Suitable waste
Sort slabs, offcuts and lump waste to remove contamination, excessive fines and inconsistent sizes.
Why moisture matters
Fresh waste contains substantial water. Pre-drying shortens cycles and makes useful use of residual heat.
Plan handling
Cutting, storage, loading and retort movement should avoid repeated manual handling.
Prepare the project inputs
Collect photographs of typical feedstock, its size range, moisture and monthly availability. Describe storage and preparation options for a preliminary assessment.
Separate feedstock by actual composition
Describe offcuts and slabs by species, thickness, length, moisture and bark content. Account for sawdust and shavings separately: they cannot automatically be included in a lump-wood kiln calculation.
Check volume and seasonality
Assess monthly supply across several periods, including seasonal lows. Distinguish mass, stacked volume and solid-wood volume.
Free feedstock still has processing costs
Include cutting, handling, drying, storage and loading. Compare these costs with the buyer's size and quality requirements. A trial batch using your normal feedstock helps assess preparation and product quality before expansion.