How Much Wood Is 700 Pounds? [2023]
The amount of wood in 700 pounds depends on the specific type and form of the wood. For example, 700 pounds of solid pine lumber with a density of around 35 pounds per cubic foot would be approximately 20 cubic feet of wood (700 lbs / 35 lbs/ft3 = 20 ft3).
On the other hand, 700 pounds of pine firewood with a typical density of around 20 pounds per cubic foot would be about 35 cubic feet (700 lbs / 20 lbs/ft3 = 35 ft3).
The volume of 700 pounds of wood chips or sawdust with a loose density of around 10 pounds per cubic foot could be around 70 cubic feet (700 lbs / 10 lbs/ft3 = 70 ft3).
So in summary, 700 pounds of wood can represent quite different volumes ranging from around 20 to 70 cubic feet, depending on factors like wood species, form, and density.
Key Factors That Determine Weight of Wood
There are several key factors that determine the weight of wood and the amount of actual wood fiber in a given weight:
Wood Density
The density of wood varies significantly by species. Dense hardwoods like oak or maple can weigh upwards of 50 pounds per cubic foot, while softer woods like pine and cedar are typically 25-35 pounds per cubic foot.
So 700 pounds of a dense hardwood will contain a smaller volume of actual wood than 700 pounds of a lighter softwood.
Moisture Content
Freshly cut “green” wood can be up to 60% water by weight, while kiln dried wood contains very little moisture content. 700 pounds of dried wood will contain far more wood fiber than 700 pounds of green wood.
Form of the Wood
The form the wood takes also impacts its weight. Logs, lumber, sticks, chips, pellets, sawdust, etc will all have different densities. 700 pounds of sawdust or wood chips contains much more actual wood volume than 700 pounds of logs.
So to determine how much actual wood is in 700 pounds, you need to consider the specific gravity (density) of the type of wood, its moisture content, and form that the 700 pounds of wood takes.
How Much Actual Wood is in 700 Pounds?
To provide some specific examples:
Firewood
For firewood, 700 pounds of seasoned oak that has been split into pieces will provide about 1/3 cord or around 120 cubic feet of actual firewood.
Since oak firewood averages 40 pounds per cubic foot, 700 pounds equals about 17.5 cubic feet of solid wood if the oak was perfectly dry and dense. Accounting for air space between the split logs, 1/3 cord or 120 cubic feet is a reasonable estimate.
700 pounds of seasoned pine firewood equates to approximately 1/2 cord or 160 cubic feet. Because pine is less dense, averaging 30 pounds per cubic foot, 700 pounds would be around 23 cubic feet of completely dry pine wood. The lighter pine also packs with more air space in a cord.
Lumber
For lumber, the weight of 700 pounds can vary greatly depending on thickness, density, and moisture content.
700 pounds of typical 1-inch thick kiln dried oak boards would cover approximately 185 square feet with around 830 board feet of lumber.
On the other hand, 700 pounds of 2×4 construction studs made from dried spruce would equate to around 110 studs at 92 lineal feet.
Logs
For comparison, 700 pounds of freshly cut green oak logs around 6 inches diameter would provide about 65 lineal feet of logs. The high moisture content adds considerable weight without adding wood volume.
700 pounds of dry pine logs of the same 6-inch diameter would yield around 95 lineal feet – significantly more wood fiber for the same weight.
Wood Chips
700 pounds of wood chips made from pine would create a volume of approximately 13.5 cubic feet. Wood chips pack densely but contain lots of air space.
700 pounds of denser oak wood chips would be around 9 cubic feet of volume.
Sawdust
Finally, 700 pounds of pine sawdust yields around 8.5 cubic feet of material. Oak sawdust would be approximately 6 cubic feet for 700 pounds. The very fine particle size of sawdust allows for dense packing with minimal air voids.
As you can see, the actual amount of solid wood fiber contained in 700 pounds varies greatly depending on the specific gravity, moisture content, and form of the wood. Whenever estimating wood weight, make sure to factor in these important details.
Why Weight of Wood Matters
When purchasing, transporting, or working with large volumes of wood, weight is often used to set prices and understand quantities. Some key examples where the weight relationships are important include:
Buying Firewood
Firewood is commonly sold by the pound rather than cord. Knowing how many pounds equate to a cord for your wood type and form allows you to compare prices easily. You can calculate the correct weight per cord based on specific gravity and ensure you get the right amount.
Transporting Raw Logs
Truck weight limits dictate how many logs you can transport per load. The moisture content and wood density impact the conversion between weight and board feet, so you need accurate estimates to optimize payloads without exceeding regulations.
Tracking Wood Product Inventory
Production lines track raw material and finished product quantities in pounds. Understanding factors like moisture loss during drying helps align input weights to output production weights.
Estimating Furniture Weight
If a woodworker is designing a dining table using oak, knowing the pound per cubic foot density of oak helps calculate the finished weight, which is important for structural design.
Controlling Moisture Content
Kilns remove moisture from green wood using heat. Monitoring wood weight loss lets operators control drying rates and final moisture content to optimize the process.
Setting Processing Parameters
Wood waste processing equipment like chippers and pellet mills rely on weight to control feed rates. Knowing bulk densities for the type of wood waste is crucial to proper machine function.
Key Takeaways on Wood Weight
The key facts to remember when estimating how much actual wood is contained in a given weight:
- Wood density – Hardwoods like oak are dense and heavy, softwoods like pine are light. Density ranges from 20-50 pounds per cubic foot typically.
- Moisture content – Green wood weighs substantially more than kiln dried wood due to water weight.
- Form of wood – Logs, lumber, chips, pellets, and sawdust all pack differently by volume.
- 700 pounds of firewood equals about 1/3 cord (120 cu ft) for oak and 1/2 cord (160 cu ft) for pine when seasoned.
- 700 pounds of 1-inch thick oak lumber is around 185 square feet of boards.
- 700 pounds of green oak logs 6″ in diameter is approximately 65 linear feet.
So in summary, 700 pounds of wood can equate to widely varying amounts of actual wood depending on species, moisture, and form. Taking these factors into account allows accurate weight estimates and calculations.