20 
BULLETIN 1436, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
WASTE IN MANUFACTURE 
In block cutting the waste accumulates so rapidly that special 
thought should be given to its removal from the saws. Chain con- 
veyors, where possible, are far superior to wheelbarrows and are 
more economical. The material should be carried to a place where 
wagons and auto trucks can get at it readily. (Fig. 15.) 
Most of the waste, made up of sawdust, slabs, edgings, and ends, 
is used for fuel. Dogwood and persimmon make splendid fuel 
wood. A cord of air-dry dogwood or persimmon of average size and 
quality will give the same amount of heat as a ton of bituminous 
coal of good grade. Such a cord contains about 80 cubic feet of solid 
wood and has a moisture content of from 15 to 20 per cent. In 
winter block manufacturers have no difficulty in disposing of their 
waste as fast as it accumulates, particularly if located in a town 
!OAO SIDING 
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rHREE SIDED SHE 
FOR RECEIVING 
DOGWOOD BOLT; 
Fig. 14. — Plan of shuttle-block mill, illustrating a simple method of handling 
material in the manufacture and seasoning of blocks 
where fuel is in constant demand. They obtain for it from 50 cents 
to $2 a cord. 
Dimension material smaller than shuttle blocks is used for quills, 
flyer blocks, skewers, handles, jeweler's blocks, jeweler's sticks for 
cleaning deep-seated lenses, and similar articles. There are also a 
great many other small articles for which such heavy, dense, hard 
woods could be used to advantage. Dogwood and persimmon are 
particularly good for chisel handles, because they do not "broom" 
when hammered. They are also excellent for knife and fork handles 
and the backs of small high-grade brushes. 
Manufacturers of dogwood and persimmon blocks may dispose of 
their discards and waste by making squares for handle manufac- 
turers, provided orders are large and continuous enough to justify 
the expense. Although the cost of making small squares from waste 
is large, owing particularly to the necessary piling, seasoning, and 
other handling, the ever-mounting cost of dogwood and persimmon 
is favorable to such a means of closer utilization. 
