Thread: What's a "super metre"

I work in the logistics industry dealing with projects that require the packing of machinery. The packing companies use 'super metres' and quote 'PSM' (per super metre). The below mentioned case is 1.134 m3 however it doesn't reflect the amount of wood required. Each case has a top and bottom, 2 sides and 2 ends so the calculation is below


To calculate super metres of a case.

length x width x2
length x height x2
height x width x2

ie. case 120x90x105 cms
would be
1.20 x 0.90 x 2 = 2.16
1.20 x 1.05 x 2 = 2.52
0.90 x 1.05 x 2 = 1.89

Total 6.57 super metres

Originally Posted by KevM

Simon,
I've been involved in selling timber for over 20 years and have never before heard of the term super meter. Are you sure in this context it was not "square metres" of a certain thickness?

Originally Posted by AlexS

I've been involved in buying it for at least the same time, and I've never heard of it either.

I've not been buying or selling timber for as long as these two, but I do remember that when metrification happened in the 70s there was some limited discussion on what metric measure should replace the imperial Super-foot.
from what I recall, Jeremy has it -- a super metre was going to be 300 x 25 x 1000
in the end, cubic metre was decreed be the appropriate measure

I must admit that when it comes to sawn timber, cubic metre doesn't mean much to me, I tend to think in terms of width, thickness and length.

OK, I think I understand- a SUPER is 12 in by 1in or 30cm by 2.54 cm.
Then its either a foot long (super foot) or a metre long (super metre). So where do I get a super chain or a super fathom or a super woman?
Can I have a super decimetre?
Will I be buying 4 pens blanks if I get a super centimetre?

Who's thinking that this is something a government introduced in a govt tender???

Run away as fast as you can. Some jerk-head thinks they can invent a new term that will be globally accepted in the SI Metric System? I think not. Take them out behind the shed and slap their privates with a cricket bat. I want to be first.

North America has a substantial forest industry, Canada in particular. Annual Allowable Cuts (harvesting quotas) are set now in m^3. AAC's run in the thousands if not millions.

Super foot? Sounds like a disease. Never heard of it in all the decades that I've worked with wood in Canada.
The unit term used is "board foot" which is nominally 1" x 12" x 12". That's before the planer. So, what might have been cut rough as 1 x 12 x 12 goes through the planer,into and out of the drying kiln as 3/4" x 11+" x 11+". That's right: you're paying for the sawdust and chips that they sold to somebody else.

If I really, really want dimension lumber, I have to buy everything oversize and waste even more cutting it back.
Reads to me that you want to build a boat somewhat unlike a punt. Measure twice!

Oddly, if I go to buy a 4"x 4" fence post, it is exactly that! 10cm x 10cm.
We do use the term "timber" but loosey-goosey, it seems reserved for bigger pieces,
the 8" x 8" , 12" x 12" and up which gets built into temporary bridge decks for logging roads.

Ah Loosey Goosey.... Now there's our Superwoman!

I apologize for the rant. But I stand by my claim that the invention of any even local and vernacular term for a perfectly good framework of measurement is folly. Judging solely by the number of posts and opinions, I rest my case. Measure by weight or mass, measure by any acceptable unit of volume, but let's make certain that we are all singing from the same page.

The real irony for me is that I purchase compressed wood pellets for my home heating, now that it's winter here. Right! The trimmings, etc from the planer mills. Delivered to my front walkway as 50 x 40lb bags, $250/ton. Logically, it follows that a Canada Goose is with an icicle.