Stick to scale logs

[tgalbraith]

HI to all, I've been reading but not writing for awhile now.  Here is a little gadget I dreamed up, that may be useful to some of you.  I wanted and easy and convenient way to estimate board feet from raw logs.  I searched the "tool" section of the forum and found a tool that would convert my dimensions ( diameter plus log length) into board feet.   I copied down the results for diameters from 6" to 30" and lengths from 8' to 14. I then took a length of 1x1 three feet long (actually a piece of sticker) and scribed a line around it every two inches and marked indicated inches on the stick.  I then marked each of the four sides with 8', 10', 12' and 14'. Then I copied down the estimated board foot values. I added a small plastic disk on the end to help hold when taking the readings.  It took longer to download the pictures to my gallery than it did to build the stick. I think it will be very  handy around the mill. Hope every one is enjoying a nice summer.  I'm going to try and put some pictures of the stick on this post.

  

  

 

[Magicman]

Congrats on the log scale and the pictures.   8)

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I wouldn't even attempt to try to make one of these.....I'd mess up some where. So I ordered me an International and a Doyle stick from Logrite.

[Alligator]

You know they make those commercially. I was married to one 9 hours a day for 20 years.
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=14491&ItemNum=71021&shop=1&gclid=CIKAkJqAt78CFdBi7AodkHAAvw

[Magicman]

Plus our friends and Sponsor Logrite makes them:  http://www.logrite.com/store/Item/log-scale

[tgalbraith]

Hold up there, I wasn't claiming that I re-invented the wheel.  Every tip that I have submitted is probably produced commercially.  I grew up thru the depression, when if you needed some tool, etc; you made it or
did without. If in fact, I was sawing commercially and was scaling customer logs; it would seem more professional to have a $45.00 stick. But since I only saw as a hobby and would like to have a simple way to
estimate yield from a log, I think this will do just fine.

I in no means meant to step on any sponsors toes, and if I did; then I apologize.   

[dboyt]

Tgalbraith, I don't think that anyone was being critical of your scale stick, but just pointing out that there is a commercial option for those who don't have the skill, imagination, or inclination to make their own.  Did you mark your stick to the Doyle scale?  I can see the advantage of making one, to create a custom scale.  My Norwood mill pretty consistently produces lumber at International 1/4 scale + 14%.  A custom made scale would help estimate board footage for my customers.  Plus, the way I leave things out in the woods (there's a pair of chaps and many gloves out there somewhere), a scale made from a sticker is a great idea.  Thank you for posting, and for the photos!  And as always, there's an app for that, but I'm not risking having a smart phone join the chaps & gloves!

[Magicman]

Hold up there, I wasn't claiming that I re-invented the wheel.   I in no means meant to step on any sponsors toes, and if I did; then I apologize.   

I did not see it that way at all.  My congrats in Reply #1 were sincere.   

Threads do have a way of wondering and getting slightly off course, but at least this one has not made it to food yet.   

[36 coupe]

My log hauler was home built several years before I bought my sawmill.My log hauler cost 200.00 to build while a factory made one would cost 2000.00.That amount was almost half the cost of my mill.A dollar saved is a dollar earned.My scale stick cost 6 bucks a long time ago.I would like to see a stick made for band mills.Ive always found enough logs on my place so the stick is not needed.If I do buy a log it can be scaled.I have 6 axes.My favorite is one my Uncle gave me 45 years ago.The International scale is calculated for a1/4 inch kerf.The Doyle scale is not accurate on small logs.Too hot to saw much now but I have a nice red oak log on the mill now.

[Alligator]

I'm sorry as well. That is great. I scaled logs for 20 years also. For personal use it's great. My only concern was, occasionally I ran across loggers that wanted to accuse me/CBLC of something shady. I had them put a ruler against my stick or complain if there was a little too much turpentine on the inside of the square. I can't imagine what they would have said about a home made stick. Some of my loggers were pretty large and ornery. :D

[SwampDonkey]

My brother found this for me online when buying a logger's tape.  It's a little warped from being in someone's shed or barn I think. ;D

[Magicman]

That classifies as memorabilia.   8)

[terrifictimbersllc]

This article (p2) says the international scale started as 1/8".  https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-191.pdf

Probably not much market for 1/8"  sticks then.  Maybe now there could be since so many bandsaws?  Log-Rite new product?

[SwampDonkey]

The back side of this has 3 other scales to.   8, 10, 18

[Magicman]

Yours is marked exactly like mine, but yours is obviously designed for crooked lumber.   :D

[SwampDonkey]

And there is always lots of crooked logs to make it to.  ;D :D

[beenthere]

And SD, which log scale is the stick made for?

[SwampDonkey]

This is for already dimensioned 4/4 lumber. The scales along the brass metal head are the lengths of lumber. On the wood part it just tells you the footage based on width. There is a little dot engraved by each number in the wood, I assume the mark to measure.

No idea why the handle end is made with a split, it was also rounded I assume to make it easier on the hands than squared edges.

Someone has a website showing this exact stick along with 2 log scales used in Maine.

[beenthere]

Thought so.. that it is a lumber scale stick, not a log scale stick. ;)

Trying to trip us up....  :D

The handle is split as it originally had a wood wedge glued in place, that may have been lost along the way. Gives a bit of a swell to the handle for hanging on to the stick. The wood is thin and flexible so the end can be laid down on a board without bending the back so much.

[SwampDonkey]

I never said it was a log scale, I tucked it into the first thread I could find on a scale stick. :D I said it had several scales. And it does, one for each length of lumber. :D I figured that out when I looked down 12" and seen all the lengths=board footage. ;) It seems simple, but you'd be surprised how that would stump someone if they had no clue about lumber, logs or scaling. :D

[Magicman]

I am glad that I used the word "lumber" in my Reply #14.  ;D

[beenthere]

SD...
Now you know..   ;D

[SwampDonkey]

You need some snow.     

:D :D :D

[beenthere]

Here is a lumber scale stick showing the wedge insert in the handle.

[SwampDonkey]

Pretty cool.  ;D The brass on mine is quite old "appearing", some pitting on the top.