Gifts From The Forest Include More Than Wood

By Richard G. Reid \/ice president infornration & environnrent Western Tinr ber Association

llt HEN we think of forest pro- ducts, lumber, plywood, particleboard, and paper come to mind. But today's forest products industry is making great strides in using all of the tree. Consumer products are being made from parts of a tree that were unusable just a few years ago.

Up to half, or more, of a tree is lignin, a complex natural chemical that binds together the wood fibers in a tree. This and other silvichemicals from trees are being used today in thousands of products vital to man. It is fair to say that our modern lifestyle is as closely tied to products of the forest as it is to products of the oil field. Let's see what we n1ean.

Cellulose

The chief ingredient in wood cells, or fibers, is cellulose. The nrolecules in cellulose are complex sugars joined together in long

Story at a Glance

The wood products you sell are only a fraction of the thousands the forest furnishes. .. a more wideranging product source than oillpetrochemicals.

chains. To make paper. the lignin which binds the cells is dissolved, and the resulting pulp is rolled into thin sheets.

Cleaned and washed wood pulp is virtually pure cellulose. and chenrists have discovered other things which can be done with it beside make paper. Chemical-based cellulose is used to make tool handles, photographic film, packaging films, glasses frames, molded packages, combs, brush and mirror backs, acetate filanrent yarn, knobs and handles, luggage. gunstocks. fishing floats, toothbrushes. plasl.ic pens. football helnrets and hard hats, electrical tape, coatings. and lanrpshades just to nanre a few things.

Pulping l,iquids

The black liquicl that was left over alter dissolving the wood cells created nrany disposal prclblenrs until chemists recognized it for what it was-a vast storehouse of contplex organic chenricals with a variely of econonrical uses. For exanrple. methyl cellulose fronr spent pulping liquids is used in alcohol. cosnretics. artificial vanilla flavoring. tape. deodorants. hair-

(Please turn to page 69) complete milling facility, we look forward to serving your requirements.

Pole Houses Preserve New Mexico Setting

The Mescalero Apaches, among the most progressive of Indian tribes, have turned to a versatile architectural tool-pole-design houses-to help preserve nature's .pristine setting for their nearly half-million-acre southcentral New Mexico reservation.

The earth and all that grows upon it are held in age-old tribal veneration, and for their newest housing project, funded by a $1,368,000 grant from the Housing and Urban Development agency, the Mescaleros have chosen pole-supported dwellings as most in harmony with their environmental goals. The pole-designed housing project is believed to be the nation's first on an Indian reservation.

Tribal president Wendell Chino reports that pole structures "allow man to stake out living space upon the earth with a minimum of violence to its eternal form since the houses can be threaded among existing trees and other vegetation, and even on a steep slope there rarely is a need to alter the soil's natural contour."

In keeping with tribal guidelines the 25 two- and threebedroom homes were kept a minimum of 250 feet apart with at least a full acre of ground surrounding each structure. There are no fences to create man-made barriers or obstruct a sylvan vista of Ponderosa and pinon pine, spruce, oak and aspen on the verdant foothills of 12,003-ft. Sierra Blanca.

All poles utilized in the project were pressure treated using the "Cellon' ' process, developed by Koppers Company, Inc. Violent winds which during winter months often gust at up to 70 miles an hour at the project's 7400,-ft. elevation were one of the factors entering into the ultimate choice of a pole foundation. Heavy seasonal snows added still another consideration.

Long after most of the other tribes gave up the old ways, the Mescalero Apaches, descendants of the great

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REDWOOD Q&A

(Continued from page l2) has been proven to erode less in extreme weather.

Q: Can sealing redwood be a problem?

A: If you mean finishing redwood, I don't think there's a problem. We include finish information in almost every piece of literature we produce. Users can minimize problems by following our guidelines. Literature also covers methods for removing stains if necessary. We recommend the use of water repellents on redwood used outside. If you are referring to extractive staining, that can be a problem, but more often than not, it's a specification problem. The extractives are drawn out of the wood with the moisture as it dries. Kiln-dried lumber is less likely to produce stains than unseasoned garden grades. In most cases where you would use unseasoned lumber, such as decks and fences, some staining doesn't present a problem. In other cases, the answer is to use dried lumber.

Q: Can color change in redwood be prevented?

A: I don't think any wood can stand up to sun and weather and still retain that "fresh milled" look. We recommend the use of a clear water repellent with a mildewcide for exterior redwood. This gives the wood a natural look and stabilizes the color at a buckskin tan. If someone wants a darker red, or any other color, I'd suggest using a semi-transparent stain. On the Pacific Coast, there is a partiality toward the driftwood gray color of weathered redwood. People often bleach redwood to hurry the natural weathering process. Ifa bleach is used, here again we recommend one with a mildewcide.

Q: Does second growth redwood's high percentage of sapwood provide the same protection against decay, rot and insect attack as old growth redwood?

