COCONUT WOOD PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION

By

R. N. Palomar1'

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses current technologies on c o c o w o o d processing and utilization

such as logging, sawmilling, machining, seasoning and drying, preservative treatm ent and finish­
ing. It also highlights diverse uses o f cocow ood ranging from novelties to construction m ateri­
als but em phasis is given to the m anufacture o f high value and expo rt-o rien ted coco w o o d
products

The economic and social implication as a result o f commercializing these technologies

are likewise discussed considering the availability o f raw m aterials during the planned large-
scale replanting program m e o f m ost o f the coconut grow ing countries.

Som e technical problem s in the effective processing and utilization o f cocow ood are
identified as sawmilling, machining, finishing, structural application and limitation in the size o f
sawn lum ber W hile considerable advancem ent on co co w o o d utilization R and D has been
m ade for the past tw o decades, w hat rem ains to be done is the effective application and
com m ercialization o f technologies from these research undertakings.

I. INTRODUCTION

The coconut grow ing countries o f the w orld share the com m on problem o f progres­
sive decline in nut production due to increased proportion o f over-aged and senescent palms.
Replacing these senile palms with hybrid and early-bearing varieties is generally desired.

In preparation for the envisioned large-scale replanting program , the Philippine

C oconut A uthority (PC A ) established the Tim ber U tilization Division o f the Z am boanga
R esearch C enter in the early part o f 1976 to conduct utilization.

Chief, Timber Utilization Division, Philippine Coconut Authority, Zamboanga Re

search Centre, P.O. Box. 356, San Ramon, Zamboanga City, Philippines.

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 To successfully carry out the D ivision’s objectives, the PC A availed technical and
financial assistance from the N ew Zealand Bilateral Aid P rogram m e and the U N D P/FA O
Coconut Research and Development Project (PH 1/71/523). For the first 6 years o f concerted
and extensive research and developm ent w orks, the Division had dem onstrated the many
potential uses o f cocow ood and played an active role in the progress and developm ent o f
technology needed for cocow ood processing and utilization.

II. Cocowood Technologies

Processing and utilization o f coconut trunks presuppose the solving o f technical and
socio-economic problems. Being a mono-cotyledonous plant, its anatomical, physical, chemical
and m echanical properties are different from the conventional w oods. H ence, processing
techniques and equipm ent/m achineries have to be developed, m odified and im proved to
process it efficiently and produce com paratively good quality products.

2 1 L ogging

The technology required for harvesting coconut stem s is alm ost the sam e as in
traditional forest trees. H ow ever, the conveniently straight and branchless stems, and their
nearly uniform volumes and dimensions allow the use o f comparatively light and simple tools
and transportation equipment. Logging operation for coconut plantation is therefore easier
and cheaper than logging under forestry conditions especially in mountain with steep terrains.

As in conventional forestry operation, the w orking steps in clearing old and senile
coconut plantations are as follows:

a. Establishment o f logging plan

Before deciding on time schedules, w orking techniques, tools and equipm ent, the
following basic information related to each specific logging operation should be considered:

1 Area to be cleared
2. Volume o f w ood to be rem oved
3 C ondition o f palms
4. Time available to com plete logging operation
5. Terrain conditions
6 Infrastructure (roads)
7 Available m anpow er and skill
8. Available equipm ent
9 Available funds for additional equipment
10 Conditions for m aintenance, spare parts, accessories, fuel and lubricant supply
for mechanized equipment.

Once this information is known and analyzed, the essential decisions on logging
techniques, degree o f mechanization, capacity o f transportation machinery, labor force and
required investment can be m ade and summarized in the logging plan.

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 b. Construction or improvement o f skidding trails a n d roads.

c. Site preparation

It includes the elimination o f undergrowth, and cleaning o f vegetation and debris

around the base o f the palm. A gricultural tra c to r w ith disc h a rro w to cu t or press dow n
undergrow th if vegetation is thick and high. A bush knife o r m achete to further clean the base
o f the trunk and cut u pper ro o ts and coarse bark ju st above the ground level.

d. Felling

F o r phytosanitary m easure as well as for m axim um recovery o f w ood, felling

should be as close as possible to ground level.

In o rd er to facilitate the subsequent ground skidding o f the felled stem s, a

uniform felling direction should be maintained. A proper felling technique with undercut and
felling cut, using a w edge when required, is equally important.

A pow er chainsaw is recom m ended for use in felling coconut stems.

e. Extraction

It is the tran sp o rtatio n o f th e felled stem s from stum p site to a road side o r a
suitable landing site. It is done by ground skidding with one end o f the stem raised with the use
o f an agricultural tractor. A skidding bar m ounted to the rear hydraulic arm o f the tractor can
be adopted to efficiently tow ed the felled coconut stems.

f Landing site preparation, marking o f logs a n d cross-cutting

The landing site is a flat area, big enough for handling palms in full length and logs
during the m arking and cross-cutting, and for piling and/or loading. The area m ust be cleared
from any obstacles. It m ust be accessible for the logging trucks which tran sp o rt the logs to
their final destination.

B efore the stem is cut into log lengths, the exact location o f each cut m ust be
clearly marked. The possible length o f a log depends on the curvature o f the trunk, its intended
end-use and the type o f saw ing machine. The recom m ended log lengths for sawn lumber are
1.80 m, 2.4 m, 3.00 m, 3.70 m, 4.30 m and 5.00 m. T hree to four logs can be taken from a
stem depending on its length and soundness.

