Price of Logs at Mill

[Cuz]

I have a few loads of nice SYP sawtimber that I am planning to have removed from and area that I am clearing.  The guy that's doing the site-prep suggested I go by the mill and tell them my plans, etc.  When I asked how thay scale the logs I was told that they weigh it and convert that to cords.  Well, I have been researching conversions, etc. and the closest I can come to understanding what they meant was...that if you have an average diameter for the logs you can get a tonnage/cord based on the diameter?  Does this make sense?  Could somebody please help explain what they were trying to tell me?
I really didn't ask too many questions cause I thought I could figure it out...but, I admit I'm still a little confused.  Thanks, Robert.

[Tom]

Weight of logs and cordage is a common "southern" way of dealing with mills (pulp mills) because of the Paper Companies.   The Paper Companies own or owned most of the sawmills and they kinda controlled the way that wood was sold.  The difference was in veneer and poles.  Even then, I think, the wood was weighed and had to be of a certain configuration.

The weight of a cord of wood differers from mill to mill also.   It is usually in the neighborhood of 5200 lbs but will vary from 5000 to 5700.

The wood being sold as saw-timber can be culled at the gate for things other than size.  The inspector/grader may turn a truck around for having a cat face on a log or logs too large (usually they have a cut-off of 22 inch diameter or so.), as well as minimum sizes for pulp, chip'n saw, saw logs, veneer and poles.   Veneer and Poles are usually sold at a different location than the others.

[Rockn H]

The local mills here weigh the trucks as they enter and leave the mill to find the net weight of the logs coming in.  They randomly grade the loads to adjust the weight per board foot ratio.  That is they set one load aside that weighed 50000 lbs they figure bf of usable log.  If its a 17' log they can only use 16'.  Same if it is 6" dib they only mearsure length to 8" dib.  After they determine usable bf they divide back into weight.  Normally 9 to 11 lb per board foot is a good figure for here.  Although most formulas I've seen have it closer to 5 to 6 lbs.  I guess we have to many trash trees in the equation here.  If it is easier for you to figure bf instead of cords.  One thousand bf is pretty close to one cord.

[RMay]

Cuz here is some weight tables that my help  :    http://www.pfmt.org/inventories/weight_tables/w_tables.htm

[Rockn H]

Rmay had to add that site to may favorites list.
Thanks

[RMay]

rockin H that is a good site  ;D good to see some more Arks on the Forum , what part of the state are you in .

[Rockn H]

Funny you should ask, just finished looking to see where you were located.  We love lake Greason and Alberts Pike.  Hamburg is 15 miles n of La and 45 miles w of Ms.  More swampy and a lot less hilly down here in the corner.

[Cuz]

Thanks guys, that helps.  RMay the tables help a lot.  Tables are good.  Tables I can understand.  I thought there must be something further that goes on at the yard when they convert weight to volume.  I was a little surprised when someone mentioned that 22" dia. might be a cutoff for saw logs.  I may have a few that go over that!
At least now I can ask some more appropriate questions when talking to the mill.  Thanks, again.

[thecfarm]

I'm from Maine,not much help,but it's interesting to read how other places do thing.The only wood that is weighted here ,that I know of, is pulp wood for the paper mills.The chips truck are weighed of course.Maybe some of the mulch places.In fact one paper  mill was still scaling by a stick about 12 years ago.This was a big company too,Boise.They would only buy 4 foot wood.Been all up dated now.I know the paper mills don't want a stick bigger than 27"  or smaller than 4" All the places I've ever sold logs to,use the International rule.My father always called it the cheating stick.Most of the sawmills won't take a log bigger than 42". I havn't sold pulp for a while now.Some of the paper mills are accepting tree lenght now.