The Pilodyn, which was originally developed to estimate the degree of soft rot in wooden poles, was thought to have potential for giving a quantitative measure of the extent or depth of decay in field test stakes. In the present work a 2-joule Pilodyn with 2.0-mm diameter pin was used in an attempt to limit depth of pin penetration (to 10-15 mm) without reducing scale sensitivity. The results show that this instrument has the potential for evaluating the degree of decay, particularly its depth, in preservative-treated test stakes exposed in "graveyard" test plots. Its major value could be in eliminating observer bias in assessing decay and in quantification of strenght loss. Its greatest application would be in the accurate detection of the depth of superficial decay, particularly in its early stages, and its further progress into test stakes.

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