C ro ss-cu ttin g (bucking) stem s into logs is one o f the m ain step s o f w ork in a
logging operation. This is done with the use o f chainsaw including the following accessories
for efficient and quick bucking o f logs: 2 w edges (aluminum, plastic o r hardw ood), 1 axe and
1 log turner.

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 g. Piling and loading

After cross-cutting, it is seldom possible to organize imm ediately the loading o f

the logs into the truck for hauling to the sawmill area. Usually the logs are properly block-piled
at the landing site for lack o f space and other reasons. Though this is only temporary, it should
be done in such a w ay that it facilitates subsequent truck loading. A gricultural tra c to r with
hydraulic front-end loader attachm ent with grappel is recom m ended for com m ercial loading
operation.

h. Transportation o f logs to the sawmill (log yard)

T he m eans o f transportation depends on conditions like distance, quantity o f logs,

road conditions and time available to com plete operation. H ow ever, general purpose trucks
are recom m ended for comm ercial transport o f logs.

/. Phytosanitary measures

It is necessary to properly dispose all logging residues which are not transported
to the log yard to avoid breeding place o f the destructive rhinoceros beetles during the decay­
ing process. T he logging residues can be used as firew ood and to som e extent can be con­
verted into charcoal.

2.2 Sawm illing

T he problem o f saw ing coconut logs is sim ilar to the ones encountered by
sawmiller when using high density species o f tropical hardwoods. This difficulty, however, can
be minimized by know ing the structure and properties o f coconut stem and the use o f hard
facing materials on the saw teeth. Since the diam eter o f the log is small (average diam eter - 40
cm), with high density (900 kg/m 3) on the pheripery, the sawblade tends to go out o f the saw
line. The thick-walled sclerenchyma fibers within the vascular bundles o f the cocow ood are
very hard and normal saws becom e blunt so easily. It is, therefore, necessary to harden the
face o r apply hard facing material on the saw teeth.

It has been observed that sand granules and small pebbles are present in the bark
which contribute to the rapid dulling o f the saw teeth. D ebarking o f logs certainly eliminates
this problem. However, no efficient and economic method o f debarking coconut logs has been
found.

The success o f any commercial sawmill operation in the production o f sawn co­
conut w ood is dependent on the com petence and knowledge o f the saw doctor in finding solu­
tions to these sawing difficulties.

a. Hard facing o f saw teeth

W hen saw ing hard and abrasive tim bers, it is a com m on practice to harden the
cutting face o f the saw teeth or apply a hard facing material.

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 The tw o basic requirem ents to do the jo b efficiently include a w ell-equipped saw
doctoring shop and a w ell-trained saw doctor. The facilities o f the saw shop should at least
consist o fth e following equipm ent and tools:

1. Oxy-acetylene welding w ith com plete accessories

2. Top and side grinders
3. Tensioning and leveling benches
4. Circular saw stretcher roll
5. Carbide tip alignment jig
6. Panel b e a te r’s ham m er
7. Straight edge ruler
8. R ound ham m er
9. Sw aging tools

T he com m only used hard facing m aterials include the stellite and carbide tips.
Stellite can be generally obtained in rod for use with standard oxy-acetylene w elding equip­
m ent. T h e technique o f tipping saw teeth w ith stellite can be easily d one by a saw doctor.
H ow ever, it m ust be stressed that the skill o f the saw d o cto r in applying the stellite is a m ajor
factor in achieving satisfactory results. The am ount o f grinding required after stelliting should
be minimized by controlling the am ount o f stellite deposited on each tooth to obtain a perfect
cutting face. On the other hand, carbide tips can be braced satisfactorily into the saw with the
use o f oxy-acetylene welding.

b. Circular saws fo r prim ary conversion

T he stellite- and carbide-tipped circular saw s are used w idely in th e saw ing o f
coconut logs. The saws must be correctly levelled and tensioned to satisfactorily cut the logs.
The am ount o f tension depends on the diam eter o f the saw, its thickess, operating speed, the
available horsepow er and feeding rate. O ther points o f consideration include the depth o f cut,
the density o f the log and num ber o f saw teeth Aside from the aforementioned requirements,
other prerequisites for operation o f circular saw s specifically for saw ing coconut logs are as
follows:

1. Saw collars should be identical in diam eter and accurately m achined to hold the saw
firmly. A slight tap e r on the face o f each collar should be done to ensure that the saw is
strongly fastened to the rim o f the collar.

2. Saw guides should be m ade o f solid steel material with provision to adjust and replace
the guide plugs as necessary with the minimum o f lost production time.

3. G uide plugs should be set accurately to the saw blades approxim ately 12 mm below
the gullet line with about 0.125 mm clearance betw een the guide plugs and saw.

4 The saw arbor should be levelled and in correct alignm ent to the log carriage rails with
the minimum am ount o f “lead” into the log.

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5. The available horse pow er o f the pow er unit should be sufficient to maintain a rea­
sonable feed speed o f between 25 m to 36 m per minute with a good tooth bite which should
be about half o f the blade thickness.

6. The diam eter and type o f saws are the m ost suitable for the largest average size o f log
which constantly come into the sawmill.

