Tree guy selling wood

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We have some serious pent-up frustrations here, don't we?

like J says, I have never received an actual cord of wood
OK, maybe I went off the deep end with my rant and didn't give enough weight to the 'ignorance factor,' but there's really no excuse for a shortage. Any seller can figure out what their loads equal in cords. ;hm
 
"but there's really no excuse for a shortage"
In a perfect world, where we all work on the same page, with the same definitions, that's true.
However, I'm still fighting the use of the word cord to not mean 1/3 cord or "face cord". My brother, and now his sons still refer to a 1/3 cord of c/s/d wood as a cord. DOH!
I sometimes have "the conversation" with them....had it just 2 days ago......and we all just shook our heads.
Old habits die hard for some, and a pickup truck load is accepted as a "cord".
I'm gonna' go have a small bowl of ice cream. I'll feel better.
 
Now I was kinda of shocked this last weekend when I cut and split some wood (oak and Mulberry). That was in log form (say less than 6 foot in length), and been sitting around for at least three years. The Oak was still fairly wet, and how dry the Mulberry was. The Oak might... MIGHT be dry enough by seasons end (sitting in a wind tunnel area on a hill) to burn, but I'll wager that the mulberry will be ready in a couple of months. I need to MM it next time I actually split a section of it when I finish off that pile. I was just shocked how much difference there was in the two. But it wont be for me, its my neighbor that has older fireplace. Still trying to talk him into a EPA stove, where he can get more heat in his house, versus up the flue. But thats another topic. LOL.
 
Now that I read this site.. I notice wood driving around.

What I've noticed.... I don't know how the heck these people that JUST NOW are getting logs dropped at their house think they SHOULD burn it this winter. I guess they skipped physics class in school. I bet they are GIVING away over a third of their wood. Using it to boil the water out of the remaining 2/3rds they are gonna heat with.

JP
 
"Seasoned" is like "cooked." Your rare steak is cooked, just not long. Seasoned wood means that it's drying, doesn't mean that it's dry.
eeeeaaaahhhh.......I personally think that if'n he's saying it is "seasoned", that implies that the wood is ready-to-go. Now if the sign said "seasonING", then I wouldn't expect it to totally be ready quite yet.......==c;)
 
Now that I read this site.. I notice wood driving around.

What I've noticed.... I don't know how the heck these people that JUST NOW are getting logs dropped at their house think they SHOULD burn it this winter. I guess they skipped physics class in school. I bet they are GIVING away over a third of their wood. Using it to boil the water out of the remaining 2/3rds they are gonna heat with.

JP
you, sir, are EXACTLY RIGHT!
 
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Now I was kinda of shocked this last weekend when I cut and split some wood (oak and Mulberry). That was in log form (say less than 6 foot in length), and been sitting around for at least three years. The Oak was still fairly wet, and how dry the Mulberry was. The Oak might... MIGHT be dry enough by seasons end (sitting in a wind tunnel area on a hill) to burn, but I'll wager that the mulberry will be ready in a couple of months. I need to MM it next time I actually split a section of it when I finish off that pile. I was just shocked how much difference there was in the two. But it wont be for me, its my neighbor that has older fireplace. Still trying to talk him into a EPA stove, where he can get more heat in his house, versus up the flue. But thats another topic. LOL.
The cellular structure of oak is different than other woods. it will take much longer to dry, due to that structure. It can hold water for many years, ask around on this forum! I try to leave my oak season for at least three years to get the maximum benefit out of it. Now that mulberry, if you split it small to medium, should be ready for late season burning this year.
 
Hickory is another that can take a long time in larger splits to dry out,
 
I can't recall a thread with so many posts I've LIKED. There are just some people who refuse to come to reality over dry wood, are totally ignorant, or just don't know the difference. Some people just expect lottsa smoke and lottsa creosote.....rod that stuff outta there and dump it out back! Ahhhhyaaaa.......:confused:

Oh and my favorite, a full size p/u load is a cord, itsssa 4x4x8 isn't it? Ahhhhhyaaaa........ :rolleyes:

TS
 
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There's a tree service a mile or two away, I usually look in to see the huge pile of logs. Well today, everything was split, there was a pile of atleast 20-30 cords. Anyway saw a sign at the hardware store seasoned firewood for sale. Wow ! Seasoned in a big pile for all of two days....

I agree they shouldn't have claimed it to be seasoned but the key here is these folks are in the tree removal service not firewood. Their primary knowledge and revenue comes from the removal process. My guess is someone suggested they list it as seasoned without knowing what that truly means.

I've been educating my buddy, an aborist, on how current EPA stoves work. His home and shop are equipped with stoves that have air assist meaning if they're belching smoke he flips a switch and presto instant inferno. His shop yard is full of the byproduct of his livelihood - wood. He can educate you on any aspect regarding trees and their health but when it comes to firewood nothing. He will drop off a load of split wood but it is not something he sells so for him it's the recipient who needs to be educated on what they're receiving.

Guys like Scotty and others on this site who remove trees and are knowledgeable about firewood don't seem to be the norm. In my friend's case firewood does not generate revenue so it isn't a wise business decision to invest time in that area when it could be spent furthering his knowledge in his area of expertise. Just my $0.02.
 
I bought firewood for the first 2 years with my EPA stove. Tired of being shorted and sold freshly split wood, I found this site, bought a chainsaw and started scrounging. Now I'm the neighborhood's crazy wood guy. I'm 4 years ahead now with a wood-snob collection of white oak, red oak, and black locust. None of the oak will be under 2years c/s/s before burning. Thanks to you guys and this site..I'm now one sick sob.
 
