Bolt length question

[Jim_Rogers]

I tried to find it with a search, but I guess I didn't know what word to enter to find my answer.

What is the length of a "bolt" of wood?

Thanks

Jim Rogers

[beenthere]

For a long time, it was used to refer to 4' length.
But then often the length can change with local usage of the term "bolt".

At least that is how I learned it. ;)
Bolt is usually modified with an adjective such as 4' bolt, veneer bolt, or pulpwood bolt, and could be about anything less than a sawlog (and maybe even some overlap). 

[Jim_Rogers]

I did look it up under the FF dictionary and it said any piece from 2' to 8'.

I thought a bolt was 54" but it maybe just in some areas of the country.
Thanks for the reply.

Jim Rogers

[Ron Scott]

From the SAF Dictionary of Forestry

Bolt: a short piece of pulpwood; a short log

[Jim_Rogers]

My customer, the National Park Service, needs a bolt of red oak for a project that they need to recreate.

I've told them that a bolt can be any length from 2' to 8' and that they needed to figure out what length they want, based on dimensions and not terms.

Hopefully they will be able to do that.

They need to split some red oak to a pattern of the new fireback for the iron pour on September 8. At the historic iron works site in Saugus, MA.

Thanks for all your advice.

Jim Rogers

[Jim_Rogers]

They have decided that 4' is a bolt to them.......

[lumberjack48]

The term bolt as far back as i can remember is a 8" and up, 100"s long, sound and straight, is a saw bolt, purchased by the cord. I cut Cedar, Pine, Ash, Balsam, Spruce, Tamarack, Oak, Poplar, Basswood, Birch, saw bolts. When cutting Pine logs, anything under 13" down to 8" i cut in to saw bolts. If you cut logs down to 8" they steal about 60%, saw bolts go by the cord. Anything under 8" to 4" is pulpwood. If i couldn't sell poplar [Aspen] saw bolts it all went as pulpwood, same with Balsam, Spruce, Tamarack. We cut Pine logs, Oak, Ash, Cedar,Birch, Basswood saw timber between Oct.1 and April 1.

When hauling wood in to Blandin Paper Co., if they new you were sorting saw bolts out, they wouldn't take your wood.

[chevytaHOE5674]

UP here its 100" long. A Bolt is sort of like a face cord, no legal definition so it can be just about anything. 

[lumberjack48]

Heres a chart that shows saw bolts and pulpwood, length, size and price chart

http://www.biometrics.mtu.edu/fw4140/assignments/Vol%2016%20No%202_MI.pdf

[snowstorm]

in maine it means 50" wood. bolt wood = 50" white birch. oak for lobster trap stock or pallet wood

[1270d]

Hardwood bolts I cut are basically low grade sawlogs. They like them 8' 8" minimum down to 6 or 7" diameter.  Softwood bolts to the local potlatch studmill ar 99" +/- 1"   5" min diameter.  They re sticklers about the length as its pay by the ton

[lumberjack48]

I used to haul Jack Pine in to Potlatch stud mill they called it Special Jack, 100"s long, 5" min. We had them stick scale it, because Jack is so light sometimes, it went right in the hot pond.

Diameter has to be 8" and up to be classified as a Saw Bolt

[Corley5]

Around here bolts used to be pallet wood saw sticks.  Common lengths were 38", 42", 46", 50", 64", 72", and 100".  Since all those pallet mills are now closed bolts are now smaller low grade saw sticks  of hard or softwood 100" or 124" in length.  I cut lots of 50s.  They were my favorite.  Made lots of beer $$$$ cutting basswood bolts.