Service Forester's Handbook

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====== Hardwood Log Grades for Standard Lumber ======
Grading of logs is not so difficult as it appears although it does require 
great care to make sure that no hidden defects are overlooked. After acquiring experience, 
the grading of the log may be made while the volume is calculated. Even in the logs where 
the grading cannot be made immediately, it is often necessary to design the different cuttings.
Usually measurements taken to determine whether the log will produce the minimum size required 
per cut, are sufficient to determine the grading. Grad the logs in standing trees by following
the following rules and guides:

====Rules for Grading Hardwood Logs (Standing Trees)====
1. Grade all logs in tree, third best face.\\
2. Grade as logs or half logs (log = 16 feet; 1/2 log = 8 feet).\\
3. End defects of logs are not taken into consideration.\\
4. Grade all logs to the top cutoff point.\\
5. Do not grade the long-butt or total cull portion of a log, 
but do grade the remainder when equal to or more than 8 feet.\\
6. Do not grade logs that are obvious culls, but do tally them according
to their position in the tree. Example: 1 for the first log, 2 for
the second, etc.\\
7. Small bark distortion is a defect in logs whose diameter without bark (D.i.b)
is less than 15"\\

====Hardwood Log Grades====
^Grade Factors     ^Butts   ^Grade 1          ^Grade 2          ^Grade 3          |
^                  ^        ^Butts & Uppers   ^Butts & Uppers   ^ Butts & Uppers  |
|Diam (min)        |13"-15" |16-19" 20"       |11"              |8"               |
|Approx DBH        |16"     |20"  25"         |14"              |10"              |
|Lgth (min)        |10'     |10'              |8-11'  12'       |8'               |
|Clear Cut'gs      |        |                 |                 |                 |
|(3rd best faces)  |        |                 |                 |                 |
|Length (min)      |7'      |5'          3'   |3'               |2'               |
|Number            |2       |2                |2     3          |unlimited        |
|Clear Lgths in 16'|13'-4"  |13'-4"           |10'-8"           |8-0"             |
|Sweep             |15%     |15%              |30%              |50%              |
|Cull              |40%     |40%              |50%              |50%              |

EXCEPTIONS: 
    Ash & Bass 12" DIB grade 1 butts
    Grade 2 10" DIB must be grade 1 surface quality
    Grade 2 11" DIB limited to two cuttings
    
Developed from FPL - D-1737
Service Forester's Handbook

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