Influence of knife angle and ambient temperature on fines generation from flakers

The production of fines from a flaker at a commercial southern pine oriented strandboard mill was found to be correlated with the log storage temperature and the cutting angle of the knife. Knife angle changes were able to significantly decrease the amount of fines produced, and the knife angle could be optimized for different wood temperatures. Larger knife angles produced fewer fines at lower temperatures. Similar results were obtained using a pilot plant strander. Optimizing knife angles to reduce fines will not only increase production efficiency but will also reduce volatile organic compounds from dried wood particles.