Tutorial and Program for Hardwood Bucking Improvement

[lfnh]

Came across some interesting bucking stuff from Michigan Technological University Hardwood Research Group.
One is a tutorial with pictures on log defects and how they affect grading of the log and what the defects show up as after sawed going from slab inward as thru and thrus.
The other is a free download program HW Buck (about 4 mb size so it;s not bad over dial up). Seems like a useful interactive program for bucking decisions to improve grade yield returns in dollars. As opposed to say, just plain stupid logbutcher -ing.
The last is a list of related publications related to grade bucking specific to tree species like hickory, cherry, walnut and so on.
While ths stuff was geared to hardwoods there seems to be enough generally to carry some part of it to softwoods as well. Anyways did'nt see anything already posted on site so figured some might find it interesting/useful, even though it's suppose to be used as part of a field education on improving bucking. Maybe when the weathers socked it tight.
Always good to learn.

Links:
Defect Tutorial
HW Buck Program and Download Link
Related Publications

Credits:
Michigan Technological University Forestry Department
USFS/USDA WERC
Ohio Forestry Association

 

[forestryworks]

Good find and thanks for sharing!

 

[lfnh]

Thanks. Forgot to mention the picture slide shows of bark defects and others loads slower on dial up than the rest of their stuff. For warned.

 

[madhatte]

Nice!

 

[lfnh]

Better fess up and say don''t like pop quizes. 4x on multiple guess and 2x on T/F.
Going to the woodshed and no dinner. Grounded.

 

[2dogs]

Great info, thanks for posting the links. In redwood the rule of thumb is that the outer 1/3rd of the log contains 2/3rds of the volume of lumber. Sometimes the heart doesn't matter. It's intersting to be presented with the different view hardwood mills have.

 

[dnash]

Anyone else having trouble with the bucking program? It keeps saying "bckgm1a file not found/invalid file name".

 

[lfnh]

Didn't have any problem with the download, unziped it, clicked on setup, accepted default, clciked on desktop icon to start it. noerrors so far.

could also try using explorer to nav to c:\program files\HW Buck\ and click on the bckgm1a.exe file.
assuming that's where the program got installed by setup.
hope this helps.

 

[DavdH]

Great info, thanks for posting the links. In redwood the rule of thumb is that the outer 1/3rd of the log contains 2/3rds of the volume of lumber. Sometimes the heart doesn't matter. It's intersting to be presented with the different view hardwood mills have.

2pi r squared, works for any cylinder not just redwood. 1/6 outside diameter is 1/2 the volume..about

 

[Oldtimer]

That old saying certainly applies to merchandising hardwood.

"Your money is made on the landing!"

Meaning; Profit is maximized by bucking the wood right.