Geometry of kerf when curve sawing with a circular rip-saw

Rip-sawing following the curvature of a crooked log means advantages for yield. However, the possibility to saw in a narrow curve with a circular saw blade is limited because of the inherently flat geometry of circular saw blades. For a double arbour circular saw the situation is even more problematic because the two blades have a certain overlap and thus, the two arbours are not positioned in the same horizontal position. In this study, a theoretical geometrical study of the creation of a kerf with a single circular saw blade and with a double arbour circular saw with two saw blades was examined. Results for stiff saw blades show that the kerfs become in general curved and inclined (tilted) in the vertical direction and also that the width of the kerfs for double arbour saws becomes wider at the top and bottom of the cant than in the middle. Additionally, the sawn boards obtain varying thickness along their width because of the varying kerf width. A comparison with experimental thickness data from four test sawings at a sawmill indicates that the theoretical results are valid and that curve sawn boards become thinner than straight sawn boards.