1. What is the Doyle Scale?

The Doyle Scale is a method for estimating the board foot volume of a log based on its diameter and length. It's commonly used in the eastern United States for hardwood logs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Doyle Scale formula:

Where:

• \( BF \) — Board feet
• \( D \) — Diameter inside bark at small end (inches)
• \( L \) — Length of log (feet)

Explanation: The Doyle Scale tends to underestimate volume for small logs and overestimate for large logs compared to actual mill yields.

3. Importance of Board Foot Calculation

Details: Accurate log scaling is essential for timber sales, inventory management, and fair transactions between loggers and mills.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Measure diameter at the small end inside the bark. Enter diameter in inches and length in feet. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does the Doyle Scale subtract 4 inches?
A: This accounts for slab loss when squaring the log. It's a rule-of-thumb adjustment for sawing waste.

Q2: How accurate is the Doyle Scale?
A: It's reasonably accurate for medium-sized logs (16-36 inches) but less accurate for very small or large logs.

Q3: When should I use Doyle vs other log rules?
A: Use Doyle when required by local practice or contract. International Scale is more accurate for small logs, Scribner for conifers.

Q4: What's considered a "good" BF value?
A: Depends on species and market, but generally 100+ BF is a decent log. High-quality sawlogs might be 300+ BF.

Q5: Does this account for taper?
A: No, Doyle uses small-end diameter. For logs with significant taper, consider measuring at both ends and averaging.