Conversion of board foot scaled logs to cubic meters in Washington State, 1970–1998

Abstract

The conversion factor generally used to convert logs measured in board feet to cubic meters has traditionally been set at 4.53. Because of diminishing old growth, large diameter trees, the average conversion factor has risen, as illustrated in this analysis of Washington state sawmill data over the period 1970–1998. Conversion factors for coastal and interior Washington were estimated at 6.76 and 5.93, respectively, up from 4.0 to 4.5 in the 1970s. Average sawlog diameters over the same period were estimated to have declined from 56 to 29 cm for coastal Washington and from 41 to 25 cm for interior Washington.

Citation

Spelter, Henry. 2002. Conversion of board foot scaled logs to cubic meters in Washington State, 1970–1998. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-131. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 6 p.