A tree and log scale stick is a must-have forestry tool for estimating timber volume before harvesting lumber from your woodland. Whether you’re managing a woodlot, selling timber, or calculating board feet for a farm project, this tool helps determine how much usable lumber a standing tree may yield. Small, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive, this tool provides quick field estimates without requiring specialized equipment.
Key Takeaways
- A tree and log scale stick estimates tree diameter, height, and lumber volume.
- Diameter is measured at breast height (DBH), typically 4.5 feet above ground.
- Height measurements estimate the number of usable log sections in a tree.
- Board-foot estimates can be calculated using Doyle, Scribner, or International 1/4-inch log rules.
- Tree and log scale sticks provide quick timber estimates for woodland management and harvesting decisions.
What Is a Tree and Log Scale Stick and How Does It Work?
A tree and log scale stick is long, narrow, and covered with numbers and marks to gauge the diameters and heights of trees. At first glance, it resembles a large ruler. They can be purchased from many places, or it’s straightforward to make your own so long as you get the ruler markings in the correct places.
The following instructions provide an overview that will apply to many models, but if your stick requires different distances for use, follow the instructions for your specific stick.
How to Measure Tree Diameter with a Tree and Log Scale Stick
On one section of the stick you’ll find narrowly spaced lines marked with numbers like 16, 18, 20, 22, etc. These are used to measure, in inches, a tree trunk’s diameter at breast height. Diameter at breast height is 4 1/2 feet above the ground, measured from the uphill side of the tree if it’s growing on a slope.
To measure the diameter, hold the stick horizontally against the tree trunk, exactly 25 inches from your face. Line up the left edge of the stick with the left side of the trunk. Now look at the right side of the trunk (don’t move or turn your head) and note which measuring line on your tree and log scale stick most closely lines up with the right edge of the trunk. If it says “26,” the diameter is 26 inches.
How to Measure Tree Height with a Tree and Log Scale Stick
On another section of the stick you’ll find widely spaced lines meant to measure how many log sections (typically 16-foot log sections) can be obtained from the trunk.
To count the log sections, walk 66 feet away from the tree, and hold your tree and log scale stick exactly vertical and exactly 25 inches from your face. Line up the bottom of the ruler with the bottom of the tree, but a little above the ground—wherever you would cut if felling the tree. Then use the measurement markings to count, from the ground up, how many log sections comprise the trunk before the trunk’s diameter grows to narrow to be useful or you encounter significant branching.
How to Calculate Board Feet Using a Tree and Log Scale Stick
Once you’ve taken diameter and height measurements, you can combine them to estimate how many board feet of lumber a given tree will offer.
Depending on your particular stick, simple guides may be printed right on the stick, telling you how many board feet of lumber a tree with X number of log sections and Y diameter at breast height will yield. But you can also research the Doyle, Scribner, and International 1/4-inch Log Rules to find easy-to-read data tables and even the underlying formulas for calculating board feet. The International 1/4-inch Log Rule is considered the most accurate, but the older Doyle and Scribner methods are still widely used in different parts of the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tree and log scale stick used for?
This stick is used to estimate a tree’s diameter, height, and potential lumber yield in board feet. Foresters, landowners, and farmers commonly use it to evaluate standing timber before harvesting.
How accurate is a tree and log scale stick?
A tree and log scale stick provides estimates rather than exact measurements. Accuracy depends on proper use of the stick and the log rule being applied, but it is generally reliable for woodland management and timber valuation.
What is DBH when measuring trees?
DBH stands for diameter at breast height. It is the standard forestry measurement taken 4.5 feet above the ground and is used to estimate tree volume and lumber yield.
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of lumber measurement equal to a board measuring 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick.
This is a simple but valuable tool for estimating timber volume and lumber yield in the field. By measuring a tree’s diameter and usable height, you can quickly calculate board-foot estimates and make informed decisions about harvesting, woodland management, and lumber production.
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