log hunting

Panderson,
Please do let us know how the expedition goes. I plan to just give in and buy a logger's tape for getting diameters, and general log measuring. As for taper, I have no ideas, aside from just eyeballing. I think Red Pine should be relatively consistent at 2"/10 ft. Good luck.

JP
MN

im glad i live on west coast , doug fir is around 60 to 70 cents a board ft. at 40 ft. i can get them at near 2 inches of taper,per 40 ft. and have decided  to still cut all the logs on my 40 ft. mill so both ends of the logs will be the same  diameter...with a 3 to 5 inch flat on 2 sides .even tho class said we shouldnt do that.but the chinking will be minimized  and and also cover over the cuts i make anyway...thats my thoughts on that...andy 

Andrew,

How is 'board ft' measured?  What is the exact cost you were quoted per whole log delivered to your sight? 

Cutting those logs flat will invite capillary action and violate one of the most fundamental guidelines taught in class which was that "all connections between logs should be in either a point or a line, but never in a plane".

Obviously they are just guidelines but I would think long and hard about cutting into your wall logs that way.  I'd also be worried about having some of the planed surface exposed near the corners due to taper of the logs above and below.

ya, i hear what ur saying about not cutting a plane on  logs but 2 things id say ..my home is gonna b shorter than most ive seen...5 to 7 logs high...and am gonna keep roof extended far enough on all 4 sides for a wrap around deck.thus eliminating most direct moisture.and besides after you goop in the chinking  ..wont it hold in some moisture.?.that is if its gonna get in there ?.i will b sure to cut logs in sets of 4 in order that the walls all stack up the same height .......if you go to most chain saw specialty stores...where tree fallers buy....u can purchase a log scribner /scale book.its small, and..it will tell you log every log length per every top diameter in a chart form..and corelating board feet at a glance..its like 10 bucks and its water proof...hope that helps...ive been milling 10 years and am a logger..plus ill have 40 foot waine cuts to use for some interior natural edge siding...you can by high grade export logs from export facilities at many log yards all over scattered around the coast....from everet to longview...generaly the price reflects current markets...wich varies with the economy..but the nice thing is that the log sort/grade the logs will all be similar in but and top diameters.most log yards will give u a current price ,if you call..and usually can direct you to a self loader trucker to deliver to youre site..distance will determine that cost..have i answered youre question ?..andy

if i may add another thought to youre concern on cutting logs...i wouldnt do it to any tree except dog fir .cuz its extrmely stable wood...it  moves very little as it dries .. i wouldnt do it to hemlock for example its softer and tends to twist as it dries..andy

oh..and for roof /peak logs try telephone pole co.s.  they specialize in the longer lengths... in most log yards the longest logs youll find are 41 ft logs..but unlike buying from a logger youll tend to buy from pre sorted piles,(by size and grade) scale is figured from top diameter x length...kinda like an empty paper towell roll.. all the wood outside that cylinder is free..but the key to an easier build is obviously to have minimal taper.fewer knots..id rather spend more..on a higher grade..than fight it later..but thats just me...i cant wait to build...!.. andy...

my scribner book isnt on me but i can say ball park that a 10 to 12 logs, truck load say 14 inch diameter tops -average .is about  3200 to 3500 b.f.  total.. so even at  80 cents p.b.f. that is around $25or 26  hundred.per load.. plus delivery... remember this is ball park figures.prices are pretty low right now..and would think 2 beat that price..prices do vary quite a lot .up to 20 cents p.b.f..winters usually cheaper  .andy

as far as a caliper goes..its not necessary , just tape measure it across top end , if the log is egg shaped you take widest and narrowest point  then split the difference... so if its 18 one way and 16 the other...then its a 17.. dont include bark..

I know nothing about red pine except for what I have read below... and a little more. I would forget the caliper. What I would prepare is a cloth tape measurement that is 60 inches long with a weight attached to one end. What the heck does that mean?, I can hear some one saying... The diameter of a circle is the circumference divided by 3.14159... So the lumberman that measures the DBH and knows the taper can estimate top diameter and by using Scribner can estimate the board feet of the log and then its value. The weight is so the tape can be easily thrown around the tree.

So, I would be very conservative and estimate the red pine will have a taper of 4 to 6 inches over a 40 foot length. So, given bark at one inch on each side and a 5 inch taper and wanting tops of at least 12 inches, my DBH would be 1 plus 1 plus 5 plus 12 inches in diameter or 19 inches (19 times 3.1416 = 59.6 inches in circumference). So I would cut a strip of cloth 60 inches long and the trees must be in this meighborhood.

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/usda/amwood/255redpi.pdf

"Red pine is a tall tree with a smooth, straight, clear bole of little taper and a symmetrically oval crown (fig. 1). Mature trees vary from about 50 to 80 feet in height and 1 to 3 feet in diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground). The maximum reported size is 150 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter."

ya...im glad someone knows pie  ...n all that  4 log diameter...but if u just measure cross the end with a scribner book ...youll b done...lol...i aint smart enuff 2 do math....if i do need a math equation tho ...i will calll u..lol

Thanks for that info, good idea on the tape.  I was thinking about buying a loggers tape, but I may just go cheaper and try your method.

JP