The use o f carbide-tipped saw in cutting coconut logs certainly retains its good
sharp cutting edge m uch longer than the stellite teeth. H ow ever, highly specialized skill and
precision equipm ent are required to replace and sharpen dam aged tips. Expensive im preg­
nated diam ond wheels have to be used for sharpening. So extrem e care m ust be taken at all
times when handling the saw during maintenance w ork to avoid damaging the tooth tips.

c. Mobile Coconut Sawmill

L atest developm ent in sawm illing coconut logs show ed that the practical and
economical equipment/machinery for sawing is a Mobile Coconut Sawmill (M CS). The saw­
mill can be m oved and relocated betw een villages and islands w here the w ood resource and
consum ers are located. This schem e w ould not only low er transport costs o f logs and sawn
w ood but would also increase production and use o f coconut w ood, thus providing added and
unexpected incom e for farm ers that could eventually encourage them to replant their old
plantations with improved coconut varieties.

The main features o f the M CS include, am ong others, the circular breakdow n
saw (headrig) and breastbench (resaw ) both o f which are m ade o f box-section steel frames,
and a pow er unit to run both saws. The assembled unit is m ounted on axles and w heels with
tow bar for easy relocation from one coconut plantation to another.

The designed mobile coconut sawmill has the following specifications:

1. C ircular sawmill for coconut constructed o f boxed section steel that is light but very
stro n g and can be easily dism antled into three main chassis parts which can be easily re­
assembled when relocated and can start milling within reasonable time.

2. W hole unit when assembled has a tow bar and can be m ounted on axles and w heels for
easy relocation betw een plantations.

3. Assembled unit has overall length o f 9.0 m eters, w idth o f 1.3 m eters and height o f 0.9
meter.

4. B reakdow n saw can be both fitted with 91.44 centim eters and 106.68 centim eters
diam eter sawblades with thickness o f 9 gauge and using tungsten carbide or stellite tips. It has
a bench speed variables o f 0 to 30.50 m eters per m inute wtih table length o f 5 m eters. 5

5. Breastbench has continuous line roller feeding with infeed speed o f 36.60 meters per minute
and return speed o f 4 1.20 m eters per minute. It has a saw blade diam eter o f 76.20 centim e­
ters with thickness o f 9 gauge using tungsten carbide tips.

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6. The mill has been designed to utilize a hydraulic system instead o f a m echanical one
and a hydraulic-operated loader is incorporated in the design.

7. W hole unit has been provided by a diesel engine o f 60 hp o r m ore, m ounted on a tw o­

wheeled trailer for easy towing. Pow er unit has com plete accessories such as clutch, hydraulic
system, electrical system, fuel and oil reservoirs, filters, etc.

8. Suitable spare parts and accessories for at least tw o years o f operation, which include
am ong others, circular saw blades for both breakdow n saw and breastbench, set o f tools,
carbide/stellite tips, sharpening tool or grinder, etc.

T he mobile coconut sawmill has been patented under the brand nam e “Little
Tiger C oconut Sawmill” by Stan Griffiths Engineering L td., Sawmill and General Engineers,
Box 99, Silverdale, N ew Zealand w ith FA X /Phone N o. (0942) 67-636. T he sawmill is ex­
trem ely portable w ith fast, accurate and efficient saw ing o f c o co n u t logs and has optim um
capacity o f 10 cubic meters o f sawn lumber per day. It is used extensively for mobile sawmilling
operations in the South Pacific Islands for milling tim ber from senile coconut palms. The cost
o f the sawmill as o f D ecem ber 1994 was U S $ 20,0 0 0 .0 0 FO B A ukland, N ew Zealand.

d. Sawing Patterns and Grading

Saw n lum ber from the coconut log has different w ood densities. A piece o f
lumber must belong to a density range, thus a sawing pattern should be em ployed to segregate
the three g ro u p s o f sawn coconut lumber. The round m ethod o f saw ing is recom m ended to
assure that the hard, m edium and soft lum ber are separately sawn. T h e first cut is a thin slab
follow ed by a cut o f 25 mm thick hard m aterial. T hen the log is either turned 90o o r 180o
follow ing the sam e sequence o f cutting until the hard portion is recovered. Similar saw ing is
done after each turn ensuring that the medium and soft m aterials are extracted separately.

Grading can be done visually based on the physical defect and color o f newly sawn
timber. H ow ever, other grading m ethods can be em ployed such as determ ining the specific
gravity or the stiffness o f newly-sawn lumber.

Generally, saw n co conut lum ber is classified according to the follow ing basic
density groups as follows:

CLASSIFICATION BASIC DENSITY RANGE

Hard 600 kg/m3 and above

Medium 400-599 kg/m3
Soft Below 400 kg/m3

2.3 M a c h in in g

An important phase in w ood utilization, machining is the process o f cutting and milling
co conut w ood into various shapes and patterns w ith the use o f w oodw o rk in g m achineries.
M achining improves the surface quality o f w ood by transforming the rough surface o f the w ood
to a relatively sm ooth surface. Basically, it involves various processes such as cross-cutting,
ripsawing, planing, shaping, turning, boring, mortising and sanding.

