Doyle Log Rule

[Rick Gifford]

My son needed help with his Algebra2 homework. Never had the class but I can problem solve and besides the textbooks tell you how to do it if you to read the chapter.

Interesting the problem he was on was the Doyle Log Rule. It gave the formula and the textbook asked questions about different sized logs and how much wood in board feet it had.

This just shows how little I know as I had never heard of the Doyle Log Rule before. I was intrigued.

I had wondered if it was actually used. Looked on the internet and from what I see it generally isnt reliable.

Below is one explanation of what I found.

I am curious to what kind of method is currently used by sawmills/lumbering to figure the number of boards a log will give.

You would have to know the kerf size, and what size boards you will be cutting of course.

Maybe the number of boards isnt a concern, just a volume calculation on the board feet.

What are Log Rules?

Since the first sawmill was built in the United States, over 100 log rules have been developed, using a variety of methods. Some were based upon the lumber tallies of individual mills, others were developed by diagramming the cross-section of boards in the ends of logs, while still others were developed using mathematical formulas. In general, log rules must account for the taper that exists in all logs, saw kerf (or the loss of wood as sawdust), and a fixed procedure for removing wood on the outside of the logs for slabs. The Doyle, Scribner, and International log rules are probably the most widely used rules in the eastern United States.

Doyle Log Rule

The Doyle Log Rule, developed around 1825, is based on a mathematical formula and is widely used throughout the southern United States. This rule allows for a saw kerf of 5/16 inch and a slabbing allowance of 4 inches, which is about twice the normal amount. Because of this, the Doyle Rule is somewhat inconsistent; it underestimates small logs and overestimates large logs. As a seller of timber, you must be aware that for smaller logs the Doyle Rule will underestimate the actual volume of wood that you have in your trees.

Scribner Log Rule

The Scribner Log Rule, developed around 1846, is a good example of a diagram rule. It was created by drawing the cross-sections of 1-inch boards within circles representing the end view of logs. A space of 1/4 inch was left between the boards to account for saw kerf. The Scribner Rule does not have an allowance for log taper and typically underestimates logs, particularly if the log length is long. The Scribner Decimal C is a different form of the Scribner Rule; it rounds the volumes to the nearest 10 board feet. For example, 392 board feet on the Scribner is equivalent to 390 board feet on the Scribner Decimal C scale.

International 1/4-Inch Log Rule

This rule was developed in 1906 and is based on a reasonably accurate mathematical formula. The rule allows for a 1/4-inch saw kerf and a fixed taper allowance of 1/2 inch per 4 feet of log length. Deductions are also allowed for shrinkage of boards and a slab thickness that varies with the log diameter. Overall, the International 1/4-Inch Log Rule is the most consistent and is often used as a basis of comparison for log rules.

[Stan Terrell]

I was a professional forester and in the sawmill business for 31 years.
I consider "log rules " to be totally useless. There are just too many varibles to make them reliable.
I always bought logs by the ton.

Stan

[Richard M. Wolfe]

It's my understanding that log rules only translate from theory to practice reasonably well for certain things.....namely wood like pine, etc where the trunk is straight as an arrow and without a lot of taper. With logs having crooked trunks or smaller logs sawyers generally charge by the hour.

[Tom Sontag]

We sell logs regularly and all three mills we use scale using Doyle. Thinner kerf bandmills can "beat scale" easily, and because kerf is a bigger percentage bite in smaller logs, Doyle is small-log-seller unfriendly. But log sellers are price takers with few alternatives, which is why they frequently grumble about the treatment they are forced to endure. In fairness to the mills, buying logs has plenty of risk.

[David Freed]

Many the mills in this area use the doyle scale to buy logs, but only as a basis to make their buying decision. They have a really good idea how many bf a log will actually produce as compared to what Doyle says it will. They factor in how straight, how much taper, and how many knots are in a log, and then set a price per "Doyle board foot". The loggers in this area know the system and can make a close guess as to how much any given truckload of logs will bring.