Woodgrinding

Woodgrinding refers to the mechanical process of reducing wood into smaller particles, typically chips or sawdust. This is achieved using machines called wood grinders, which employ various methods to break down the wood. The most common types of wood grinders include chippers, shredders, and hammermills. Chippers use blades to cut wood into uniform pieces, while shredders have rotating shafts with teeth to tear and break apart larger debris. Hammermills utilize swinging hammers to pulverize wood against a screen, producing finer particles.

The primary purpose of woodgrinding is to prepare wood for subsequent uses or disposal. Ground wood can be used as biomass fuel, a component in composite wood products like particleboard, or as mulch for landscaping. It is also an essential step in the pulping process for paper production. Furthermore, grinding can facilitate the decomposition of wood waste in composting operations or prepare it for easier transport and landfilling. The fineness of the wood particles can be controlled by adjusting the grinder's settings, such as screen size or blade sharpness. Different wood species and initial forms of wood, such as logs, branches, or scrap lumber, will influence the type of grinder and the resulting particle size.