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 Sawn coconut lumber should be dried to equilibrium m oisture content, or low er prior
to machining. Factors that influence the quality o f machined cocow ood products include the
w o o d ’s m oisture content, density o r specific gravity and cellular structure and the m achine’s
knife angle, feeding rate, depth o f cut, number o f knives or cutters’, sharpness, spindle speed,
cutterhead balance and condition.

The machine used in manufacturing coconut w ood com ponents in building construc­
tion, furniture and novelties are as follows:

1. Radial arm saw - A 305 mm diam eter saw, pow ered by a 3-hp m otor turning
at 3,400 rpm ., is used for cross cutting o f lumber into the desired length. It uses high speed
steel or carbide-tipped saws.

2. A rbor saw - This m achine uses a 30-cm diam eter saw w ith a 3-hp m o to r
turning at 2,800 rpm. The saw, employing either high speed steel, stellite or tungsten carbide
teeth, is used for ripping, mitering and rabbeting o f lumber.

3. Thickness planer - This is used to cut the w o o d ’s surface to pre-determ ined

thickness, width or profile pattern. It can be single surfacer or double surfacer and its cutterhead
is pow ered by 7.5 hp m otor at a speed o f 3,000 rpm to 4,000 rpm. T he knives are m ade o f
high speed steel or stellite.

4. Jointer - It is used to square the sides o fb o ard s which can be applied conve­
niently in the preparation o f flooring and wall sidings. It’s cutterhead ro tates at 3,000 rpm
driven by a 3 hp motor. The knives are m ade o f high speed steel or tungsten carbide.

5. Spindle m oulder or shaper - A single or double spindles, this m achine is used

to cut edge profile and edge pattern on the side o r periphery o f lum ber such as to n g u e and
groove, radial or V -cuts. It is pow ered by a 5 hp m o to r w ith spindle speed o f 4,500 rpm to
7,000 rpm. T he knives are m ade o f high speed steel.

6. Lathe - It is used to mill w ood in such a w ay that the w orkpiece revolves

betw een centers at a speed o f 1,000 to 3,000 rpm. it is considered the oldest type o f w o o d ­
w orking m achine used in the m anufacture o f tools and implement handles, sporting goods,
furniture com ponents, balusters and toys. The turning tools are m ade o f high speed steel,
stellite or carbide bits.

7. Boring machine - It is used to make round holes on w ood. It has a borer o r bit
attached to a rotating spindle. Boring is done when dowels, screws and nails are to be used in
m aking furniture. W hen the high density portion o f coconut w ood is used, pre-bore before
nailing to avoid cracking or splitting. High speed steel drill bits are used for this purpose.

8. M ortiser - It is used to cut a cavity in a piece o f w ood to receive a tenon. It can

be a hollow chisel mortise with a hollow chisel bit, or a chain or oscillating bit m ortiser which is
a specialized router. M ortiser and tenon joints are used in furniture making.

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 9. Sanding m achine-M achining w ith coated abrasives is called sanding. It is done
to transform the rough condition o f sawn lumber to a sm ooth surface and prepare it for subse­
quent and even application o f finishing material or coating. M achines used for sanding include
disc sander, drum sander, belt sander, stroke sander and edge sander.

In o rd er to obtain a go o d surface quality o f co conut w ood p ro d u cts, th e follow ing

information may be considered during machining operation:

1 F or planing, preferably use 30o rake angle at 1.60 mm and 0.80 mm depth o f
cut w ith a feed rate o f 35 fl/min. and 45 ft/min., respectively. T he cutterhead
speed should be 3,000 to 4,000 rpm;
2. F or shaping, use tw o knives at spindle speed o f 7,000 to 10,000 rpm.;
3. F or turning, preferably use spindle speed o f 1,500 to 2,000 rpm.;
4 F or boring and m ortising, use a spindle speed o f 1,700 to 2,000 rpm.

In m achining coconut w ood using the hard o u ter portion o f the stem , use carbide-
tipped blades o r cutters. T he dulling effect can be largely attributed to the relatively thick-
w alled sderenchym a fibers within the fibro-vascular bundles and also the presence o f silica
containing cells called stigmata.

2.4 S e a s o n in g a n d D ry in g

C oconut stems after felling contain large am ounts o f w ater by as much as 1/3 to 1/2 o f
its total weight. Except for a very few uses such as in m arine piling, green m aterials are not
advisable to use particularly for furniture, panels, internal w ood w orks and flooring. The w ood
has to undergo seasoning process to minimize, if not avoid, problems in its utilization.

The approxim ate m oisture content o f coconut w ood for various uses are as follows:

1. Furniture - 10 to 12%
2. F looring - 11 to 17%
3. Fram ing Tim ber - 15-18%
4. Joinery - 12-15%
5. M oulding - 12-16%
6. W eatherboards - 15-18%

The com m on drying m ethods include air drying w ood under shed, forced-air and kiln
drying.

Air drying is the sim plest and econom ical m ethod o f m oisture rem oval from w ood.
T he saw n lum ber are fillet-stacked under shed or exposed outside protecting the to p layers
from direct sunlight and rain. The drying rates depend mainly on prevailing humidity and tem ­
perature o f the locality. D epending on existing condition, 25 mm and 50 mm coconut boards
take 4 to 11 w eeks and 16 to 21 w eeks to air dry, respectively to attain equilibrium m oisture
content o f 17% to 19%.

