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The small-diameter grand fir and lodgepole pine trees harvested on an overstocked site in northern Idaho produced high quality visual grade lumber with good mechanical properties. This study illustrates that, in addition to favorable visual characteristics, this lumber is also a good candidate for machine stress rating. At current prices, MSR grading could increase lumber value $27/MBF for lodgepole pine 2 by 4's and $15/MBF for grand fir 2 by 4's. However, the results of this study indicated that the ponderosa pine thinnings were not good candidates for production of mechanically graded lumber. This study points out the potential value of lumber sawn from overstocked stands of timber, but demonstrates the need for an assessment process to estimate local resource capability.
The authors are, respectively, former Graduate Student and Associate Professor, Dept. of Forest Prod., Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1132; Supervisory Research General Engineer, USDA Forest Prod. Lab., One Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53705-2398; and Economic Development Program Leader, US Forest Serv., Northern Region, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807. This paper is contribution No. 906 of the Idaho Forest, Wildlife, and Range Expt. Sta. The authors acknowledge the significant contributions of Riley Creek Lumber, Laclede, ID; Western Wood Products Association, Portland, OR; and Metriguard Inc., Pullman, WA. This paper was received for publication in November 1998. Reprint No. 8909.
(+.) Forest Products Society Member.
(1.) D. Cobb. 1997. District forester, Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Personal communication.
LITERATURE CITED
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