Board feet spread sheets

[Tony]

 8) 8) Hello FF, been eavesdropping for awhile.
Got a silly newbie question, are there any spread sheets out there that show the bdft of the most common lumber sizes or cuts? Seems like I spend alot of time at the end of a milling job [ tired] with a calculater. Thanks in advance, more silly questions later. 1st post please be gentle.
                                                                Tony

[Bibbyman]

Welcome to the Forum!

Well,  I think I know what you are asking for .... Something like and Excel spreadsheet with board feet tables on them?  Don't know of any.  Guess it wouldn't be too hard to make one up. 

You could check under the "Forum Extras" up in the upper right of this page.  Under it a "Toolbox" with all kinds of calculators.

You'll probably find a number of ways to shortcut your counting anyway.

When we're sawing we generraly saw mostly the same stuff - Like - 8' 1x6s or 5/4 walnut x 8' foot.  Well put this lumber in a stack and then count/measure the stack. 

Mary has a marker board in the sawshed with how many board feet are in a bundle of 5/4 walnut so long x 40" wide by so many layers.   

Same with our fencing lumber – so many boards wide x length x number of layers = bf in bundle.

Lot of times when we got a bunch of odd stuff,  we just stack it the best we can and just guesstimate the board feet in an average layer x layers and just round down.   Life is too short to calculate every board and add it up.

[Jeff]

We had a spread sheet. I cant find it. And sorrier yet, I can't remember who sent it to me to post!

HELP!!

[spencerhenry]

bdft in common sizes are easy to figure in your head. 2x4= 2/3 bdft/ft, 2x6=1 bdft/ft, 2x8= 1 1/3 bdft/ft, 2x12= 2 bdft/ft. an easy way to figure it is multiply thickness by width, and divide by 12. 2x4=8, 8/12= 2/3. in 10 foot lengths its real easy, but all others are pretty simple. or for a large order, count the number of pieces to find total lineal footage.  when i am cutting multiple sizes, i sometimes count # of pcs of each size, and average length, when cutting random width 1x  i count layers of the stack, and muliply by the length and width of the stack.  when i bought my woodmizer, i got a little paper "calculator", a chart of bf in various sizes at various lengths.

[Bibbyman]

You could simplify all the counting by sawing only boards12" wide or 12' long.

12" wide is just thickness x length = bf.

12' long is just width x thickness = bf.

It's those odd widths that get me.  I'll stack 3 4" wide boards together and count them as 12" wide.  Or 3 8" wide and count them as 2x12" wide. Or a 4" and 8", or 6" and 6".  That sort of thing. 

I try to avoid sawing 10" wide boards because they are just too hard to figure up.
;)

[pappy]

Lot of times when we got a bunch of odd stuff, we just stack it the best we can and just guesstimate the board feet in an average layer x layers and just round down. Life is too short to calculate every board and add it up.

Best Way !!!!

We had a spread sheet. I cant find it. And sorrier yet, I can't remember who sent it to me to post!
HELP!!

Whoa Whoa # one ....... Remember...

Life is too short to calculate every ......!

Seems like I spend alot of time at the end of a milling job [ tired] with a calculater.

Best time to reflect on your achievements....




Like Bibby pretty much said a block is a block is a block... a cubic foot is what it is...  cubic inches divided by 144


During and at the end of your sawing session ( with practice) you'll be able to tell at a glance what... you sawed ... are sawing ...



Spring is almost here... remember what the flowers smelled like....   Mmmmmm  Life's too short...  but I'm still anxious to see sawdust flying
 

[Tom]

A little calculator in the truck and a pencil and paper will solve all of the problems with little brain strain.

H" x W" x L' / 12 = BF

You no longer have to worry about odd lengths, odd widths or quantities.  Just fill in the blanks and charge for what you think is fair.

[Bibbyman]

One thing we did do on a spreadsheet that IS very handy.

We get a lot of calls for and sometimes sales of just oak farm construction lumber.

So I made up a spreadsheet with common lengths across – 8',10',12',14',16' and widths down – 4",6",8",10",12"  in one inch and two inch thick. All fit on one standard paper size "landscape".

