Two figures in, a clear answer out. The log weight calculator uses angle, board thickness (t), board width (w), density, diameter at larger end (dl), diameter at smaller end (ds), length (l), quantity, stack height, stack width, one way, sin and cos to produce quantity of logs in stack, total weight and diameter at mid-section (dm), applying the standard relationship for this problem in the order the calculation actually needs it.
What Is the Log Weight Calculator?
The log weight calculator turns angle, board thickness (t), board width (w), density, diameter at larger end (dl), diameter at smaller end (ds), length (l), quantity, stack height, stack width, one way, sin and cos into quantity of logs in stack, total weight and diameter at mid-section (dm), so you can order the right amount of material the first time.
Material estimates are where projects go over budget. Getting the quantities right before the delivery arrives is worth more than any discount on the order.
How to Measure for the Log Weight
Measure everything in the same unit and take the largest dimension you can reasonably use rather than the average. Formwork, ground conditions and cutting waste all push the real figure above the theoretical one.
Where a plan calls for a specific thickness, check it against local building regulations before you order. The calculator reflects the relationship, not the code.
Allowing for Waste and Errors
Order a little more than the calculation suggests. The gap between the theoretical quantity and what actually arrives on site is normally waste, spillage, over-excavation and uneven grading, and all of it comes out of the same budget.
Write the figures down and compare them with what you actually used on site. That is how you build an estimate you can trust for the next job.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with angle set to 10, board thickness (t) set to 5, board width (w) set to 2, the calculator returns diameter at mid-section (dm) of 7.5, and volume of 88.35729, and board volume of 20. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out quantity of logs in stack?
Enter angle, board thickness (t), board width (w), density, diameter at larger end (dl), diameter at smaller end (ds), length (l), quantity, stack height, stack width, one way, sin and cos. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports quantity of logs in stack, total weight and diameter at mid-section (dm).
What does the log weight actually calculate?
It takes angle, board thickness (t), board width (w), density, diameter at larger end (dl), diameter at smaller end (ds), length (l), quantity, stack height, stack width, one way, sin and cos and converts them into quantity of logs in stack, total weight and diameter at mid-section (dm) using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter angle?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Why does a small change in one value move the answer so much?
That happens when an output depends on a ratio, because dividing by a small number magnifies any change in it. Check the units first, then check whether the value you entered is in the range the relationship was designed for.
Is the answer exact?
It is as exact as the formula and the inputs allow. The method itself is the standard one for this problem, so the only sources of error are the figures you enter and the precision you ask for.