Using Hemp trees instead

**big_gumbo** · 5th January 2008, 02:45 PM

What's everyones opinion on using Hemp instead of pine in chipboard, MDF and paper products.

You obviously still need pine for boards and planks for solid timber projects and house frames but i'm sure you can use hemp trees in chipboard, MDF and paper products.

Hemp trees dont produce a high (THC levels about .3% as against marijuana’s 3% upwards)
Hemp was the main source of paper until the 20th century. Hemp fibres make paper superior in quality to that produced from wood
In a warm climate, hemp crops can be harvested at four months, whereas trees grown for pulp take 20 years to mature. Also, the ratio of production of hemp to wood is 1:4, that is, one hectare of hemp to four of wood. So, with wood plantations that take 20 years to mature, hemp is 80 times preferable to wood for paper making. Added to that, wood plantations require high subsidies to establish and maintain.

It has way more uses than what i just mentioned and it's environmentally friendly.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ock...es/s838434.htm

And i'm NOT a pot-head hippy if your wondering

**Harry72** · 5th January 2008, 03:49 PM

In this day and age it is totally environmental stupidity that hemp fibre is not the main crop of this country, its easy to grow uses little water needs no man made chemicals... list goes on
But we can thank a certain plastics/chemical company one of the greatest environmental mistakes ever.

**echnidna** · 5th January 2008, 03:50 PM

Mdf can be and is made out of wheat straw as well as from wood so theres no reason you couldn'y use hemp. But why bother with hemp, theres plenty of straw each year

Or are you trying to justify mary jane?

**big_gumbo** · 5th January 2008, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by echnidna

Mdf can be and is made out of wheat straw as well as from wood so theres no reason you couldn'y use hemp. But why bother with hemp, theres plenty of straw each year

Or are you trying to justify mary jane?

No i already said i dont smoke it.
You can't get high off hemp

Besides it has alot more uses than wheat. It has over 25,000 uses including oil for plastics and fuel

**Ianab** · 5th January 2008, 06:12 PM

One problem with hemp and other annual plants is that they generally have to be harvested on a seasonal basis.
Where as if you are running a paper mill you want raw stock fed in consistantly all year round. So either you have to store 9? months worth of stock, or only run the plant for a short season. This may be less of a problem in the tropics, but in any temperate climate it's an issue.

Another advantage of trees is that you have the ability to adjust the harvest rate to cover extra demand or a slower market. The Hemp HAS to be harvested wether it's needed or not. Trees can be harvested slower if the market is slow, or a little earlier if there is heavy demand.

Trees are also multi purpose, a pine tree may produce a prime saw log, a lower grade saw log, and a couple of pulp logs which all go to different destinations and uses.

Not insurmountable problems, but they do make a big hit on the overall economics compared the paper figures.

Cheers

Ian

**Harry72** · 8th January 2008, 05:23 PM

I think(err unsure

)that hemp can be cultivated a couple times a year.
And it could be processed into raw fibre and stored... a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
Can you make plastics from trees?

**journeyman Mick** · 8th January 2008, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Harry72

...............Can you make plastics from trees?...........

Harry,
they make "plastic" shopping bags and "styrofoam" burger trays, plates etc from potato starch.

Mick

**DavidG** · 8th January 2008, 06:29 PM

Makes nice rope. Strong, soft, easy to work.

**journeyman Mick** · 8th January 2008, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by DavidG

Makes nice rope. Strong, soft, easy to work.

Unfortunately it rots fairly quickly,

unless you tar it, which makes for a rope that's messy to handle. (I'm currently involved with a replica of a 17th Century ship)

Mick

**Ian Wells** · 22nd January 2008, 10:32 AM

It makes the most beautiful paper and because of its long fiber length it can go through the recycling process more times without becoming dusty
Ian

**HappyHammer** · 22nd January 2008, 10:39 AM

So what's the answer why aren't we cultivating it?

Would the processing plants need major re-tooling to handle hemp versus timber for paper production?

HH.

**Ch4iS** · 23rd February 2008, 03:05 AM

I always thought that hemp was pot --> reason for not using it. Guess im wrong.

Its surprising to know what some things are made from.

**Gra** · 23rd February 2008, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by HappyHammer

So what's the answer why aren't we cultivating it?

We were up until WW2, then certain industrial superpowers who had a replacement product pressured Their Govt to ban it, that Govt then pressured other govts to follow suit.

From interest George Washington farmed hemp

Originally Posted by blue^ray

I always thought that hemp was pot --> reason for not using it. Guess im wrong.
Its surprising to know what some things are made from.

Pot is a form of Hemp, but the hemp used in the manufacturig process has a low THC content. THC is the stuff that gets you stoned..

**Gra** · 23rd February 2008, 08:21 AM

Oh I forgot, Ford in south America in the 60's made a car body out of a hemp/fiberglass mix. They also made one out of banana skin/fiberglass mix wierdly

**journeyman Mick** · 23rd February 2008, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gra

Oh I forgot, Ford in south America in the 60's made a car body out of a hemp/fiberglass mix..............

Didn't Cheech and Chong make a movie about it?

Mick

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