By The Book

Time to clean out the trash, treasures and miscellaneous detritus that accumulates in the rigs we use while in the forest.

Tucked into the glove box of the Gator or in the side compartment of the logging bulldozer, a pocket sized log scale book can be found during logging season. It is invaluable and is checked often to determine the size of the logs that will be cut from a tree.

Inside the book is nothing more than rows upon rows of numbers. From this book one can determine the amount of board feet in a log.

From the small end of a log the diameter can be measured and along with the corresponding length, the amount of board feet meet at the intersection of the two sets of numbers. There are countless times where, after checking the log scale book, 8 to 10 feet are removed from the small end of the log to make a log with more scale (volume) of board feet than leaving the log longer. It all has to do with how much the diameter size is increased in proportion to the length.

This tattered log scale book has done its job for this summer of logging and will reside safely tucked into the cupboard with the purchase order numbers and our NOAP (Notice of Operations number issued from the Forestry Department), until the next time when it will be needed during logging.