There's an easy fix for this; buy green and season it yourself, and save money, too.

I work with a guy who just bought an older (I think), stove off of Craigslist. I don't know if his intentions are to run it this winter, but he's now looking around in various places for some used chimney pipe, and is going to install it himself. Also, he has no wood. I told him 1. You have a thru a combustable wall installation, HIRE someone to install. 2. Just get the correct NEW pipe, you'll be better off. 3. You have no wood, you need to get some NOW, and pay more for DRY wood. (I'll let you borrow my moisture meter.) I don't think he's going to take my advice, even though he could benefit greatly from all my wife & I's hard won knowledge over the last 3 years........Whatever. I think if people don't want to pull their head out of their ass, screw them.
 
Thats the problem with this site...... It makes us wood -snobs ;) well at least dry-snobs. LOL

TS
 
I agree with the opinions here on seasoned wood & moisture content completely, & a cord is a cord period. Here's my take. If I sell you a cord of wood, 2 things are going happen, 1: you're gonna get between 130 to 150 cu feet depending on how tight you stack it. 2: You're gonna know the date it was c/s/s, or if it just came from the woodlot in log form etc. 3: I'm going to recommend that you buy your wood from me a year in advance, because if I have to season it here it takes, time, space, & more labor. Hence, it will cost you more, please have your moisture meter ready when I deliver, I'll split as many pieces as you wish to test before unloading. If you want a load of dry wood in Jan-Feb, I may or may not have it, but if I do you're gonna pay for it. The btu value can be easily calculated & compared to gas, propane, fuel oil, or electricity, to see if wood will save you any money. The oil man didn't cut his rates because you didn't plan your heating budget, why should I? If you got hurt, are elderly, recently widowed, or some other tragedy befell you, the wood may just magically appear to get you through. I don't care if I sell a stick of wood or not, it's a hobby to me. Just don't say I wasn't completely upfront with you right from the beginning. A C
 
I think figuring out the definition of seasoned wood is one of the most important lessons for the wood burner. My first season I bought cords in 4 foot lengths after responding to an ad stating "seasoned wood." After a very long winter of burning wet green wood and learning a bit more about what I should be doing, I went back and asked him how he could call that wood seasoned. He said they cut trees down in the spring, they "season" on the ground in the summer and then they cut it up to 4 foot lengths in the fall. Have not talked to that guy in 5 years.
Just got around to cutting some tree length left in my driveway by the tree guy this spring. (I am two years ahead so I just want my driveway back now!) The red oak, maple and birch I cut, split and stack last week probably would have broke a MM!
 
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I agree with the opinions here on seasoned wood & moisture content completely, & a cord is a cord period. Here's my take. If I sell you a cord of wood, 2 things are going happen, 1: you're gonna get between 130 to 150 cu feet depending on how tight you stack it. 2: You're gonna know the date it was c/s/s, or if it just came from the woodlot in log form etc. 3: I'm going to recommend that you buy your wood from me a year in advance, because if I have to season it here it takes, time, space, & more labor. Hence, it will cost you more, please have your moisture meter ready when I deliver, I'll split as many pieces as you wish to test before unloading. If you want a load of dry wood in Jan-Feb, I may or may not have it, but if I do you're gonna pay for it. The btu value can be easily calculated & compared to gas, propane, fuel oil, or electricity, to see if wood will save you any money. The oil man didn't cut his rates because you didn't plan your heating budget, why should I? If you got hurt, are elderly, recently widowed, or some other tragedy befell you, the wood may just magically appear to get you through. I don't care if I sell a stick of wood or not, it's a hobby to me. Just don't say I wasn't completely upfront with you right from the beginning. A C
I couldn't agree more, well said AC!
 
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I bought firewood for the first 2 years with my EPA stove. Tired of being shorted and sold freshly split wood, I found this site, bought a chainsaw and started scrounging. Now I'm the neighborhood's crazy wood guy. I'm 4 years ahead now with a wood-snob collection of white oak, red oak, and black locust. None of the oak will be under 2years c/s/s before burning. Thanks to you guys and this site..I'm now one sick sob.

Let it be known that here is a very wise man!
 
Noticed recently that the guy I got my first load of c/s/d wood from has an ad in the local paper.
It states something to the effect "get your wood for next year now, so it can dry". WTH!?
This mentality will surely cause undue hardship once his regulars see it. He'll be the laughing stock of the area.
I mean, really, who needs wood to sit around for a YEAR. It dries fine in a couple months around here. Jeesh.
;)
 
I couldn't agree more, well said AC!
Thanks, didn't mean to rant, just my take on the whole thing. I'd rather give away my labor to someone in need than try & make money on it around here anyway. We've got enough "seasoned" wood sellers around here that sell so cheap that I could buy a year or two ahead & probably save money if I figured my time as worth spending doing other things. I just love the woods & the work. A C
 
Thanks, didn't mean to rant, just my take on the whole thing. I'd rather give away my labor to someone in need than try & make money on it around here anyway. We've got enough "seasoned" wood sellers around here that sell so cheap that I could buy a year or two ahead & probably save money if I figured my time as worth spending doing other things. I just love the woods & the work. A C

I'm with ya, brother!
 
Thanks, didn't mean to rant, just my take on the whole thing. I'd rather give away my labor to someone in need than try & make money on it around here anyway. We've got enough "seasoned" wood sellers around here that sell so cheap that I could buy a year or two ahead & probably save money if I figured my time as worth spending doing other things. I just love the woods & the work. A C

Rant on A.C. I like your thoughts.
 
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