Increment borer

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Modern model of the incremental drill invented by Preßler

An incremental drill is a special drill that is mainly used in forestry and was developed in the 19th century by the forest scientist and economist Max Preßler .

The hollow drill ( displacement drill ) is turned into tree trunks by hand with a T-shaped handle in order to remove drill cores (usually 5 mm in diameter). In this way the wood growth, i.e. the annual growth of the tree, can be tracked and the age of the tree can be determined. In addition, statements can be made about the health of the tree ( rot ) and the wood strength (breaking strength and flexural strength of the drill core) and simple sensory properties (odor) can be tested with a fractometer . The borehole is closed with resin .

Incremental Borer (1899)

Around 1900 the drill was offered as a pocket instrument with a diameter of approx. 1.5 cm in two versions: as a small or hard drill (length 13 cm) and as a deep drill (length: 20 cm).

Use and impact

The use of incremental bores in forestry is controversial. One borehole with an average diameter of around 10 mm is created per hole. Bacteria and fungi can enter the trunk through this channel. In addition, the wood tissue is damaged by the drill, and vessels are crushed or cut. The resulting wound reactions can damage the wood over a large area. There may be discoloration around the drill hole. Another disadvantage of the incremental drill is that irregular wood damage can only be recognized poorly if several holes are not made. Due to these effects on the tree, the use of incremental bores is steadily declining; today they are mainly used on obviously diseased trees, for example to identify pathogens.

literature

  • Max Robert Pressler: On the forest growth customer with a special relationship to the incremental drill and its practical importance, etc. Application . 2nd Edition. Woldemar Türk publishing house, Dresden 1868 ( Google Books ).
  • Max Neumeister : The Increment Borer , in: Mother Earth. Technology, travel and useful observation of nature in the home and family. First volume. W. Spemann, Berlin and Stuttgart 1899, pp. 235–236 (fig.)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Steffen Rust: Devices and procedures for detailed tree examination . In: Andreas Roloff : Tree care . Eugen Ulmer Verlag , Stuttgart 2008 ( PDF (212KB)).
  2. ↑ Christoph Klingan: Tree Care in Austria . GRIN Verlag , Munich 2010 ( Google Books ).