Then I set a base price for our lumber and to each length over 8' added and extra $.05/bf.  Then for each width greater than 8",  I added another nickel.  So an 8'x1x6 was at the base price but at the other corner was the 16' 2x12 that was about double in price/bf.

That way when the phone rings,  we can pull out simple sheet of paper and tell them the price per board.

When it's time to raise the base price,  I just change the one figure and all the cells update to the new price.

[Back40x2]

    Tony,

    There is a book I got a while back that is very helpful.  It is call "Simply Board Feet" by Douglas E. Maxwell.  THe book is nothing but every calculation set up like the old "Times Table Chart"  very easy and simple.  It covers from 1x1x12(.1bf) upto 16/4 x 25.5x20', in that order 

     Lengths stop at 20 feet.

After a while the commons will be automatic ;) ;) ;)  Thats why I still use my book :D :D :D

Hope this helps

[stumpy]

I made a spread sheet that takes typical sizes of boards sold a Home Depot. I use it to compare prices. It breaks down standard sizes by lineal feet and board feet. If you want a copy, email me and I'll attach
jvogt@wi.rr.com

[Back40x2]

   Stumpy,

   Just sent an email 2ya.  WOuld love to have a copy, if its not too much trouble.

Thanks

[Jeff]

I made a spread sheet that takes typical sizes of boards sold a Home Depot. I use it to compare prices. It breaks down standard sizes by lineal feet and board feet. If you want a copy, email me and I'll attach
jvogt@wi.rr.com

Whats the format? we can make it so you can attach it right to a post here...

[fstedy]

Here is a copy I made on excel if you need 2X sizes just double it Hope this helps you out. It was originally made as a tally sheet.
Size   Board Ft.      
1x4x8'   2.7                     
1x4x10'   3.6                     
1x4x12'   4.0                     
1x4x14'   4.7                     
1x4x16   5.8                     
                        
1x6x8'   4.0                     
1x6x10'   5.0                     
1x6x12'   6.0                     
1x6x14'   7.0                     
1x6x16'   8.0                     
                        
1x8x8'   5.3                     
1x8x10'   13.3                     
1x8x12'   8.0                     
1x8x14'   9.3
1x8x16'   10.7
   
1x10x8'   6.7
1x10x10'   8.3
1x10x12'   10.0
1x10x14'   11.5
1x10x16'   13.3
   
1x12x8'   8.0
1x12x10'   10.0
1x12x12'   12.0
1x12x14'   14.0
1x12x16'   16.0

[PhilD]

Jeff,
I've got 2 Excel spreadsheets I use all the time and would be happy to post 'em.  Will the forum take .xls or just the 3 listed?

-PhilD

[Ga_Boy]

I built a spread sheet that I plug in how many, thickness (in inches) width (in inches)  and length (in feet).  Out spits the total number of bf.  I also can set a price in one cell of the spread sheet and this thing gives you the dollar amount.

Let me know if anyone wants a copy.  I have not been able to post Excel spread sheets.




Mark

[stumpy]

Jeff,
Mines Excel out of Microsoft office professional

[FeltzE]

I've got one I use with all the standard sizes up through 4 " x 20' with a column to list the customers quantity, size and bf on the right I use it a lot, can't find the original digits but can fax a copy to ya.

Eric

[FeltzE]

I lied, got one scanned in on digits you can print out and I can email to anyone interested.

Jeff, is there any way we can upload little helpers like documents, excel spread sheets to share with FF members?


Eric

[sparks]

This might help.   

Click Here

[Jeff]

I lied, got one scanned in on digits you can print out and I can email to anyone interested.

Jeff, is there any way we can upload little helpers like documents, excel spread sheets to share with FF members?


Eric

Yep, there sure is. You can attach .xls by using the additional options when you make a post

[beav]

   Years ago I got sick of figuring up the bdft of a job at the end of the job. I came up with what I call the cant size method. Basically, when the log is squared into a cant, the amount of wood in it is the same no matter how you slice it. So I measure the cant, and take into account the edge boards that came off, the wane left on the cant, etc, and make one entry in my logbook.
(say it's 10 x10" x 12'- easy to figure 100 bdft comes out of it)
  Running a bandmill, it is easy to convince the customer that he owns the kerfs. I haven't had a problem with this system in years. much less figgerin' at the end of the day 8)

[johnjbc]

Here is a spread sheet that contains formulas to complete a bill. You will need to go into Tools and unprotect the sheet to make any changes, to the Heading, or Formulas. If you have any question or suggestions please ask.

