Replies

1. 
   junkhound | May 25, 2013 02:44pm | #1

   doyle or scribner log rule, cannot tell which from limited graduations seen on photo

   here is a new version available online for $50 with SS head.

   View Image

1. 
   DanH | May 25, 2013 08:09pm | #2

   Ok, so what the heck is a "log rule".  (The only "log rule" I ever heard of is a logarithmic slide rule.)

1. 
   junkhound | May 25, 2013 08:16pm | #3

   internet search of my response will give the answer

   hint: log is NOT the math expression....

1. 
   DanH | May 25, 2013 08:53pm | #4

   I've found several mentions of it, but nothing that explains how you use it.  The end of the scale has 7/8/9/10/11 markings on it, and likely 12/13/14/15/16 markings on the other side (I'm guessing these would be for log length).  The length of the rule is marked in 5 columns with numbers that appear to be about an inch apart.  The largest marking I see is 17, and this is apparently the handle end.  The entire device appears to be on the order of 18 inches long, so it's not at all obvious what information these markings convey. 

   On the Doyle scale 18 inches by 11 feet yields 135 board feet, but nothing visible on the device suggests a number in that range.

1. 
   Hokuto | May 28, 2013 04:56am | #5

   Scaling stick, scaling rule, etc.

   This website has instructions for using a "scaling stick," which appears to be the item in question (log rules are explained as the rules used to calculate bf, either  Scribner, Doyle, or International, but elsewhere the terms "log rule" and "scaling stick" seem to be used interchangeably).

   http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Measuring_Logs_and_Lumber.html

   also see these sites:

   http://www.benmeadows.com/timber-cruising/tree-and-log-sticks-36810585/

   http://www.ehow.com/how_7806798_read-scaling-stick-hardwood-lumber.html

2. 
   DanH | May 28, 2013 06:48am | #6

   However, I'm not seeing the board-foot numbers in the pictures.

2. 
   Adrian_W | May 30, 2013 02:42pm | #7

   Could also be a lumber rule, used in hardwood lumber grading.....basically a calculator, you can plug in the length of the board in odd or even feet, measure the width, and it calculates the board footage in the board. A log rule does the same for a log, but from what I see of th graduations there is nothing that says it couldn't be a lumber rule. More info here:  http://www.conwaycleveland.com/lumber_rules.html