Log weight?

[silverking]

Ya know the old saying about famous last words being "Hey watch this", well I'm about to be either just another hard working person (at best) or a complete idiot(god I hope not) at worst. Anyways, my question is what do you think a log weighs that is 20' long by 48" around?

Just so you have an idea of what I'm doing I am going to try to retrieve a log of a fallen tree that is 50' down a bank in about the worst possible place for trying to retrieve it.
On my property this size tree isnt easy to find and I would like to get it for a hobby project.

 

[johnk]

Try this link for your info....

http://www.forestryforum.com/calcs/log_weight.htm

 

[Aquaman]

May the force be with you......

 

[Tororider]

Is that 48" diameter or circumference?

Any other large trees around that you can use to anchor a pulley system?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Ya know the old saying about famous last words being "Hey watch this", well I'm about to be either just another hard working person (at best) or a complete idiot(god I hope not) at worst. Anyways, my question is what do you think a log weighs that is 20' long by 48" around?

Just so you have an idea of what I'm doing I am going to try to retrieve a log of a fallen tree that is 50' down a bank in about the worst possible place for trying to retrieve it.
On my property this size tree isnt easy to find and I would like to get it for a hobby project.

If you mean 48" diameter it will weigh 10 to 15K# depending on type of wood and wetness. If circumference then roughly 1/9 [1/pi squared] that weight.
larry

 

[ToadHill]

A 48" beech log weighs a lot more than a 48" poplar log.

 

[HickoryNut]

I bucked a 48" log of solid, healthy, fresh blow-down, white oak for firewood couple years ago. After splitting a couple of rounds and watching my truck sag as I loaded I decided to do a load check - total weight of the splits from one 20" length round was just shy of 1k. So 20' - 12k.

 

[Skyco]

By saying 48" around that would be about 16" diameter- so using the link provided it looks like on the average it would be about 1500 lbs but could be WAY more or less depending on the wood species.
I get amused when I constantly see locals advertising a cord of firewood that will be delivered in a pickup truck in one trip....a true cord of green firewood can easily weigh 3 tons!

 

[silverking]

I'm guessing about 24" diameter, either red oak or hickory, it is laying on a almost vertical bank with the head in the river and the uprooted base facing uphill.
I have not climbed down to it yet so the id and measurement is guess work. I plan on roping it off onto some other trees further up the hill and cutting the head off. The Log could be cut into two 8' lengths and still be ok for my purposes. I intend to rope, strap and chain between my tractor and full size four wheel drive. If it seems like I am making some headway then great, if not well, back to the drawing board. I really am hoping its no more than about 2000lbs, thinking around 100lbs to 120lbs per foot.

Sheer stubborness is known for getting many difficult jobs done under less than ideal circumstances and I'm known for being stubborn at times. I'll get a pic or two posted and keep you up to date on my progress or failure.

Thanks,

 

[mjarrels]

I pulled a old used power pole a couple weeks ago that was at least 12" - 14" round and 25 feet long... no problem and I used my smallest tractor.

mark

 

[CurlyDave]

Even green wood of most species floats, so its density is less than that of water (62.4 pounds/cu ft.).

I always want to err on the side of safety, so I estimate the weight of wood as 60 pounds/cu ft. if I am going to try to move it or pick it up.

Even if it is totally waterlogged, it won't get much over 65 pounds/cubic ft.

If I am going to sell it by weight, then that is a different matter, but this kind of estimate has kept my bones & body intact...

 

[bjcsc]

I intend to rope, strap and chain between my tractor and full size four wheel drive. If it seems like I am making some headway then great, if not well, back to the drawing board. I really am hoping its no more than about 2000lbs, thinking around 100lbs to 120lbs per foot.

This will be very dangerous. Consider what will happen if the truck loses traction and disrupts the straight line through the tractor to the load! Don't do it....

 

[silverking]

This will be very dangerous. Consider what will happen if the truck loses traction and disrupts the straight line through the tractor to the load! Don't do it....

Thank you for the concern.

1. I did not mean to imply some exact technique for retrieving the log, it was just a general statement on the tools at my disposal and the general idea of the way it might be done.
2. Before I get the safety police all worked up I am(without going into a lengthy post of my background) one of the safest workers to be around, and no one but my self will be involved.


After getting a little closer to the tree in question today I don't believe its as big as I first thought. I am hoping to do a full size bear carving out of one piece and maybe a indian from the other. Rain has made the slope and logging road above the tree pretty slick and traction is nill at this point so until things dry up a bit I am at a stand still on this.

Thanks,

 

[bjcsc]

1. I did not mean to imply some exact technique for retrieving the log, it was just a general statement on the tools at my disposal and the general idea of the way it might be done.

OK. My impression from your statement was that you were going to "train" your truck and tractor...

2. Before I get the safety police all worked up I am(without going into a lengthy post of my background) one of the safest workers to be around....

Good.


I hope you'll post pics of the carvings as that sounds pretty cool...

 

[turnkey4099]

I pull logs around that size all the time with my F150 2x. Of course I work with many snatch blocks and lots of cable sections. The rigging needs to be designed to multply the pull. A single pulley on the load will half the load, anothe rpulley on the 'pull' side of the first pulley cuts the load by 4, etc. Only had to add one more once and then couldn't budge it.

My firewood making tools. all of that goes with me on every trip out.

I carry 4 snatch blocks and over 150 ft cable in several sections. Been more than once that I used all of it except for one snatch block on a pull.

Harry K

 

[Bill Barrett]

Try this link for your info....

http://www.forestryforum.com/calcs/log_weight.htm

Thats a great link!
Thanks

 

[davitk]

Rain has made the slope and logging road above the tree pretty slick and traction is nill at this point so until things dry up a bit I am at a stand still on this.

Thanks,

Take some pics and post up while waiting for things to dry, we're sitting on the edge of ours seats!! Besides, they would be a neat addition to your obituary.



Just teasing. really.