Comparative analysis of on-site free-hand chainsaw milling and fixed site mini-bandsaw milling of smallholder timber

Published online : 10 August 2012Sawing trials were conducted to determine the green-off sawn (GOS) timber recovery rates of chainsaw milling and mini-bandsaw milling and determine the potential returns from timber sales (stumpage value) of smallholder tree farmers in the Philippines. The GOS recovery rate of 52 % for fixed site mini-bandsaw mills was found to be significantly higher than that of on-site chainsaw milling (39 %). It was further found that when hauling distance from barangay to customers exceeds 13 km, chainsaw milling generates higher revenue due to the lower transport cost of sawn timber.Edwin D. Cedamon, Steve Harrison, John Herboh