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Sawdust Waste EstimatorKerf Loss and Lumber Recovery Calculator

Estimate sawdust, slabs, edging and total waste from log sawing. Calculate Lumber Recovery Factor, overrun vs log rules, and INR value of waste for biomass or panel board feedstock.

Kerf Loss AnalysisLumber Recovery LRFBiomass Value INRSaw Type PresetsPDF Report
SW

Sawdust Waste Estimator

Kerf Loss and Lumber Recovery Calculator

Mill Setup
mm

Bandsaw: 2-3mm. Circular: 3-4mm. Gang: 3.5mm. Chainsaw: 6-9mm.

mm
Log Parameters
cm
metres
logs
INR/tonne
INR/m3
OK
Waste and Recovery Results
-
%
Lumber Recovery LRF
-
%
Sawdust Loss
-
%
Slab and Edging Loss
-
INR
Waste Biomass Value
ComponentVolume m3Mass kg% of Log
Recovery Analysis
About Sawdust Waste Estimator
Every saw cut removes material as sawdust - 3-4mm of wood per pass. For a 25mm board with 3.2mm kerf, over 11% of each board's thickness becomes sawdust. This tool calculates kerf waste, slab and edging waste, actual lumber recovery, and the biomass value of the waste stream for panel board or fuel use.
Where Used?
Sawmill Yield PlanningMill Efficiency AuditBiomass Energy IndiaPanel Board FeedstockLog Purchase Decisions
Formulas
Boards per pass = floor(D_cm x 10 / (thickness_mm + kerf_mm))Kerf loss % = kerf_mm / (thickness_mm + kerf_mm) x 100Slab waste approx = (1 - pi/4) x log_volume = 21.5%LRF = lumber_volume / log_volume x 100
FAQ
What is a good Lumber Recovery Factor?
LRF of 45-55% is typical for sawmills. Bandsaw mills can achieve 60-65% with thin kerf blades. Indian Teak mills typically get 48-54% LRF. Low LRF under 40% indicates excessive kerf width, high taper, or poor log quality.
What is the value of sawmill waste in India?
Sawdust and slabs: boiler fuel INR 1,500-2,500 per tonne, particle board feedstock INR 2,000-3,500 per tonne, briquettes INR 3,000-5,000 per tonne. A 1,000 m3 per month mill generates 15-25 tonnes waste daily worth INR 25,000-60,000 per day.
ResourcesView the formulasFormula Library
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