Lumber Weight Calculator

Guide to Using the Lumber Weight Calculator

This guide will provide you with detailed steps on how to efficiently use the Lumber Weight Calculator to determine various properties of the lumber you are working with. This includes calculating board feet, weight per piece, and total weight based on the dimensions and type of wood you are using.

Step 1: Selecting the Wood Species

Start by choosing the type of wood you are planning to work with. The calculator includes several options:

• Cedar (Western Red)
• Oak (White)
• Maple (Hard)
• Pine (Southern Yellow)
• Cherry
• Fir (Douglas)
• Walnut
• Hickory

Select the appropriate species from the drop-down menu labeled Wood Species. Each wood type has a unique density value which will be used in the calculation of weight.

Step 2: Entering Dimensions

Proceed to input the dimensions of your lumber. There are three fields where you need to input dimensional data:

• Length: Enter the length of the lumber in inches in the designated field. Ensure that the value is at least 0.1 inches and increments in steps of 0.125 inches.
• Width: Input the width of the lumber in inches. As with the length, ensure the minimum value is 0.1 inches, with increments of 0.125 inches.
• Thickness: Enter the thickness in inches, adhering to the same validation rules as above (minimum 0.1 inches, step of 0.125 inches).

Step 3: Specifying Quantity

In the Quantity field, input the total number of lumber pieces you are calculating. This number should be a whole integer with a minimum of 1. This field is essential for calculating the total weight of all pieces.

Step 4: Calculating Results

After you have filled out all the required fields, the calculator will compute the following results:

• Board Feet: This is calculated using the formula (length * width * thickness * quantity) / 144. The result indicates the volume of wood in board feet, formatted to two decimal places and displayed with the suffix “BF”.
• Weight per Piece: The weight of a single piece of lumber is calculated using the formula (length * width * thickness * woodType) / 1728. The wood density is used here, and results are formatted to two decimal places with the suffix “lbs”.
• Total Weight: This represents the sum weight of all pieces and is calculated using ((length * width * thickness * woodType) / 1728) * quantity. Like the weight per piece, this result is also presented to two decimal places with a “lbs” suffix.

By following these steps, you can accurately leverage the Lumber Weight Calculator to get precise measurements pivotal for planning and executing woodworking projects.