What's the best way to ask a tree service for logs

Good luck with FREE. Log companies make money off the logs, be it firewood, mulch or by products to make pellets. They may give a decent price on a grapple load of tree length.

Just ask them.

Nico1986 said:

No I know some make money off the wood by selling split but most have to much and have to drop em off and pay to get rid was just wondering if someone on here has called and what they said

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Just shoot them an email or call them and be straight up with them. That's what I did and it worked...you don't have anything to lose

You might have better luck with a little guy who is willing to give away his "junk" wood like maple or mulberry vs. paying to dump it somewhere. The tree guy I use, when I actually need it, does work for a lot of family and friends. I get him business, he gives me wood when I need it.

I only got some free wood from a tree service once, they were cutting wood near my house and I just pulled over and asked them, they ended up cutting into 4' lengths and stacking it on the side where I could drive right next to it to load.

Wingman said:

You might have better luck with a little guy who is willing to give away his "junk" wood like maple or mulberry

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I'll take as much "junk Mulberry" as I can get my hands on!

I give a few of them phone calls and get added to their list, otherwise drive up on them and ask "Does that wood have a home?"

Yeah, if you see a crew out cutting, drive up and ask if you can take it. I've had them follow me home and dump it, which is fantastic. Offer them water/gatorade/beer. If they dump it at your place, give him a $20.

I've also had luck with leaving notes on the windshield of crews that are at a job site but cutting too far away to strike up a conversation. I've also had luck leaving notes for the homeowner who's having the work done. There was a post floating around here that basically had the note spelled out for you. "Dear Sir/Madam, I'm so-and-so, I heat with wood. I noticed that you have some, I'd gladly take it for free, my phone/email is..."

Finally, others on this board have mentioned that they offer their land as a dump site or dropoff for tree services. Some tree services use the wood for secondary income, but most have to pay to dump it somewhere, as mentioned above. They'll gladly drop it on your property for free, especially if your location saves them time, money, and gas.

Good luck.

Nico1986 said:

I've compiled a list of local tree service companies and want to know what the best way to go about asking them about getting free logs. I know some on this site do same and just want some pointers as to what to say and what worked for u. Thanks guys appreciate all the help you all have been to me so far.
Nico

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I saw your post on craigslist this morning.

Better move is to just ask them when you see them working. As long as the drop off point is close to where they're working, I've never had a tree service say "no I don't want to get rid of this wood". Throwing the driver a few bucks when he drops it off might keep you on their mind for future drop.

Nico1986 said:

I've compiled a list of local tree service companies and want to know what the best way to go about asking them about getting free logs. I know some on this site do same and just want some pointers as to what to say and what worked for u. Thanks guys appreciate all the help you all have been to me so far.
Nico

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Another option is to check logging companies. I have a logger who only deals in pine and calls me when he is in the area to see if I want any of the hardwood from the site he is clearing. I go out and look at what he has and just negotiate a price which is usually just the time and fuel to get it to me. Good luck!

Bruce

Cold Is Dumb said:

...there was a post floating around here that basically had the note spelled out for you. "Dear Sir/Madam, I'm so-and-so, I heat with wood. I noticed that you have some, I'd gladly take it for free, my phone/email is..."

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That was me.

I've e-mailed a few local tree companies and/or used the "comment" section of their website to send a quick note. I did not want to go so far as calling an office and causing more of a headache than need be, but I let them know I'd gladly take a tree and put it to get use.

Here's the blanket e-mail I've sent out. Short and to the point. I figure, the worst that's going to happen is they're going to tell me to take a hike or they use the wood for blah blah blah, but like most things in life.... it can't hurt to ask.

Dear ABC Tree Co.,

This is probably a long shot, but thought I'd shoot a quick comment to see if you have any contractual obligations with the trees you remove?
If you don't and/or are forced to pay a municipality where it is hauled and dumped, I'd gladly take the tree off your hands (if you have any upcoming work orders) for wood burning fuel purposes if it can be hauled & dumped at my curbside.

I live right off ABC Street on the northside of My City and the tree could be dumped day or night at anytime and certainly at your convenience.

Thanks for your time!

- Scott.

Directly, politely & gratefully.

BillLion said:

Directly, politely & gratefully.

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ABSOLUTELY!

You're helping them and God knows they're helping you.
The last thing you want to do is come across like you're doing them this ENORMOUS favor...

I'm definitely no expert and this is my first attempt, but I'm hoping there's a local company out there sometime soon doing work near me that would offer a helping hand by dropping the tree at my curb.

WIN / WIN!

enunciate clearly and articulately

PSYS said:

ABSOLUTELY!

You're helping them and God knows they're helping you.
The last thing you want to do is come across like you're doing them this ENORMOUS favor...

I'm definitely no expert and this is my first attempt, but I'm hoping there's a local company out there sometime soon doing work near me that would offer a helping hand by dropping the tree at my curb.

WIN / WIN!

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You'll get some, Scott. Once you establish a relationship with an owner/manager you can probably get some pretty consistent loads. One guy told me he could bring me a tree a week, and I had to politely refuse. Good luck!

I had a service that I pick up on site for. It was great at first but I was getting way too much and actually had to start turning down loads. Once I started doing that I was off his call list. That's ok since most of the tree service wood were yard birds which produce alot of wood but is usually a twisted/knotty mess. I have a big truck and trailer so he'd call me for the "big" trees. Most trees he called me for were 2-3 cord+.

There is a tree service here (if you call a guy and likely his son a tree service) that lists on Craiglist that they'll be near X location and those within 3 miles can have a small dump of worth of wood. I was sure to monetarily thank him when I got one of those loads, and the next time I need a tree down will definitely consider his services. As Bill pointed out there can be too much of a good thing, at least for those of us with limited acreage and a not completely understanding spouse.

[Oops, posted this on the wrong thread, meant to write it here:]

Just got this text message from my wife: "One of your wood friends came by with a load, but I sent him packing"

It kills me but In fairness, we have no more right now. It's a good thing I wasn't there...I would have been so tempted to take it anyway -and then I would have been so dead!

In my experience the first time is the toughest. I just keep my eyes & ears open for work going on in the area & then approach the guys on-site.
Around here they'll figure you just want a bit for a few fires each winter, not enough to bother dumping.
The first time it took me a little while to convince the foreman that yes, I would take the whole truckload & yes I can cut it & split it myself. After I made that load disappear it was much easier to convince them the next time. Now I have a company that knows if they are working in the area, they can always dump logs in front of my place & they'll get some brews for the trouble. They still don't really trust that I will burn any species they happen to have, but around here there's a ton of oak, so that isn't much of a problem .

Woody Stover said:

I'll take as much "junk Mulberry" as I can get my hands on!

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Me too

Nico1986 said:

I've compiled a list of local tree service companies and want to know what the best way to go about asking them about getting free logs. I know some on this site do same and just want some pointers as to what to say and what worked for u. Thanks guys appreciate all the help you all have been to me so far.
Nico

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I have had a lot of luck with tree service guys. I approach them whenever I see them cutting down a tree in my neighborhood that I want (hickory, oak, maple, etc.). Just be friendly, ask what they plan to do with the wood, and offer to take it if they are just going to dump it. Another thing I find that helps if they end up bringing the wood to my house is to give the guys that deliver it a six pack of Corona after they are done. That helps them "remember" me for next time.