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Bucking:
Bucking trees into logs is purely judgemental, and yet that is where money or
quality lumber, can be made or lost. I prefer to buck logs out on the landing. In
open sunlight, without roots, rocks and brush obscuring the tree, you can see such
things as twist, large limbs and any other defects that might adversly affect a the
lumber from the tree.
quality lumber, can be made or lost. I prefer to buck logs out on the landing. In
open sunlight, without roots, rocks and brush obscuring the tree, you can see such
things as twist, large limbs and any other defects that might adversly affect a the
lumber from the tree.
Bucking this tree up however was a real challenge. First it had some rot on the butt
which had to be removed. Next the tree grew into two seperate trunks. These were
big enough for logs so they were cut into usable lengths (12 feet). Next the crotch
was cut out before the remainder of the log was cut into 8 foot logs due to the
tapering effect closer to the top of the tree. You will note that this bucking was done
in the woods because my small tractor could not pull it out of the woods any other
way.
which had to be removed. Next the tree grew into two seperate trunks. These were
big enough for logs so they were cut into usable lengths (12 feet). Next the crotch
was cut out before the remainder of the log was cut into 8 foot logs due to the
tapering effect closer to the top of the tree. You will note that this bucking was done
in the woods because my small tractor could not pull it out of the woods any other
way.
Length:
Deciding upon your ideal log length is the first step. In this harvest my longest
sheathing board I need is 14 feet. Therefore my intentions are to cut as many 14
foot logs as possable. There still will be shorter logs of course, especially as I get
logs near the top of the tree, but I can always cut a 14 foot board down to 8 feet.
Deciding upon your ideal log length is the first step. In this harvest my longest
sheathing board I need is 14 feet. Therefore my intentions are to cut as many 14
foot logs as possable. There still will be shorter logs of course, especially as I get
logs near the top of the tree, but I can always cut a 14 foot board down to 8 feet.
Crook:
Cutting all logs 14 feet long though may not produce the greatest amount of
lumber. If a tree has some crook to it, sawing the log into straight boards may
greatly reduce the amount of lumber in it. Cutting it into shorter, 8 foot sections
"straightens" the tree and makes for more usable lumber.
Cutting all logs 14 feet long though may not produce the greatest amount of
lumber. If a tree has some crook to it, sawing the log into straight boards may
greatly reduce the amount of lumber in it. Cutting it into shorter, 8 foot sections
"straightens" the tree and makes for more usable lumber.
Taper:
Far and away, taper is the greastest challenge to getting the most out of the
lumber. A shorter tree has more taper, and while an 8 foot log 12 inches on the
small end will produce 30 board feet, a 14 foot log 8 inches on the small end will
produce only 20 board feet. As a rule though, if a log tapers more than 2 inches, it
is better to cut it back to the next available length.
Far and away, taper is the greastest challenge to getting the most out of the
lumber. A shorter tree has more taper, and while an 8 foot log 12 inches on the
small end will produce 30 board feet, a 14 foot log 8 inches on the small end will
produce only 20 board feet. As a rule though, if a log tapers more than 2 inches, it
is better to cut it back to the next available length.
Hardwood lumber is usually bucked up to shorter length to keep the scale and
quality up, while softwood lumber, which is used mostly for structural framing, is
preferred in longer lengths as few carpenters would like building with only 8 foot
2 x 4's! It is easy to confuse these two terms. Scaling is measuring how many
board feet of lumber a pile of logs contains. Grading is deciding on the quality of
the lumber. Hardwood is graded, meaning a logger is looking for the highest
quality wood from each log and is rewarded finincially for their diligence.
Softwood used for structural purposes is generally is not graded.
quality up, while softwood lumber, which is used mostly for structural framing, is
preferred in longer lengths as few carpenters would like building with only 8 foot
2 x 4's! It is easy to confuse these two terms. Scaling is measuring how many
board feet of lumber a pile of logs contains. Grading is deciding on the quality of
the lumber. Hardwood is graded, meaning a logger is looking for the highest
quality wood from each log and is rewarded finincially for their diligence.
Softwood used for structural purposes is generally is not graded.