A: It's redwood's dark-colored heartwood that has the rot resistant and insect resistant extractives. The lighter colored sapwood is similar to Douglas fir and other whitewoods in decay resistance. We recommend builders use all-heartwood grades of lumber in decay trouble spots. The heartwood grades are: clear all heart, select heart, construction heart, merchantable heart. Parts of second growth trees produce clear all heart lumberjust as old growth trees produce some knotty, merchantable grade lumber. Grademarked redwood is true to its grade. If you buy one of the all heartwood grades, you'll know you're getting decay and insect resistance. In addition, you can look at the boards. If it is all cinnamon-red colored heartwood, the protection is there.

Q: How long will second growth redwood last when in direct contact with the ground?

A: We really don't know. There aren't any numbers available on the difference between young and old growth durability. Because redwood is a natural material, we have to accept the fact that there will be differences from board to board. We know, for example, heartwood taken from the butt of a tree is more durable than heartwood at the top of the same tree. There is a higher concentration of extractives in the heartwood farthest from the pitch of the tree.

Q: Can rustic redwood sidings compete with cedar for durability?

A: By definition, rustic redwood siding permits sapwood as well as a limited number of knots. This economical product was developed to compete with lower priced knotty cedar siding and by all reports it is doing just that.

Q: Is finger-jointed redwood gaining in acceptance? What are the problems in its performance?

A: There is an increasing acceptance of finger-jointed redwood. We're seeing it used in different applications where a few years ago it was mostly used for fascia. Builders are beginning to realize it's an ideal way to get top quality redwood grades at a lower cost. They are using finger-jointed in many places where a paint or a heavier finish is going to be used. As far as performance, there are very few problems. Finger-jointed redwood is the most stable of all redwood products.

Q: Do you foresee any other solutions to the problem of short lengths of redwood?

A: For the dealer. I think the solution to short lumber is to create some demand for them by promoting small projects. We have some Construction Tipsheets that give plans for benches and planters and other projects that use short lengths. Dealers who have built a couple of the projects and displayed them in the store along with the copies of these inexpensive tip sheets have been successful at moving short lengths. When you price shorts individually and offer some ideas, they can bring in a profit.

Q: What is the impact, now and in the future, of second or young growth redwood on the availability of clear and clear heart lumber?

A: There has been a shift in the proportion of clear, knotless grades to knotty garden grades produced annually. We will continue to see more knotty redwood-garden grades and rustic sidings. But, there will still be elements of the industry producing old growth redwood products well into the future and there will always be clear and clear all heart redwood from the second growth trees. However, we cannot expect the volume of these products that we have had in the past.

Quality Redwood

Manufacturers of fence boards; posts and rails; decking; specialty items. Our sawnrill and re-man facilities provide us with versatility in meeting your customer's needs.

lrom the lorest to the Fence

P.O. Box 248 Arcata, Ca. 95521 (707) 822-1779

Russ & Bob Britt

Imported And Domestic Woods

0ur ainr is to f ill lour rt'quiremcnts, promptly, with competitivelv priced qualitl products.

Jim Forgie

Summerlin

Jim

suMwooD, INC.

P.O. Box 7000-216

Palos Verdes Peninsula, Ca. 90274 (2r)) 54r-0r79

Telex 181-871 (SUM\(OOD RPVS)

(Continued from page 65) warrior chiefs Geronimo and Cochise, fought to preserve their land and pattern of life. Their enterprising development of natural resources and outdoor recreation potential has made them more prosperous than many other tribes, andtheir Inn of the Mountain Gods has been widely hailed as the most luxurious resort in all the Southwest.

Fearless fighters and amazingly hardy adversaries of both human foes and a harsh environment, the Apaches were among the last Indians to lay down their arms against the United States government. The reservation, established in 1873 by executive order of President Grant, presently numbers approximately 2000 inhabitants.

Costly Additions

Don't get caught in the small computer trap! Be aware of the extra costs for adding data to a variety of programs. The cost could become unexpectedly high, despite what a salesperson claims about their software avoiding this problem.

REDW00D will be used extensively in the remodeling of this Greek Revival farmhouse. Projects using redwood t0 translorm it into an ''ldea House f or the 80s' ' include a wine cellar, accent walls, decks, fences, stairs and a gazebo. The projects will be demonstrated on the "This Old House" t.v. series which is being shown nationwide on public television. D-i-yers can gel literature for the projects from the California Redwood Association, 1 Lombard St., San Francisco, Ca. 94'111

THE FOREST'S GIFTS

(Continued from page 64) spray, pharm aceuticals (Aldoment and Aldoril for hyper-tension and L - Dopa for Parkinson's disease), sponges, fungicides, t'ertilizers, linoleum paste, grouting, tanning agents for leather, a static remover for laundry, oil well drilling mud additives, and insecticides.

Torula yeast is a high protein product made from wood sugars spent in the pulping process. It has l7 nutritional trace elements, including four to five times the amount of iron found in uncooked spinach or raisins! Type S Torula is used in baby foods, cereals, imitation bacon bits, baked goods, beverages, vegetarian food, and dietary preparations.

