How many trees in 50 cords of wood?

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RORY12553

Minister of Fire
Dec 12, 2011
510
Southern NY
If you had an average size tree of 18 in diameter by 25 ft tall how many trees would 50 cord be? A buddy of mine due to Sandy has a lot of trees down at his place and someone gave him an estimate that it is about 50 cord of wood!
 
There is away to figure it out, Im not sure if mastermechanic knows the formula but someone did it one time.
 
If those trees are only 25' tall there is not much wood there.
 
If you had an average size tree of 18 in diameter by 25 ft tall how many trees would 50 cord be? A buddy of mine due to Sandy has a lot of trees down at his place and someone gave him an estimate that it is about 50 cord of wood!
(Edit x2 - thanks JB)
volume = pi * radius^2 * total length
volume in 50 cord = 50 cord *128 ft^3 per cord = 6400 cubic feet of wood (assume densely packed; apply your own multiplier)
6400 ft^3 = 3.14159 * 0.75^2 * total length ==> solve for total length
total length = 6400 / (3.14159 * 0.5625) = 3622 linear feet of tree

Divide 3622 ft by 25 ft/tree gives you 145 trees. Less if you assume that cord wood is stacked with air spaces...
 
volume = 1/2 * pi * radius^2 * total length
volume in 50 cord = 50 cord *128 ft^3 per cord = 6400 cubic feet of wood (assume densely packed; apply your own multiplier)
6400 ft^3 = 1/2 * 3.14159 * 1.5^2 * total length ==> solve for total length
total length = 6400 / (1/2 * 3.14159 * 2.25) = 1811 linear feet of tree

Divide 1811 ft by 25 ft/tree gives you 72 trees. Less if you assume that cord wood is stacked with air spaces.


radius is .75ft not 1.5 ft The formula for the volume of a cylinder is Pi* Radius squared* height (I don't get the 1/2).
 
Is this like those guess how many jellybeans are in the jar contests? Does the winner get the 50 cords? ;)
 
Is this like those guess how many jellybeans are in the jar contests? Does the winner get the 50 cords? ;)

I was saying an average meaning the size of the trees might be +/- for calculation purposes. All I know is that there are a lot of trees down and he was gracious enough to allow me to come and cut some up! The future wife will probably scream at me but WHO CARES!!!

No it's not like a jelly bean contest and i'm sure 50 cord would take the average person many years to go through!
 
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There is something odd with trees 18 inches in diameter and 25 feet tall. Maybe the main trunk is 25 feet. the tree should be 75 feet or so. 18 inches diameter trunk is a big tree.
 
I was saying an average meaning the size of the trees might be +/- for calculation purposes. All I know is that there are a lot of trees down and he was gracious enough to allow me to come and cut some up! The future wife will probably scream at me but WHO CARES!!!

No it's not like a jelly bean contest and i'm sure 50 cord would take the average person many years to go through!
50 cords should be 10 years worth for the average burner
 
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