How to measure board feet.

[mattfr12]

Ok I take logs to the mill whenever I get a truck load. Like ten plus logs. How should I be accurately measuring board feet so that I know I'm not getting screwed. Is their some tool you guys use or just with the old tape measure.

Just wanna make sure I'm doing it right. I got around twenty cherry logs 30 inch in diameter and some up to fifteen foot long.

 

[Tree Pig]

Ok I take logs to the mill whenever I get a truck load. Like ten plus logs. How should I be accurately measuring board feet so that I know I'm not getting screwed. Is their some tool you guys use or just with the old tape measure.

Just wanna make sure I'm doing it right. I got around twenty cherry logs 30 inch in diameter and some up to fifteen foot long.

one of these may help

Timber and Lumber Calculators at WOODWEB

 

[ATH]

First, figure out which scale the mill uses.

Second, find out what lengths they take and their trim requirements. For example, if you bring a log that is 10'2" long to most mills they are going to pay you for an 8' log because they go by 2' size classes and require 6"-7" of trim length.

Then buy a tree scale stick: example at Bailey's.

The short of it is, measure the small end of the log inside the bark, then the length of the log and get volume off a chart...make sure you are using a log scale not tree scale if you are measuring logs.

Finally, learn about merchandizing through log grading... For example if you start with a 25' log, you may make more money if you cut it into an 8' and a 16' than just two 12 footers (or maybe the 2 twelves will be worth more) because of location of defects.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

Very good answer from ATH. There are over a hundred different log scales across the US but only a few are common. Doyle, Scribbner and 1/4 International are probably the 3 most common. I think the forest products lab still has some good info online about scaling logs. Like ATH says , how you buck can change the value.
Rick

 

[Slvrmple72]

Red Oak city trees not worth anything more than firewood still?

 

[VA-Sawyer]

I think you will get a better price for city trees from a small outfit running a bandmill. Circular mills just can't afford to hit metal in a log at all, where as the bandmill just has to change the blade. Of couse if the metal detector shows much metal they won't want the log either.
Rick

 

[mattfr12]

First, figure out which scale the mill uses.

Second, find out what lengths they take and their trim requirements. For example, if you bring a log that is 10'2" long to most mills they are going to pay you for an 8' log because they go by 2' size classes and require 6"-7" of trim length.

Then buy a tree scale stick: example at Bailey's.

The short of it is, measure the small end of the log inside the bark, then the length of the log and get volume off a chart...make sure you are using a log scale not tree scale if you are measuring logs.

Finally, learn about merchandizing through log grading... For example if you start with a 25' log, you may make more money if you cut it into an 8' and a 16' than just two 12 footers (or maybe the 2 twelves will be worth more) because of location of defects.

Ya good answer I'll think about what you said on how to cut them.

 

[mattfr12]

I think you will get a better price for city trees from a small outfit running a bandmill. Circular mills just can't afford to hit metal in a log at all, where as the bandmill just has to change the blade. Of couse if the metal detector shows much metal they won't want the log either.
Rick

We don't do bad at it I stockpile them up every time I get one then run them all down at once. I've came back with a grand a few times. For a full truck load.

 

[wyk]

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