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 Forced-air drying involves the use o f blowers w here air under atm ospheric or heated
condition is forced to pass once or circulated through a stack o f saw n w ood. This process
accelerates the removal o f the m oisture from the w ood even under relatively low tem perature.

Kiln drying is the process o f exposing green or partially-dried sawn lum ber which are
fillet-stacked in an enclosed chamber. T he kiln is either heated by steam , electricity o r the
products o f com bustion o f w ood or gas. The humidity, tem perature and air circulation are
controlled in the drying chamber, hence the w ood materials are dried to any desired m oisture
level within a short period.

Drying schedules (Tables 1 and 2) for coconut w ood are established to avoid drying
defects such as collapse, twist, warp and check. The occurrence o f check is usually noticed on
high density coconut w ood while collapse occurs on soft lumber. Twist is observed on sawn
lumber with mixed densities such as partly hard and partly soft/m edium portions. W arp in the
form o f cup also develops in low density wood.

The following are som e tips in drying coconut wood:

a) Air drying
1. In most countries in Southeast Asia, air drying should be done during the months
o f February to May.
2. The air drying shed m ust be far from w ater bodies and big trees and m ust be
on grounds that are elevated and well-drained.
3. The pile or stack o f lumber must be properly identified and stickered.
4. Soft lumber m ust be piled separately from the hard ones.
5. Thinner lumber must be piled separately from the thicker material

b) Kiln drying
1. It is advisable to air dry freshly-sawn coconut w ood for at least tw o w eeks
prior to kiln drying. This is to economically reduce the very high m oisture
content o f the w ood to a low er level;
2. The 25 mm and 50 mm thick coconut lumber can be kiln dried satisfactorily by
employing dry bulb tem peratures o f 70o C and 60o C, respectively, from
green condition to the desired moisture content;
3. Pointers num ber 3 ,4 , and 5 under air drying must be followed accordingly.

2.5 Preservative treatment

C oconut is not naturally durable when used in situations favorable to attack by decay
fungi and w ood boring insects particularly in ground contact and exposed to the weather. The
low natural durability can be overcom e by the application o f suitable w ood preservative treat­
ment.

The w ood preservatives that can be used for treating coconut w ood fall into tw o gen­
eral types, namely: oil-borne such as creosote, pentaclorophenol, cuprinol and solignum; and
w ater-borne salts which are applied as w ater solutions. T he standard w ood preservatives
used in w ater solution include chrom ated copper arsenate with trade nam es as G reen Salt,
Tanalith, Boliden K-33 and Wolman CCA.

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 T he treatm ent processes o f w ood are generally com posed o f tw o m ethods: the pres­
sure and non-pressure processes.

The pressure treatm ent is employed to put more toxic chemicals into the cell cavities o f
the w ood. T he non-pressure m ethod such as soaking, brushing, spraying and diffusion can
also be effectively employed in treating coconut w ood depending on its intended use.

In the selection o f a particular treatm ent process, som e im portant factors are w orth­
while considering such as (a) condition o f the m aterial prior to treatm ent, (b) end-use, (c)
equipm ent involved, (d) simplicity o f application, (e) effectiveness, and (f) cost o f treatm ent.

Am ong the different m ethods o f treatm ent, the pressure m ethod is considered the most
effective. It can provide the m ost adequate protection to w ood com pared to the other method.
The main disadvantage is that it involves high capital investment to set up a pressure treatm ent
plant. Hence, the only alternative is the non-pressure m ethod o f treatm ent.

T he recom m ended treating processes are presented in Table 3. T he treatm ent sched­
ules o f the different processes have been established for c o co n u t w o o d th ro u g h a series o f
laboratory experim ents, field and service tests o f treated materials.

2.6 Finishing

Finishing refers to the application o f transparent or opaque liquid coating to enhance

the natural beauty o f the grain, co lo r and figure o f w ood products. G ood quality finish for
coconut w ood requires the preparation o f the surface by sanding to rem ove the knife m arks
and to produce a sm ooth surface.

The transparent coating consists o f shellac, lacquer, polyurethane and polyester. The
opaque coating involves the use o f oil-based paints such as exterior and interior house paints.
In general, the m anufacture’s recom m endation on the application o f these finishes should be
followed to obtain good result.

The schedules o f finishing coconut w ood products are influenced by the kind o f coat­
ing materials to be used, individual skill, appropriate w orking m ethods and the w ood substrate
which refers to the density o f the wood.

C oating involves sequence application o f stain, filler, sealer and top coating. Usually,
tw o or m ore c o a ts o f finishes are applied to coconut w ood to im prove the ap p earan ce and
quality o f w ood products. I.

III. Uses of Coconut Wood

C o co n u t w ood can be used for diverse purposes. K now ing the pro p erties and the
various processes and technologies o f cocow ood utilization, industrial products using the ma­
terial can be developed. M ost o f these products are now being econom ically utilized.

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 If properly treated, cocow ood is good for fence posts, pow er and telecom m unica­
tion poles, cross arms, short-span bridge timber, road guardrail and sign boards.