Type F Torula is used in feed supplements for cattle, hogs, fish, chickens, and mink, and Type FP goes into pet foods. Torula has been found to make bees and lobsters grow faster.

Resins

Several tree species, especially pines, contain resin, the sticky material that oozes from wounds on the tree. Resin can be refined into rosin which is used by violinists and baseball pitchers. It also can be distilled into turpentine.

Resins and other oils found in wood are important ingredients in paint, varnish, adhesives, asphalt, lubricating oil additives, menthol, camphor, printing inks, carbon paper, fungicides, rubber and latex products, soaps, disinfectants and polishes. Synthesized essential oils are used in chewing gum, mouthwash, peppermint candy and toothpaste, menthol cigarettes, lime aftershave, soap, and shampoo.

Wood flour and melamine resins using cellulose filler are principal components of dinnerware, electrical recepticals and parts, toys, caster wheels, toilet seats, handles for cooking utensils, telePhone housings, camera cases, washing machine impellers, radio and television cabinets. and other appliance housings.

EnergY

The changing price of crude oil has caused us to look for alternative energy sources. Among these is the forest.

Many Americans, particularlY in the Northeast, are going back to wood stoves, and one Power company in New Hampshire has converted to totally wood fired boilers for their generators. In California, a forest products manufacturer near Eureka, through the burning of wood waste, can suPPlY enough energy for itself, the adjacent small town, and still have some to sell the Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The use of wood for energy has serious implications for the future management of our forests and the availability of many consumer goods that are by-products of wood processing. lf wood is used for energy, it will mean that less wood is there for other uses unless we increase production from all commercial forest lands, public and private.

Renewability

One thing the forest has going for it is renewability. With proper care and attention, trees can be grown again and again on the same area. The relatively long growing cycle, several years instead of several months for agricultural

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More Personals

(Continued from page 43)

Bob Bonniksen has joined South Bay Forest Products, Orange, Ca., as a sales mgr., according to Jim Frodsham, pres.

Virgil Nesbitt, formerly with Eel River Sawmills, Inc., Fortuna, Ca., isenjoying retirement on his "mini-farm" at Scott Bar, Ca., called "Rancho Costa Lotta. "

John Balla has been promoted from trainee to salesperson at Simpson Building Supply's Cerritos, Ca., distribution center.

News Briefs

(Continued from page l8)

Valley Lumber Co., Grants Pass, Or., was destroyed in Jan. by a fire of unknown origin . .

A nde rs o n L um be r is constructing a 40,000 sq. ft., $2.2 million building material center in West Jordan, Ut. . Pay 'N Pak, Kent, Wa., is converting ll of its auto and sports merchandise stores to home centers . .

Parsons Lumber and Hardwore Co., Boyes Hot Springs, Ca., has been sold to Jerry and Nancy Martin and Joe and Tina Orlandino Helliesen Lumber & Supply, Yakima, Wa., is celebrating its 80th year in business . .

WOOD'S GIFTS

(Continued from page 69) crops, decreases the need for intensive fertilization and cultivation. Forest geneticists have been able to increase growth and improve the form of trees while retaining the genetic diversity which protects forests from diseases.

Because of the large number of consumer products which originate with the tree. there is no doubt that our modern lifestyle rs inexorably tied to the forest.

As we look to the forest for energy needs or for silvichemicals to substitute for petrochemicals, we may become even more tied to the forest. Fortunately, we are dealing with a renewable resource. which. if managed with skill, can provide its gifts forever.

PROPER name for this particular gathering of the Los Angeles Hardwood Lumbermen's Club is lhe Annual Achievement and Recognition Dinner. lt is more often. and more a0tly, called Gag Awards Nite. Clint Bower, the perennial chairman, did his usual excellenl job of roasting selected members, then presenling them with awards which will not, uh, be described here. Winner of the top citation, Lumberman of the Year, was Pete Peterman. Among members 0f the strictly social club present were (1) Don Reel, Craig Kincaid, Jim Summerlin. (2) George Eeckman, Charlie Bohnhoff. (3) Dennis Johnston. Milan Michie, Jack Buchanan. (4) Pete Peterman, Barry Heppner, Ken Tinkler, "Woody" Toal. (5) Dave Shepard, Rob Kincaid. (6) Mark Michie, Charlie Wall, Pete Bower. (7) Clint Bower, George Caudill.

Cost-cutting Tips

Businesses looking for cost-cutting procedures or areas in the budget that can be cut should consider the following.

First, information gathering shouldn't be cut back. On the contrary, during hard economic times, a business needs more information. Studies have shown that retailers less hurt by recession have added to their information systems on sales and inventories.

Personnel matters should be handled efficiently. Don't just lay off a certain number of employees; monitor the actual need for personnel and adjust schedules accordingly.

Third, profitability of products is more important than sales volume. Companies should study the profitability of products when setting priorities for expanding some lines and reducing others.