Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Estimating Log Yields
Don Stephan
Is there a general rule of thumb for a minimum diameter of cherry logs that will be band milled into 4/4, 6/4, and 8/4 thicknesses if sapwood would not be incorporated in furniture?
Is there an average yield in 4/4, 6/4, or 8/4 board feet for a 10' cherry log of that minimum diameter?
I understand this would be only a rough estimate. Thanks.
Re: Estimating Log Yields
John K Jordan
There are log volume/board ft calculators on the web, for example:
http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/calculators/calc.pl?calculator=log_volume
You have to decide the scale to use, Doyle, etc.
JKJ
Re: Estimating Log Yields
Keith Newton
Hey Don, you mentioned from that diameter, but didn't give any. However you should be able to figure it from the link JKJ supplied. But since you don't want to use any sapwood, you should use the diameter for just the heartwood on the small end of the log. Also, you'll loose a fair amount from the juvenile wood around the pith.
As for rule of thumb, being the owner of my own mill, I wouldn't bother with anything less than 18" on the small end. You may find that its a lot cheaper to just buy the lumber you need rather than finding someone to handle the logs, another to saw, and another to dry the lumber if you value your time.
your question needs more information
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
What do you really need to know? What a log will yield in "suitable" lumber depends on more than its diameter. Do you have a log in mind and are wondering it is worth sawing?
In general mills take logs as small as 12", small end. Walnut is in high demand now and even smaller logs are being sawed.
Disagree
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
I am familiar with a mill in central NY that only saws cherry and maple. Bought 2 truck loads of cherry from them when we were in business.
You would be hard pressed to find 18" cherry logs at a mill in NY. And if you did and they were clean they would sell them for many $ per bd ft for veneer logs.
It all depends on what the wood will be used for and where the trees grew. I would be delighted to have a load of 14" cherry logs that grew in a dense forest and have no interest in an 18" log that grew with ample sun and had bunches of healed scars where limbs had been.
You are spot on about the tree center. A mill will typically box out at least 4" from a cherry log. It typically shatters when it is dried.
sap wood
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
Don't dismiss the inclusion of sapwood in furniture. Shown is a chest of drawers with a streak of sap wood at the joint in a side panel I don't consider it a defect in this situation. On the other hand it can look out of place in other situations. So can mismatched all heart wood panels assembled from clashing grain. 
Bill Can You Tell Me Where That Mill is Located
HOWARD GORMAN
I live 30 miles north of NYC so this might be a good source for me. THanks
Re: Bill Can You Tell Me Where That Mill is Locate
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
It is not close to where you are at. There will be many mills much closer. It is between Clinton and Vernon Center, NY