For housing, the structural use o f coconut w ood depends mainly on its density. The
high density materials should be used as posts, trusses, floor tiles (parquet), girts, floor joists,
purlins, balusters and railings and other load-bearing structures. T he m edium density boards
can be effectively used for walling, horizontal studs, ceiling joists and door/w indow frames.
As a rule, coconut w ood w ith density below 400 kg/m3 should not be used as structural
framing materials. However, they can be utilized in the internal parts o f a building as ceiling and
wall lining in the form o f boards and shingles.

C oconut w ood can be a promising material for the m anufacture o f furniture, novelties
and oth er handicrafts due to its beautiful grain and attractive natural appearance. T he hard
portion, although it can be used for furniture, imposes some limitations on the density require­
m ent for ideal furniture. T he problem can be overcom e by adopting a suitable design that
requires small-sized com ponents w ithout sacrificing the strength requirem ent. T he m edium
density w ood is undoubtedly a good material for furniture and novelties including handicrafts
as this is m ore or less the required density range in m anufacturing furniture.

High value coconut w ood products which include furniture, decorative interior walls,
parquet floors, various novelties and curio items are equally, if not m ore than, com parable to
the traditional w ood species com m only used in the furniture industry as far as appearance is
concerned. Hence, with effective product prom otion, quality furniture and other high value
coconut w ood products can have a potential share not only in the dom estic but also in the
w orld markets.

C oconut w ood is no doubt a go o d m aterial for the m anufacture o f high value and
export-quality finished products. H ow ever, like many other conventional w ood species, un­
treated freshly-cut lumber can be easily attacked by mould and staining fungi especially if the
m aterial is not properly stacked and is exposed to hum id environm ent during the air drying
process. The stained w ood loses its innate beauty that w ould further enhance degradation
during air drying caused by decay fungi and pinhole borers. Hence, prophylactic treatm ent is
necessary if it is used for the production o f high value products for export. F o r production o f
export quality coconut wood finished products, three (3) important aspects o f processing should
be done as follows:

1. The round method o f sawing logs must be followed to assure separation o f the
high, m edium and low density w oods. In this way, proper grading according to density and
color can be done w ithout any difficulty.

2. Since coco w ood is not naturally durable, anti-sapstain treatm ent is necessary
immediately after sawing. To do this, dip the newly-sawn lumber at once into a tank containing
anti-sapstain chemical before air drying. Green lumber is immersed for tw o to three minutes
in the preservative solution before stacking them in the drying shed. B asilitP N o rP entabrite
with the standard sodium pentachlorophenate as active ingredient is effective in controlling
fungal infection on coconut lumber. Solution concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% can
be safely used depending on the prevailing w eather conditions. L ow er concentrations are

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required during dry and hot sea son than during the rainy and humid season. Adjustm ent o f
the concentration is necessary at a particular treatm ent period to achieve the desired perfor­
m ance at the low est treatm ent cost.

3. T he quality o f finished products also depends on th e m oisture content o f the w ood

prior to assembly. C hecks and cracks develop on the surface o f im properly dried coconut
w ood during shrinkage and swelling as a result o f change and variation o f relative humidity in
the place w here it is exposed. Hence, kiln drying should be done to bring its m oisture content
to the low est possible level that would result to its stabilization in service.

IV. Economic and Social Benefits

In the past, the w ood-using industry depended heavily on conventional w ood as the
source o f raw material for housing, furniture and other finished w ood products. As a result o f
m assive reliance on the traditional w ood species, the industry faces a problem brought about
by the scarcity and prohibitive cost o f conventional wood.

There is, therefore, an urgent need to look for lesser-know n indigenous w ood m ateri­
als that could be a good substitute for com m ercially-know n w ood species to overcom e the
inadequate supply oflogs and at the same time help conserving our remaining forest resources.
O ne such raw material that would be locally available in many parts o f the coconut producing
countries is the coconut stems.

T h e grow ing num ber o f old and senile palm s requires the launching o f a large-scale
replanting program m e. Based on the volum e o f millable logs in the eleven (11) coconut p ro ­
ducing countries (Palom ar, 1991), a total o f 164.38 million cubic m eters o f round coconut
tim ber would be readily available for economic utilization producing approxim ately 49.31 mil­
lion cubic m eters o f saw n co conut lumber. O f this volum e, the Philippines and Indonesia
account for 21.71 million and 13.55 million cubic m eters o f saw n lum ber, respectively, o r a
combined w ood resource o f 35.26 cubic m eters which represents m ore than 70 per cent o f the
expected total lumber production o f the coconut producing countries.

In the Philippines alone follow ing the 40-year cycle replanting program m e, a yearly
production o f 1.81 million cubic m eters o f sawn lumber would be realized for economic utiliza­
tion. If the lum ber will be used for the national shelter program m e, about 38,160 three-bed­
room houses can be constructed yearly o r roughly 1.5 million houses for the 40-year cycle
coconut replanting programme.

The adoption and effective application o f coconut w ood utilization technologies would
not only provide a system o f proper trunk disposal as a phytosanitary m easure at replanting
tim e but w ould also give econom ic benefits to the coconut farm ers in the form o f additional
incom e, m ake available alternative construction material and w ould generate investm ent and
employm ent opportunities for the entrepreneur and for people living in the rural areas, respec­
tively.