[Bavarian in Brazil]

This thread just makes me think one thing: Hail to the metric system!

[Percy]

I have a low tech spreadsheet  that is a MS Works version. It  has 1X4 -2X12 from 6 feet to twenty feet, does all the guzzintas and is easily modified.....if you have Works ;D....I can upload with uhhhh directions.. Like a pic??? Can do..

[Back40x2]

   There is a book I got a while back that is very helpful.  It is call "Simply Board Feet" by Douglas E. Maxwell.  THe book is nothing but every calculation set up like the old "Times Table Chart"  very easy and simple.  It covers from 1x1x12(.1bf) upto 16/4 x 25.5x20', in that order.  I got it online from either Amazon, or Barnes&Noble.  Just type the authors name, or the name of the Book and it should come up.  Great Book.  No figuring at all 8) 8) 8) 

     Lengths stop at 20 feet.

After a while the commons will be automatic ;)  ;)    Thats why I still use my book :D :D :D   

Hope this helps

[Jeff]

Percy, to attach a document is different then pictures. Start a post, (you must have text in your post,  you cant just attach) then, just under where you type is a link that says >Additional Options...

Click that and it will reveal the attachment facility. Browse to your file and then select "open" the file address will then be in the input area. Then simply click the "post" button. the file will upload and be attached to your post.

This does not work on photo files. Only documents with extensions that I allow.  txt,doc,pdf,xls

[PhilD]

Here's 2 that I use... (if I can get this to work) 
First is a log scale/bdft estimate.  One column is one of the standards (International, I think?), the other is closer to what I get out of a bandmill.

Second is a bdft calculator setup with $0.30/bdft calculator which can easily be changed.

[Junior437t]

Here is a good sheet that I use.

[Gilman]

Here's one we use for beam quotes, you could also use it for dimension lumber.

The only thing different about this spread sheet is how I formatted the cells to include "/" and "bf" in the cells.

It makes it a little easier to read when cutting a beam order.

[sawyerkirk]

Best thing I ever found was a little slide rule put out by woodmizer, I always keep a stack of them handy, call em, I'm sure they'd send you one

[Percy]

Says I cant upload that type of file (wks).  Ill try again later Jeff.

[Jeff]

Is that MS Works file extension? I went ahead and added it. You should be able to upload now.

[Percy]

Here Goes.(Thx Jeff)
Just enter the amount of a particular board into the appropriate space and the board footage appears just below woth a grand total of all board feet at the bottom. I built this seveal years ago and it still works real good...for me anyways ;D

[FeltzE]

Try this one, well forget it, it's a 1 mb file scanned in from the original.

I can't win, Just have to email it to anyone interested.

Eric

[Tony]

THANKS EVERYBODY... I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFO ,IT WILL HELP ME TREMENDOUSLY.
                                      THANKS AGAIN, TONY smiley_clapping smiley_clapping

[KiwiCharlie]

Hi Tony,
Dont you mean tree-mendously ??  :D  :  Sorry about that!  ;)
Now, for all us upsidedowners, is there any formula for estimating how many cubic metres of wood in a given log?
Or for that matter, the metric equivelent of what this thread has been about?
Cheers
Charlie.

[GF]

Jeff
   I sent the one to you in the past you had posted, I have now on my website http://www.twistedoaksawmill.com select the link called "Log Scale" its has all of them in one sheet.  You are welcome to take it and put in back on the forestry forum website.

[GF]

Forgot to mention that its an HTM page.
Jeff you may need to clean some of the code out of it.

[Russ]

I use a chart like this to total my board feet for the day. Let me know if this is useful.
http://equinox.shaysnet.com/~logger/chart.htm

[smwwoody]

I got these  ones a while back from somewone on here I made A few changes to suit me better It would be fine for a part time mill but too much for a full timer to input

Woody

[smwwoody]

here is the soft wood one