17
Table 5. Sweep deduction (percent). Adapted from McKenna, 1981.
Sweep (inches) Diameter at the small end inside the bark (inches)
8-10 foot logs 14-16 foot logs 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
- 3 12 10 8 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 3
3 4 25 20 17 14 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 7
4 5 38 30 25 21 19 17 15 14 12 12 11 10
5 6 50 40 33 29 25 22 20 18 17 15 14 13
6 7 50 42 36 31 28 25 23 21 19 18 17
7 8 50 43 38 33 30 27 25 23 21 20
8 9 50 44 39 35 32 29 27 25 23
9 10 50 44 40 36 33 31 29 27
10 11 50 45 41 38 35 32 30
11 12 50 45 42 38 36 33
12 13 50 46 42 39 37
13 14 50 46 43 40
14 15 50 46 43
15 16 50 47
16 17 50
11-13 foot logs
3 19 15 12 11 9 8 8 7 6 6 5 5
4 31 25 21 18 16 14 12 11 10 10 9 8
5 44 35 29 25 22 19 18 16 15 13 12 12
6 45 38 32 28 25 22 20 19 17 16 15
7 46 39 34 31 28 25 23 21 30 18
8 46 41 36 32 30 27 25 23 22
9 47 42 38 34 31 29 27 25
10 47 42 39 35 33 30 28
11 48 43 40 37 34 32
12 48 44 40 38 35
13 48 44 41 38
14 48 45 42
15 48 45
16 48
the scale deduction (Table 6). The scale
deduction is then added to the sweep de-
duction to give the total scale and sweep
deduction.
Example: The log in previous example has
a 6” diameter round hole in the butt end
that extends 4’ (30%) up the log. The defect
length factor is 0.5 and the defect cross-
section factor is 8 (Table 6). The total scale
deduction is 0.5 x 8 = 4. The total scale and
sweep deduction is 4 + 30 (from the previ-
ous example) = 34%.
Grading a Log Using the
Forest Service System
The process for grading a log is relatively
simple. The biggest challenge is identifying the
location and extent of defects.
● Step 1. Measure diameter and length. This
is also required for scaling the log. Note if
the log is a butt or upper section.
● Step 2. Find the grade face. Faces should
be arranged to produce the highest grade
log possible. Ignore the worst face and
grade the next worst (or third best) face.
Seams that can be positioned between two
faces can be ignored.
● Step 3. Determine the size, number and
yield of clear cuttings on the grade face.
● Step 4. Check that sweep and scale de-
ductions are within the allowed limits.
The requirements listed Table 3 are the
minimum requirements for logs for each
grade. Each log must meet all of the require-