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V. T e c h n ic a l P ro b le m s a n d M o w to O v e rc o m e T h e m

Experience shows that sawmilling is the most difficult aspect in the processing o f coco­
nut stem s. To effectively and efficiently convert the trunks into lumber, the saw should be
properly and correctly levelled and tensioned in addition to the technology o f using either
stellite o r tungsten carbide tips as saw teeth. In order for the operation to be econom ically
viable, it is essential to ensure that the saw blades are properly m aintained. To do this, only
experienced saw doctors should be employed in commercial sawmilling o f coconut trunks.

A problem related to structural application o f cocow ood is the difficulty o f nailing

and subsequently splitting o f high density w ood near the ends o f the boards. Pre-drilling is
highly recom mended prior to driving the nails.

G ood finished products such as handicrafts, furniture and parquet floors are subjected
to considerable sanding prior to the application o f w ood finishes. The use o f m echanical
sander instead o f manual sanding facilitates finishing the surface o f the wood.

The small diam eter o f coconut stem limits the size o f sawn lumber, hence optim um
width and thickness o f boards that are usually recovered are 25 mm and 50 mm, respectively.
F or structures requiring bigger sizes o f lumber, glued lam ination o f the w ood to the desired
dimensions solves this particular problem.

VI. Technology Transfer

W hile considerable advancem ent o f coconut w ood research and developm ent has
been m ade in recent years, w hat rem ains to be done is the effective dissem ination as well as
appropriate application o f the technologies obtained from these research studies.

In the spirit ofTechnical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC),

th e Philippine G overnm ent thru the PC A m ade available the facilities o f the Z am boanga
R esearch C enter at the disposal o f interested coconut producing countries o f Asia and the
Pacific Region for training purposes. As a result, a Regional C ocow ood Training Program m e
(R A S /8 1/110) w as established in the latter part o f 1982 as a U N D P R egional P ro ject ex­
ecuted by FAO with U N ID O as a cooperating agency. U nder this project, th ree (3) training
courses w ere conducted in 1993. The courses offered w e r e ( l) M anagerial Fam iliarization
Training for m anagem ent level trainees to acquaint them with the principles and practices o f
cocow ood utilization, (2) General Technical Training for technical staff to enable them to gain
theoretical as well as practical knowledge in the different aspects o f cocow ood processing and
utilization, and (3) Specialized Technical Training for technicians and skilled w orkers to pro­
vide them the opportunity to study further and practice specific skills and techniques in their
chosen fields o f interest. The fields o f specialization include saw doctoring, seasoning and
preservation, primary conversion, grading and machining, construction, furniture and energy.

To ensure the successful com pletion o f the training program m e started under RA S/
81/110, additional assistance w as given by the F A O ’s Technical C ooperation Program m e
under T C P /R A S /4 4 0 1. H ence, repetition o f the three training courses w as carried o u t in
1994. In addition, the project’s activities were expanded into training o ffu tu re instructors in
preparation for the establishm ent o f satellite training centers within the coconut producing
regions.

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 Considering the potential econom ic impact o f coconut w ood utilization, the coconut
producing countries w ere strongly interested in acquiring further technological advances in
co c o w o o d processing and utilization through specialized training course. H ence, Sub-
RegionaJ C oco w ood Training Program m es w ere established in 1985 as satellite spots am ong
the participating countries. The host countries selected w ere Sri Lanka, W estern Sam oa and
Thailand under FA O ’s TC P/R A S/4402. T C P /R A S/4404 and T C P /R A S /4507, respectively.
These projects provided better exchange o f ideas and easier transfer o f technologies relevant
to the training needs o f participating countries in the region.

A technical advisory mission undertaken by E SC A P-U nited N ations in the early part
o f 1994 to the South Pacific region identified the need for further assistance to the Kingdom
o f Tonga and W estern Sam oa in the developm ent o f high value and export-quality cocow ood
pro d u cts. As a result, ESC A P sent an expert and organized an 18-day (08-25 D ecem ber,
1994) technical m ission to T ongatapu, T onga and Apia, W estern S am oa to exam ine their
co co w o o d se cto r and advice on the w ays and m eans o f preparing and treating co co w o o d
with a view to m anufacturing high value-added cocow ood finished products. In that mission,
the identified training needs for the tw o countries include designing, machining, preservative
treatm ent, assembling and finishing o f cocow ood furniture and novelties.

In view o f the need to com m ercialize coconut w ood, the governm ent o f K ingdom o f
Tonga considered it necessary to request assistance from the FAO under the Technical C o ­
operation Program m e with Project No. T C P /T O N /4452 (T ) which w as im plem ented on
18 Septem ber 1994 to 09 M arch 1995. The Project w as aimed to provide training in the use
o f M obile C oconut Sawmill and to analyze the potential o f using the M ataliku Sawm illing
C enter (M SC) at Tongatapu, the longest sawmilling center for cocow ood in the Pacific region,
as a regional center for cocow ood utilization and developm ent. A M obile C oconut Sawmill
w as procured and used in the training o f sawmill operators. T he sawmill w as subsequently
deployed in the villages and islands w ere co co w o o d resource and consum ers are located.
Aside from sawmilling, other training needs in the country and the region w ere identified.

A developm ent plan w as proposed in preparation for possible conversion o f M SC

into a regional center for co co w o o d utilization. T he plan consisted o f scheduling various
activities for a 5-year period such as construction o f a training center building, upgrading o f
existing w orkshop facilities, acquisition o f additional w oodw orking m achineries and equip­
ment, staff developm ent, preparation o f training curricula and possible m arketing strategies.

