How many bf in a tree

In order to sell timber, for example, an estimate is needed of the quantity to be sold. If trees are to be cut to provide lumber, an estimate of volume is needed to determine what size and how many trees to cut. Using the methods described in this article, a woodland owner can estimate the board-foot volume in one or several trees.

If an estimate is needed for several acres, however, it is recommended that the woodland owner engage the services of an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry Service Forester, a consulting forester, or an industry forester. Methods needed to accurately and efficiently inventory timber volume on large areas are beyond the scope of this publication.

In the United States, the most common measure of lumber volume is the board foot, defined as a piece of wood containing cubic inches. However, any piece of wood containing cubic inches is a board foot e. The board-foot content of any board may be determined by multiplying the length by the width by the thickness, all expressed in inches, and dividing by cubic inches.

The board foot is also the most common volume measure for trees and logs to be used for lumber and veneer. The board-foot volume of a tree or log is an expression of the number of board feet of lumber that can be cut from that tree or log. The lumber volume that can be cut from a tree or a log depends on a great many variables, including how the tree is cut into logs, the dimensions of the lumber, how much of the log is lost in sawdust and waste, and the efficiency of the sawmill and workers.

Because of these variables, the board-foot volume of a tree or log cannot be measured exactly but is estimated. Numerous methods called "rules" have been developed to estimate board-foot tree volume.

Both of these rules provide an estimate of the board-foot content of a tree based on tree-trunk diameter breast high and merchantable tree height discussed later. The Doyle rule is the most common rule in Ohio. It is used by the timber industry and many professional foresters. Forest Service. A comparison of these two volume tables will show that they are not identical.

The Doyle rule substantially underestimates the volume of trees in the smaller diameter classes. The Doyle scale formula is based upon a tapered cylinder. Straight legs without minimal tapering will produce more board feet than the scale estimates, but it typically balances out since most logs are imperfect. To estimate the board feet from a log, measure the average diameter of the smaller part of the log in inches.

Then, measure the length of the log in feet. Move the scale's marker over to where these two measurements meet. Where the two measurements intersect is the approximate board foot output.

If there are any defects, you can reduce the number based on how significant that flaws are, such as rot or curvatures. Sawmills charge by the board foot, so the scale can help determine what the cost will be. It's essential to accurately measure the log, rather than guessing at its diameter.

Most people are way off when guessing a log's size. The Doyle scale is a valuable tool for professionals working in the logging and lumber industries. Whether you are removing trees for a neighbor or purchasing wood to mill, the amount of board feet is what determines the cost. While the Doyle scale can be inconsistent, particularly for smaller logs , it can give you a ballpark estimate of how many board feet are in a log, so you have an idea of what the final cost will be.

It can prevent any surprises for you and the miller handling the log. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with the amazing, fun and free SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro.

We don't collect information from our users. Only emails and answers are saved in our archive. Cookies are only used in the browser to improve user experience. Some of our calculators and applications let you save application data to your local computer.

These applications will - due to browser restrictions - send data between your browser and our server. We don't save this data.