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News & EventsMedium-Density Fiberboad from Gow ManurcNext time you're driving along acountry highway, take a minute tostop and smell the MDEThati right, cow manure is nolonger just for fertilizing lawns. It'snow being explored as a possiblesource of core material in mediumdensityfiberboard.According to the Iowa StateUniversiry scientists conducting thestudy, cow manure makes sense forseveral reasons. First, high fiber contentis a part of cattle's natural diet.Second, because the fiber hasalready been refined by the cows,less adhesive is needed to bond thematerial.Third, as a rapidly renewedresource, it can help ease pressureon conventional wood sources.And, apart from the occasional cowchip throwing contest, the stuffreally isnt in high demand.Yeah. but won't it stink? Notaccording to the scientists.Theyclaim a sweet,straw-like odor even aftermachining the material.Manure isn't the onlyagricultural ingredient inthe mix, though.The scientistsalso use a soybasedadhesive to bondthe sheets together. It's amore environmentallyfriendly option thanpetroleum-based binders.'When the "poopboard" may land in homecenters isn't certain.There's still a lotoftesting to be done, and the scientistsare currendy trying to findfunding to keep the project alive.Fair Exhibitorc Build Furniturc for GharityExhibitors at the 1,999Woodworking Machinery andFurniture Supply Fair teamed upfor a good cause this year - tobuild 100 sets of bedroom furni-Woodwodrs fior Ghildrcn founder lloug lftmp picturcd withone of lfll sets of firrnihrrc built by woodlo*ing faireilribilors. The furniturc wert to an at-risk youtt sheltenture for children. The furniture setswere donated to a center for at-riskgirls in California.The idea came from DougKemp, former president of theAssociation ofWoodworkingandFurniture Suppliers,which hosts the fair.Kemp organized thefair participants tomake componentsfor the bedroomsets while theydemonstrated theirmachines at the fair.In past years, materialswere made randomlyand oftenthrown away.The project iscalledWoodworksfor Children and isthe first such prograrnat any majorwoodworking fair.World Recod PourIn Fayetteville, AR, earlier thisyear, concrete workers set a newworld record for the largest placeand-finishconcrete floor.Theproject was a 556,000 sq.-ft.warehouse floor.Suppliers delivered concrete atthe rate ofnearly 39 trucks perhour (9 cubic yards every 90seconds).The crew workedcontinuously for 30 hours.The new warehouse will behome to Hanna's PotpourriCompany. Now that's a lot ofdried flowers.20WORKBENCH ! JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2OOO