In addition, technical assistance w as extended to M SC for the p ro duction o f high

quality and value-added cocow ood products, giving special attention to sawing pattern, lum­
ber grading prophylactic treatm ent, kiln drying and finishing. In line with this activity, a study
to u r w as organized for tw o M SC em ployees w ho und erto o k on-the-job training on better
utilization o f cocow ood in the Philippines.

V II. S tra te g ie s on th e M a rk e tin g o f C o c o n u t W ood P ro d u c ts

Promotion o f coconut wood finished products is a concerted effort not only to

be undertaken by sawmill m anagers and m anufacturers o f w ood products but also by lumber
dealers and interm ediaries like trad ers and dealers o f w ood preservatives, paints, varnishes
and other w ood finishes

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 The management o f any company engaged in coconut w ood processing and utilization
should produce high quality products com parable to, if not b etter than, the p ro d u cts m ade
from conventional timber. M anufacture o f value-added coconut w ood products should be
developed and encouraged particularly if foreign m arket is to be explored.

Some suggested marketing activities may include the following:

1. Expand and position dom estic m arket o f co conut w ood by (a) developing
new products other than fram ed timber, boards and furniture, (b) advertising through televi­
sion, radio and new spaper spots, placem ent ofbrochures in various visitor centers, sales pro­
m otions and give-away gift items from coconut novelties, and (c) establishing strategically-
located show room s for display and sales; and

2. Explore and establish organized overseas marketing o f export-quality coconut

w ood products by (a) distributing a well-designed and graphically-strong image brochure, and
(b) participating in international trade fair and exhibition.

REFERENCES

Laxam ana, L.G. and R.N. Palomar. 1988. R esearch and D evelopm ent on C oconut Timber
Utilization. PC A R R D C oconut R and D. B ook Series N o. 59/88, pp. 220-237.

M eadow s, D .G ., V.K. Sulc, R.N. Palom ar and P.Jensen. 1980. C oconut W ood Utilization.
Oleagineux 35 (7): 365-369.

Palomar, R.N. and J.O Siopongco. 1988. Technology manual on coconut w ood as construc­
tion materials. UN DP-UN ID O Regional N etwork in Asia-Pacific for Low -C ost Build­
ing M aterials Technologies and C onstruction Systems, 135 p.

Palom ar, R.N. and V.K. Sulc. 1990. Perform ance o f coconut tim ber under field and service
conditions. C O RD 6(1):78-91.

Palomar, R.N. 1990. C ocow ood Utilization in the Philippines. R esearch and D evelopm ent
Technical Report No. 3. Philippine Coconut Authority, Diliman, Quezon City,Philippines,
44 p.

Palomar, R.N. 1990. State-of-the-A rt: C ocow ood Utilization. Proceedings W orkshop on
Coconut W ood Utilization for Policy makers, Asian and Pacific C oconut Community,
Zam boanga City, pp. 1-44.

Palomar, R.N. 1991. Utilization o f coconut w ood: Prospect and problem s. Proceedings
International Symposium on Coconut Research and Development, K asaragod, India,
pp. 657-667.

Palomar, R.N. 1996. Country Brief: Coconut w ood utilization in the Philippines. P roceed­
ings Regional E xperts’ M eeting on Coconut W ood Utilization, FPRD I, College, La­
guna, Philippine

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Table 1: K iln drying schedule o f 25 mm sawn coconut lumber

Moisture Dry Bulb Wet Bulb Relative Cum ulative

Content Temperature Temperature Humidity Drying Time

(% ) (C) (C ) (D ays)

G reen - 85 49 44 78 2
85-58 53 47 75 4
58-35 56 48 64 5
35-28 58 49 51 7
28-19 62 48 43 9
19-12 60 43 40 10

Table 2: Air and kiln drying schedule o f 50 mm sawn coconut lum ber

M oisture D ry Bulb Wet Bulb Relative Cum ulative

Content Temperature Temperature Humidity Drying Time
(% ) (C) (C ) (D ays)

(A ir drying)
G reen - 64 - - - 14

(Kiln drying)
64-54 45 36 55 3
54-39 50 40 55 6
39-28 55 44 53 10
28-22 58 46 53 13
22-17 61 47 51 17
17-15 65 48 53 20

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Table 3: Recommended treating processes fo r coconut w ood

Service Preservative Process and T reatm ent Tim ber Retention

Condition Concentration Schedule C ondition (K g/cu.m )

G round Contact CCA: 4-5% Pressure: lstv a c c u m - Dry 1 4 - 18

45 min; pressure - 120
min.; 2nd vaccum - 10
min.

Outdoor, not CCA: 2% Pressure: lstv a c c u m - Dry 7 - 12

in contact with 30 min; pressure - 60
ground min.; 2nd vaccum - 10
min.

Indoor, not in Pentachlorophenol Soaking/b rushing Dry 1 .8 - 2 .0

contact with 5% in oil Soak for 10 min. or
ground brush for 3 coatings

Cuprinol: Ready- Brushing: brush for Dry 1 .8 - 2 .0

mixed 3 coatings

K>
oo

O
CCA: 2% Soaking/b rushing Dry
Soak for 10 min. or
brush for 3 coatings

136