The purpose of this project was to improve hardwood lumber recovery from low quality logs and lumber of Appalachian species by using finger-jointing technologies to create value-added products. Currently, there is an abundance of low quality lumber created by sawmill operations that cannot be efficiently utilized. The high presence of defects in the lumber makes processing this material costly and therefore little market exists to utilize this resource. Creating value added products from this material can help to improve forest health and alleviate the demand of quality wood products.

This project processed a total of 4,800 board feet of low-grade lumber to determine the volume of usable wood contained within low-grade lumber. Four common Appalachian species were salvaged; black cherry, soft maple, red oak, and yellow-poplar; and subsequently finger-jointed, end-to-end to create long usable stock. Lumber was then edge-glued to create solid panels which could be used in furniture manufacturing.

The recovery ratios, size distribution, mechanical and physical properties of different species were investigated and compared. Yellow-poplar produced the highest recovery ratios followed by red oak, cherry, and maple. Finger-jointed, edge-glued panels were created and their mechanical and physical properties were evaluated. Results indicated that the panels could perform suitably for their intended end-use. The recovery ratio of converting rough, low-grade lumber, into solid panels was approximately 33%. Cost/benefit analyses were performed to estimate the profitability of the process. Based on current value of solid edge-glued panels, cherry and red oak were the most profitable species to process.