1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Forestry

Increment Borer

By , About.com Guide

Tree Core Samples

Tree Core Samples

Steve Nix, Licensed to About.com
Definition: An increment borer is a tool used to take a core sample of a tree's annual rings. This tree coring tool is made of carbide steel and has three parts; the handle, the steel shaft and the extractor.

The increment borer is the least invasive way to count tree rings and takes a small (0.200 inch diameter) straw-like sample. Different sizes are available to retrieve cores from the bark to the pith of most any tree.

Explore Forestry

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Forestry
  4. Forestry Basics
  5. Tree Terms/Courses/Quizzes
  6. Forest Terms and Glossary
  7. Increment Borer>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.