PAUI BUNYATU TUMBER GO.

This provides, even in young trees, a large percentage of clear lumber. Because the species grows only in rich moist soil where lots of sunshine is available, the quality of the wood is excellent.

Properties of yellow poplar include being moderately stiff with little tendency to split when nailed, staying in place, resisting warping, gluing easily, and accepting paint or enamel readily for a smooth, lasting finish. It is a favorite wood for use with hand tools. Yellow poplar is often considered the least difficult of all lumbers to kiln dry.

The total stand of yellow poplar saw timber in the South has been estimated by the Forest Service at roughly ll billion board feet. North Carolina reports the growth of 508,337,000 board feet in 1974, more than three times the 150,688,000 board feet harvested. It is claimed that the harvest could be doubled with no increase in forest management intensity. At the turn of the century the annual cut exceeded one billion board feet. Latest production figures indicate a cut of

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Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks

(Continued from page 14) the straddle truck by 5 to 1. rtrHE holiday season alwaYs seems I to bring out the convivial nature of the men and women in the lumber business. This year was no exception.

To specify a narrow aisle truck correctly, you must understand the language. Following are terns, definitions and a sketch (Fig. 3) to help you amplify certain terms.

Base Arms - The base arms or straddle anns are indicated on the drawing.

Base Arm Height - The height from the floor to the top of the base arm. This generally measures 4 in. on straddle trucks and 5 in. on reach trucks and corresponds with the diameter of the load wheels.

Base Width - The base width is the distance across the base arms (outside dimension).

Open End Clearance - The distance between the base arms. Often referred to as the straddle or base arm I.D. (inside dimension).

Headroom - An electric truck term measuring the distance from the rear of the truck to the fork face.

Step Height - The distance from the floor to the platform the operator stands on.

Reach Mechanism - The pantograph on a reach truck that extends to pick up a load from rack storage. The extension on the Allis-Chalmers ACNR 30/40is2Ain., for example.

Double Reach - A reach truck equipped with a reach mechanism capable of extending approximately 42 in. which provides the capability of handling pallets stored two deep.

Cab Width - The distance measured across the operator's cab.

Overall Truck Height - The distance measured from the floor to the top of the overhead guard. The minimum dimension on the ACNR is 90.5 in. regardless of mast lowered height.

Spring l,oaded Caster - Sometimes referred to as the stabilizing caster, it is located on the right side of the cab for lateral stability.

Clearance Between Loads - The distance between loads in rack storage. Typically 4 in. with reach trucks and 6 in. with straddle trucks.

Tilting Reach - Most reach trucks provide tilting forks as a standard or optional feature.It helps load, pickup and deposit, and cradles the load while traveling, thus minimiz_ ing load damage.

Zero Aisle - The minimum right angle stacking aisle in which the truck will operate. This is a line-to-line dimension. In other words, the rear of the truck would just clear the opposite side of the aisle. As a result, normal practices dictate that a minimum of 6 in. be added to the zero dimension to insure proper operating clearances.

Deadman Brake - The disc brake mounted on the armature shaft of the drive motor is released by the operator standing on the brake pedal. If the operator removes his foot from the brake, the brake is applied.

Reverse Steering - Many users of narrow aisle trucks prefer reverse steering to conventional automatic or directional type steering. With reverse steering, the truck moves in the opposite direction it is steered.

Both straddle and reach trucks are very maneuverable because they carry loads between their wheelbases. The operators work from a standing position. The straddle truck (as the name implies) straddles its loads. Therefore, 6 in. space must be maintained between loads to allow sufficient clearance for the 4 in. wide straddle arms. The straddle truck turns from the aisle into the load.

To pick up a pallet, the reach truck operator extends the reach and pallet forks into the pallet as the truck remains in the aisle. He then raises the load above the height of the straddle arms and retracts the reach mechanism. At least 4 in. spacing between loads is recommended.

Out to lunch

Among the biggest gatherings in the West each Year to celebrate the season is the annual gathering in Sacramento, Ca., of Northern California wholesalers and their guests from the mills of that area and Oregon.

This year's annual luncheon had even less form and structure than previously. Gone was the annual presentation of a "Lumberman of the Year," victim of some controversy over past choices and the organizer'sdesire to avoid industry bickering.

Ralph Heath of California Cascade Industries, who helps organize the event, said attendance was approxi- mately 350, up 100 from the depressed conditions of last year.

First held more than a decade ago to bring together mill and wholesale people, the luncheon does that admirably in a direct fashion: bar opens at 1l:00 a.m., food service at 12:30 p.m., bar stays open for several more hours.

For more pictures see next page

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