Rigging
Know the load
Green log weight chart & calculator
Green wood weight by species plus a piece-weight calculator, so the rigging is sized for the load instead of a guess.
Piece weight calculator
Estimated weight
274 lbs
124 kg · 4.28 cu ft · 64 lb/cu ft green
Heavy, holds water; assume the high end on a live tree.
Cylinder estimate
Add for forks & brush
Planning estimate only. Rig for the heavier guess, and remember a dropped piece loads the system far harder than its static weight.
Green weight by species
Green weight means freshly cut, full of water. A seasoned log of the same size can weigh a third less — never rig off a dry-wood number.
| Species | lbs / cu ft (green) | Field note |
|---|---|---|
| Oak (red) | 64 | Heavy, holds water; assume the high end on a live tree. |
| Oak (white) | 62 | Dense, wet heartwood; long limbs carry serious weight. |
| Maple (sugar / hard) | 56 | Heavier than it looks, especially in spring sap flow. |
| Maple (red / soft) | 50 | Common storm species; brittle unions. |
| Eucalyptus | 68 | Among the heaviest green wood; plan rigging for the worst case. |
| Birch | 57 | Green weight drops fast as it dries; rig for green. |
| Walnut (black) | 58 | Dense, and log buyers want it undamaged. |
| Pine (southern yellow) | 53 | Resinous and wetter than white pine. |
| Pine (eastern white) | 36 | Light for its size; still shock-loads hard. |
| Cedar (eastern red) | 37 | Light, but brittle and prone to hidden decay. |
| Cedar (western red) | 28 | Lightest common removal wood. |
Approximate averages for field estimating. Regional varieties, sap flow and decay all shift the real figure.
How the estimate works
- Treat the piece as a cylinder: volume (cu ft) = 3.1416 × (diameter in inches ÷ 24)² × length in feet.
- Multiply volume by the species weight to get pounds.
- A tapered log is lighter than the cylinder figure — that error is on the safe side, so keep it.
- Crotches, forks and attached brush add weight that no cylinder math catches. Add for them by eye.
- Quick mental check: a 12 in × 4 ft green oak round is roughly 200 lbs. Double the diameter and the weight roughly quadruples.
Turning weight into a rigging decision
- Compare the estimate against the working load limit of the weakest link — sling, block, rope, hardware and the anchor union.
- Dynamic loading multiplies static weight. A piece dropped even a short distance onto a rope can easily double or triple the force at the block.
- Let it run on the Port-a-Wrap or GRCS rather than catching a piece dead — the softest catch you can manage is the lightest load on the tree.
- When the estimate is close to the limit, cut smaller pieces. That is always cheaper than a failed anchor.
- Write the biggest planned piece weight on the job briefing so the whole crew knows the number.
If two crew members disagree on the weight, take the heavier estimate and cut the piece smaller.
Cautions
- These figures are estimates for planning, not engineering values. Never use them to justify loading gear near its limit.
- Decayed, water-soaked or frozen wood behaves unpredictably and can weigh more than the chart suggests.
- The tree's union is often weaker than the hardware. Assess the anchor before you trust the numbers.