What is this measuring stick.

N80 · Dec 19, 2014

My daughter's fiancé was cleaning out an old barn of his and found this stick. His father said it was for estimating pulp wood or something like that. It has a knob-like handle on one end and a brass 'T' at the other. On the edges there are inch markings. On the flat sides there is a series of 4 digit numbers that I cannot see a pattern to. Picture quality is poor but it is shown below. Anyone know what it is? I've got it hanging in my cabin and I'd like to be able to tell people what it does.

Edit: Google search says it is for measuring lumber board/feet. Can't imagine how it works but I'm a mathidiot.

oosik · Dec 19, 2014

I have never seen anything like this. Could it be used to determine log diameter and thereby calculate amount of pulp? Numbers on the flat could be volume of pulp based upon average diameter and know length of log.

murphy1244 · Dec 19, 2014

Try a better close up picture.:thumbsup:

DHD · Dec 19, 2014

I think it might be called a Biltmore stick.
Used to scale logs to determine board feet.
My father use to have one and he knew how to use it, but he never taught me how it worked.

Here is a link on how to build one, which might give you some insight on how to use it.
http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/fnr/stoutwoods/activities/Building a Biltmore Stick.pdf

forgeblast · Dec 19, 2014

Thats what I was going to say, it can be used to determine board feet. I took a class on forest management and they gave us all one. Its an interesting tool.

N80 · Dec 19, 2014

All the images and such that I can find on Biltmore sticks and cruising rods show them to be about 18"-24" long. The one I have is probably 3.5 feet long. May be the same thing but longer. Not sure what the brass "T" on the end is for.