428 FOREST PRODUCTS 



and reasonably straight. Bolts less than 4 in. in diameter are not 

 desirable. 



Prices for the raw material vary with the species, transportation and 

 labor charges and local supply and demand. In Virginia, yellow pine 

 cordwood is delivered at the mills for from $2.50 to $4 per full cord. 

 Basswood brings from $4 to $7 per cord delivered at the mill in the 

 North. Cottonwood, including popple or aspen, and other species bring 

 from $3 to I5 per cord. 



The factors affecting the amount of excelsior produced per cord are: 



(a) Size and quality of the bolts, whether round or split, etc. 



(b) Size or coarseness of the strands. 



(c) Kind of wood. The heavier yellow pine will yield more than 

 basswood or aspen. 



(d) Amount of waste. The size of the " spalt " or the remainder 

 of the bolt after cutting determine to a large extent the amount 

 of excelsior produced. 



Under average conditions it is considered that one cord of wood will 

 produce about 2000 lb. of excelsior. This may vary, however, from 1650 

 lb. up to over 2300 lb. per cord, depending upon the above factors. 



Excelsior Machines. 



A complete plant consists of a battery of machines (up to 24 upright 

 machines or from one to six horizontal 8-block machines), a wood splitter, 

 a cut-off saw, a barker, knife and spur grinder, a baling press, a set of 

 scales and necessary power together with shafting, hangers, pulleys, 

 belting, tools, etc. About 5 h.p. is required to run each upright excelsior 

 machine. One horizontal 8-block machine is equivalent in capacity to 

 10 to 12 upright machines. 



This plant, using 24 upright machines would cost from $9000 to 

 $12,000 depending on such factors as labor charges, freight, character of 

 equipment, etc. 



Excelsior machines are of two designs: (a) upright or vertical, and 

 (b) horizontal. The following is a brief description of common forms 

 of each type : 



(a) Vertical or upright excelsior machine. 



The vertical or upright machines are usually set up in multiples of 6 

 since one operator can look after six machines. Batteries of 18 or 24 

 machines are fairly common. The frame of each machine is 10 ft. high, 

 and it occupies a floor space 4 ft. 2 in. by 12 in. Two vertical guides 

 support a horizontal crankshaft bearing an 18-in. i^ywheel. To this 

 wheel is attached a connecting rod which reciprocates vertically between 



