I can get a full cord of pine scraps feom a local log home builder for 75 bucks or I can spend about 275 for a cord of hard wood split and delivered What would be the most logical course of action? anyone?

Be careful with the pine because log home builders usually kiln dry their logs so these may burn very hot and fast. You may have to mix them with some regular wood so as not to overfire your stove.

Jared - 18 November 2005 11:15 PM

I can get a full cord of pine scraps feom a local log home builder for 75 bucks or I can spend about 275 for a cord of hard wood split and delivered What would be the most logical course of action? anyone?

The logs are a much better deal per BTU. I’d dig up some free hardwood and mix it as the other posts says!

Pretty amazing that the contractor is charging for scraps. These are usually free. Hope that at least includes delivery.

BeGreen - 18 November 2005 11:58 PM

Pretty amazing that the contractor is charging for scraps. These are usually free. Hope that at least includes delivery.

Pretty amazing what they’re both charging!

I’m thinking I would pass on both and burn oil, propane, gas or electricity at $275 a cord.

Look around. That seems high to say the least.

Well I live in colorado and hard wood is harder to come by..... than just pine, we have pine like a lake has water. but yes 275 a cord seems like an awfull lot of money. If I did get hard wood it would probably be elm they grow wild in a lot of places. Maybe I need to check some local tree trimmers? My appetite for heat has cost about half a cord for october and it was’nt even that cold..... luckily it was free. Last summer I would have gone up to the hills and cut a couple of cords for the winter but I did’nt get my stove in until a month ago and had no real good wood supply.. So it looks like my mission to become independent of someone else to keep me warm (gas company) has gone down the tubes....

$275 is a bit high, but a cord of wood here in St. Louis starts at about $225 if you are lucky to find one (AND they deliver the full cord which never happens even after the ‘make-up’ delivery is stacked, sigh) and probably goes as high as $300. I’m guessing based upon last years prices from two dealers being $200 and $250. I know they are both going to charge more this year.

I can sympathize with the shortage of wood in Denver all right.  Back in the dark ages 1982 83 I lived by the Federal Prison and used to go out to the Platt River with my neighbor to drink beers (many) with my neighbor.  It usually took a half an hour to round up enough wood to build a camp fire the place is so lacking.  I sure do miss the clear weather but that city living drove us away back to the frozen NE.  No shortage of wood here but its like living in a frozen rainforrest in near constant overcast.  I bet you can’t even have a fireplace in lots of areas on many days there correct?  I can remember they used to issue smog alerts and no fire days when the smog was thick.  Took a job transfer to Lake Placid NY, what a culture shock that was.

Around here {Richmond VA}I have only seen wood offered by the pickup load. 65-90 bucks a load...so figure 200-270 per cord.

Now if I’m not mistaken (and I will try to find this info to be sure) a ton of hardwood pellets equals a cord of wood
in btu’s. And a ton of pellets is running between $180 and $200 per ton.
Of course then he would need a pellet stove but less ash and cleaner storage, easier to find
than a hardwood dealer.

Steve

Me bad I’m wrong ,a cord of hardwood has 24,000,000 btu’s
1 # of hardwood pellets= 8200 btu’s x 40 # a bag= 32,800 btu’s
50 bags = 1 ton so 32,800x50 =16,400,000 btu’s

So if a cord of hardwood has 24,000,000 btu’s for $275
24.000,000/275=87,272 btu’s / dollar

And pellets if pellets were 200 / ton
16,400,000/200=82000 btu’s / one dollar

Still seems pellets are cheaper if cord wood is really that high.

Steve

PS check out this website. It is a good resource
http://energy.cas.psu.edu/EnergySelector/

censored

Thanks Frank,
So,a cord of hardwood has 24,000,000 btu’s in it
1 # of hardwood pellets= 8,200 btu’s x 40 # a bag= 328,000 btu’s
50 bags = 1 ton so 328,000 x 50 =16,400,000 btu’s

So if a cord of hardwood has 24,000,000 btu’s for $275
24,000,000/275=87,272 btu’s / dollar

And pellets if pellets were $200 / ton
16,400,000/200= 82,000 btu’s / one dollar

So even at these higher cordwood prices are still cheaper than pellets

I think!
Steve

What about electricity usage on a pellet stove? If you figure that in with the cost of pellets does that make any significant difference in your electric bill? Or is it no big deal?

Jared,

As far as pine for firewood, I say go for it. Maybe they would give you a free sample to see how it burns? Pine burns fast and hot so keep an eye on your stove temp. Some people say the best wood is the wood thats most available, In your case pine.

Hi Todd, great question

The avg. pellet stove uses 400 watts power input

With 720 hrs. / month times 400 watts / hr = 288,000 watts
or 288 kw. Now assuming a kilowatt hr costs 10 cents ( mine only 7 cents)
that would be $28.80 / month.

Now most pellet stoves don’t run on high all the time and the augar motor only runs 12 to 15 sec. per min.
we can safely assume a 60 percent duty cycle. so relistic electric cost of $17.30 per month on this example.

So not too much cost..and consider a lot of wood stoves have convection blowers on them at 60 to 120 watts /hr.

Steve