Oak is both one of the most prolific and most valuable species of tree in North America–and for good reason. Oak is a dense hardwood with great structure and a beautiful grain used for a wide variety of wood products, including furniture, cabinetry, and veneer. With such a gorgeous and versatile wood, how much are…
The timber industry has been around for millennia, and so it is no surprise is that there are a great many antique and ancient timbering tools that have been forgotten and swept into the dust bin of history. Most of the time, there is good reason for antiquation. Who wants to cut trees with a…
As any experienced fire builder knows, a good fire depends on good tinder and good kindling. Thus, the ability to split kindling from the proper species and to the proper size is crucial to building great fires that establish more quickly with only one strike of a match. Personally, I’ve been building fires and splitting…
Whether you are a sawmill owner managing your land for sawlogs or you are interested in selling your timber and wondering how valuable a tree may be, it may be useful to know how to measure the board feet in a tree. Because board feet is a measurement of the yield of usable lumber a…
Congratulations! You have purchased a sawmill and joined the elite guild of small-scale portable sawmill owners. But there is just one problem: You don’t have any logs. No worries—In this article, we will cover the four main methods of getting logs so you can keep your sawmill full and happy. Namely, the primary ways of…
Maple is one of the most iconic trees in the North American forests. In certain situations, it is also one of the most valuable. That’s because maple is a tree that produces a gorgeous wood with a great variety of uses. It’s warm, golden grain is used for lumber for furniture and veneer, its energy-dense…
Sometimes, whether wishing to cut down a tree or take measurements for forestry work, it is necessary to measure the height of a tree. There are several methods of calculating tree height, but they almost always involve complex calculations, expensive equipment, or totally unreliable “guesstimates.” Luckily, there is a super easy way to calculate the…
There is no denying it: spruce is the king of the North. It is one of the most valued species of timber in the northern United States and Canada, and for good reason. Spruce is used for a wide array of products, making it incredibly versatile. It is mostly used for dimensional lumber in construction…
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about how to measure basal area per acre, how to properly use an angle gauge and prism gauge, and how to design your own cruise. Want to Conduct a basal area cruise on your property and calculate your standing volume with species and region-specific…
There are many considerations to be had when cutting your own firewood. Among them is the question of how long to cut the pieces of firewood. Well, ponder no longer! I’m here to tell you that 16″ is the best firewood length by far. It is a standard length that can fit in every wood…