such an important procedure as mulching, due to which a large amount of moisture remains in the soil. In addition, the shavings are able to protect the soil from the negative effects of sunlight. And also the material can act as a vitamin and mineral supplement and feeding.

A variety of decorative products is very often produced from waste from wood processing. For example, shavings can act as packaging material. And also, if you have a sufficient number of skills and a creative mindset, a variety of sculptures, paintings and applications can be made from the material. At the same time, within the framework of the creative process, you can use both exclusively shavings (one or several varieties), and combine it with other materials of your choice, depending on the idea.

Among other things, shavings are used to carry out the procedure for smoking food such as meat, fish and others. At the same time, experienced smokers recommend refraining from using waste from coniferous trees, as this can lead to the appearance of an undesirable unpleasant odor and a deterioration in the taste of the resulting product. The most relevant and most suitable species in this case will be oak, hornbeam, alder, as well as fruit tree varieties. For more aroma, specialists add juniper twigs at the very end of the smoking process.

Today there are a large number of types of shavings that differ in their unique characteristics and are used in various fields. This parameter should be taken into account in the process of selecting and purchasing raw materials.