Know the Weight of Your Wood!

Why is it important to know the weight of your wood?

When dealing with trees, it's important to know the weight of the wood you're working with for reasons other than just having an idea of how large of a piece you can expect to carry. You can use the knowledge to plan your work and projects better and safer.

Lifting, Moving, and Hauling

In the simplest of ideas, knowing how much wood weights is important if you have to move them. Other than the less common leave all tree projects, we all have to move wood at some point, and attempting to do so incorrectly can have serious consequences. Continually lifting above capacity could strain your back at best, or at worst, injur you for life. When using a machine such as a mini skidsteer, tractor loader, or other loading and lifting device, overworking and lifting above capacity can causing damage or mechanical failure. In some instances, it's possible to tip over the machine causing damage and serious harm to people and property nearby.

When it comes to hauling, everyone should already know their truck and trailers weight and tow limit. Learning the weight of the logs you're planning on transporting is just the next crucial step in not overweighing your dumping or towing capacity. Knowing your towing capacity helps you plan better and set expectations and an accurate timeline for cleanup and removal.

Rigging

To safely rig, rope, and maneuver limbs or logs to the ground, you have to know the basic weights of limbs, strength of anchoring and rigging points, force factors in static and dynamic rigging systems, and much much more, but it all starts with understanding the basic weight of the limbs and logs you're dealing with.

Safety

Last but not least, SAFETY! Not knowing an aspect of your projects opens you up to many potential issues. As stated above, you can over extending your hauling and towing capabilities, leading to potential dangers on the road and while unloading. Improper rigging can cause sever property gamge, and even worse, death. Inexperienced arborists and DIY homeowners fall victim to this too often, and it's an avoidable mistake. Lastly, ANSI Z133, The American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations & Safety Requirements, section 1/5.7.7 states that– “A green log weight chart shall be available to the crew” for the purposes of safety.

With all this being said, here is a green log weight chart for you to use to help you determine the weight of your wood. It was created by Mark Adams, Certified Arborist and Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), and the Tree Care Industry Association.

Below I have attached another chart showing log weights down to 10" diameters for further assistance. This chart was pulled from the Sherrill Tree, based on information from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service sheet “Rope, Knots and Climbing” and the International Society of Arboriculture.

Best of luck and stay safe,

- Andy