Increment borer help to test the wood quality and the rate of growth of trees. They are manufactured with sturdy special steel and are Teflon-coated to avoid frictional heat (important when the increment borer is used to inspect standing / sap conducting trees.)
Given the damage caused to the tree, the extraction of a core sample only is justifiable when the entire information contained in the wooden core is obtained, be it by testing the stability with the Fractometer (measurement of the bending fracture strength and the compression strength) or by evaluating the actual state of health and long lasting growth rate of the tree analyzing the annual rings with the IML Measuring Table.