A must-have tool for the lumberyard by Greg Paolini In addition to my truck and a pile of cash, there’s always one other thing I take to the lumberyard or mill – a lumber rule. Also known as a grading stick, a lumber rule is a simple tool that instantly shows how many board feet are in a piece of rough lumber. This helps me keep track of how much wood I’m buying, and helps to prevent big surprises when the sawyer hands me the bill. Lumber rules are available commercially, costing $50 or more, but by understanding how board feet are calculated you can easily create your own lumber rule, suited to the thickness and length of lumber you most often buy, Best of all, these custom rules are made from shop scraps, so they cost nothing except the few minutes it takes the make them. Understanding Board Feet A lumber rule is nothing more than a stick with a few different scales inscribed on it. Understanding how those scales are derived is paramount to creating and using a lumber rule. Therefore we need to have a good grasp of board feet.

Essentially, a board foot is any combination of length, width, and thickness that equals 144 cubic inches of rough lumber. Another way to express this is: Length x Width x Height (or thickness)/144=Board Feet. This formula will be the foundation for creating the scales on our lumber rule. For example, suppose you’re determining the scale for a lumber rule to be used with 5/4 lumber, and specifically 5′-long boards. Using the above formula, plug in the variables that are known. The math will look like this: L=5′ or 60″ W=Unknown H=5/4 or 1.25″ (L x W x H)/144=Board Feet (60″ x W x 1.25″)=1 board foot or 144 cubic inches 75W-144 W=1.92 A 5/4 board that is 5′ long will contain 1 board foot of lumber for every 1.92″ of width.

Using this formula, you can figure out every scale for any thickness or length of board you want. If you’re not really into math though, I’ve supplied a chart (below) that covers most variables. Making the Lumber Rule To make the rule, grab some scraps of 1/2″ or 1/4″ plywood. A piece of 1/4″ ply about 2″ wide and 24″ long will work nicely for the body of the rule, allowing ample room for three or four scales per side.

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Attach a couple pieces of 1/2″ plywood, 2″ x 3″, to both faces of one end of the body for the rule hook (Image 1, below). All that’s left is to draw the scales. Before you draw your scales, give some thought to what lumber sizes you buy most.

You’ll want to make lumber rules that are geared toward those sizes. For example, I purchase a lot of 4/4 and 5/4 lumber, in lengths from 3″ to 10′. Fontexplorer X Pro License Crack Mac Photoshop here. Therefore, I’m going to want a 4/4 and a 5/4 lumber rule capable of measuring those lengths.

That doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll need two separate rules with six or eight scales on each, though. I can make one rule, using one side for 4/4 and the other for 5/4 lumber. Additionally, scales for only 5′-, 6′- and 8′-long boards on each side will work fine, provided they’re coupled with some quick mental calculation.