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Grading Logs:
Everything related to lumber is measured in board feet. Converting round logs to a
linear, flat calculation is not easy, fortunately there are Log Rulkes that allow you to
do this. Basically a log rule is a yard stick with tables and charts etched into the
wood. Some include tables for figuring out timber in given plots, in trees and in
logs. The latter is the one we are concerned with. Just to confuse everyone, there
are a multitude of Log Rules, but these are the big three and their differences:
linear, flat calculation is not easy, fortunately there are Log Rulkes that allow you to
do this. Basically a log rule is a yard stick with tables and charts etched into the
wood. Some include tables for figuring out timber in given plots, in trees and in
logs. The latter is the one we are concerned with. Just to confuse everyone, there
are a multitude of Log Rules, but these are the big three and their differences:
All log rules factor in saw kerf. In the old days this was considered 1/4 of an inch,
or the width of a standard rotary blade. In other words for every board sawn, one
board was lost to sawdust. These days, almost all sawmills use bandsaw blades
that are 1/16 of an inch. In other words, for every 16 boards sawn, one is lost to
sawdust. of course the log rules have not factored this in to the disgust of the
landowner/ logger!
or the width of a standard rotary blade. In other words for every board sawn, one
board was lost to sawdust. These days, almost all sawmills use bandsaw blades
that are 1/16 of an inch. In other words, for every 16 boards sawn, one is lost to
sawdust. of course the log rules have not factored this in to the disgust of the
landowner/ logger!
Always measure INSIDE THE Bark on the SMALL END of the log. Some logs have
thicker bark than others, and bark is not considered lumber material. The small
end is measured because your boards can only be as wide as your smallest end.
thicker bark than others, and bark is not considered lumber material. The small
end is measured because your boards can only be as wide as your smallest end.
Logs have a Trim Allowance added. When I refer to a log as a 14 footer, in reality it
has to measure 14 feet and six inches. The six inches is to allow the boards to be
squared up. Years ago the trim allowance was only 4 inches, but the mills once
again got greedy. Failure to saw a log to this new rule can mean the scaler has
the right to call a 14 foot and 4 inch log, a tweleve foot log! Trying to save 2 inches
of log is just not worth it!
has to measure 14 feet and six inches. The six inches is to allow the boards to be
squared up. Years ago the trim allowance was only 4 inches, but the mills once
again got greedy. Failure to saw a log to this new rule can mean the scaler has
the right to call a 14 foot and 4 inch log, a tweleve foot log! Trying to save 2 inches
of log is just not worth it!
Stubs should be cut off. I was once hit with a stub sticking out of a log while
sawing it into lumber and darn near lost my eye. Keeping the logs as smooth as
possable means they will roll better as well, and just look better. While I cannot
confirm this with numbers, I feel I get a better scale when my logs look like round
logs instead of porcupines when I sell my logs commercially.
sawing it into lumber and darn near lost my eye. Keeping the logs as smooth as
possable means they will roll better as well, and just look better. While I cannot
confirm this with numbers, I feel I get a better scale when my logs look like round
logs instead of porcupines when I sell my logs commercially.
| Looking for a handy Online Sawlog Calculator to figure out how many board feet are in a saw log of yours? Click here for an easy to use saw log calculator. |
