mass_burner
Minister of Fire
I disagree. I certainly don't make minimum wage, but you can't do the same type of work all the time. I need a change of pace, woodworking, splitting, etc.
How much money have you spent to save on oil???
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brant2000
Feeling the Heat
This state of mind has always bugged me. If this was how you viewed everything, there would never be any time to do anything that didn't generate income/benefit. Don't get me wrong, almost all of my "hobbies" are productive, but they're things that I enjoy doing.
My orthodontist restores antique corvettes and hes really good at it. I told him he was really good with his hands and I asked him if he did jewelry design as a hobby and he laughed and told me the 1966 corvette in his parking lot was a restoration job.
sportbikerider78
Minister of Fire
You're right. I think in most cases it boils down to a personal choice.
For me, I'm maintaining the woods and preserving the amazing natural canopy that I have by taking out crowded and small trees. Burning wood is a side benefit for me.
JustWood
Minister of Fire
3 factors only keep me burning wood instead of turning the thermostat up. Work slows in the winter so I have the time , I get my wood processed for nearly nothing, and my bones/joints like the heat. If it weren't for these three things I'd be turning the thermostat up. If work was as busy in the winter I wouldn't have the time to deal with wood nor wood it make $ sense.
Hogwildz
Minister of Fire
That is a complete load of BS. If that were the case, 90% of the folks on here would be doing just that.
sportbikerider78
Minister of Fire
I don't think it is BS. There are just many factors to consider. Many people burn wood and keep the house much warmer then they would will oil, propane or natural gas. I think sometimes we don't compare apples to apples.
Plus, we all come from different walks of life and professions. Some earn $10/hr. Some earn many times that. If you spend a winter day for 12 hrs taking down trees and bucking them. That could be a $1,500 day for some if they were working. For others, it is necessary to survive.
lindnova
Feeling the Heat
For most here it is a hobby. I like being out in the woods cutting. It is a break to get away from things and get some exercise. I don't pay for a gym membership so I work around the property; I am cheap labor, but it is not like I am taking time away from my job making money. Spring and summer, is in the garden, fall and winter is hunting and firewood. I would be clearing brush, downed and field edge trees anyway, so might as well make use of that.
I have around 12k in initial investment in stoves, Chimney, boiler, piping and heat exchangers. I figure I have broken even on that. I already would have a chainsaw and truck, but add additional wear and tear. So, I have not saved much if anything yet, but I have the setup I want now after 9 years and won't need to spend money on the equipment for a while. I also have peace of mind that I can keep my family warm.
I have around 12k in initial investment in stoves, Chimney, boiler, piping and heat exchangers. I figure I have broken even on that. I already would have a chainsaw and truck, but add additional wear and tear. So, I have not saved much if anything yet, but I have the setup I want now after 9 years and won't need to spend money on the equipment for a while. I also have peace of mind that I can keep my family warm.
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I can't believe the fortune I slept away last night.
Hogwildz
Minister of Fire
T
Most on here are not taking time off from work to process wood. They are doing it on their free time, and the expense is minimal unless they buy lots of toys to go with it, which is not always a necessity, but a want.
Most on here will testify that they are saving a craplod of money vs paying for, and burning the standard fossil fuels. And getting the added benefit of exercise free of charge, rather than buying a Boflex that sits and collects dust, or paying a gym to use their equipment. Most, and I am one, enjoy being outside and processing, and it may be seen as labor yes, but it is labor I, and many other enjoy. It is also a feeling of accomplishment, and satisfaction of giving a big ol middle finger to the oil companies etc.
There ain't many making $1,500.00 a day, but there sure are a lot of folks saving a ton of dough over the heating season. And for me, a few weekends over the winter processing wood, rather than sitting on my arse watching TV, or other things, is something I truly enjoy. I pay anywhere from $600.00 to $750 for a load of pole length logs. Which will heat for at least 2 seasons. That equals approx. 200 to 250 gallons of oil at $3.00 a gallon. How far does a tank of oil last? More like how many top offs in a season? Like I said, no math needed. It is very obvious.
I do agree many will keep their home warmer and more comfortable, with a more satisfying heat. And many are doing that at a considerably cheaper cost than oil or gas.
So to generalize as the other poster did, and say that processing wood and enjoying the fruits of that labor/time makes your worth zero, is BS.
And the statement "If you work for more than minimum wage, it's a loss. Just burn oil or gas.", again is complete BS, and just a frustrated new burner lashing out.
See em every year here, they come & they go. While many of us are here year after year, processing our wood, staying nice and warm, and not trying to make ends meet doing so.
The source of the person making the statement, is obviously new to wood burning, an most of their posts are asking for help about the wet wood they are burning not burning right. So the statement source should be considered. It appears they did not consider there is effort involved, more than sliding a lever on a thermostat and walking away. So they make statements like this in frustration.
See it every year. So yes, the statement is BS.
If you can't handle the task, then buy some more oil, and turn the thermostat up. No need to grow a set then.
The reality is, anyone making many more times $10.00 per hr, is turning a thermostat up, or buying their wood already split, maybe even stacked for them, maybe not. They may be putting more money out for processed wood, but are most likely still saving much over oil or gas, if they are true wood burners burning 24/7 and heating their home or most of it, or even supplementing to save on fossil fuel.
Most on here are not taking time off from work to process wood. They are doing it on their free time, and the expense is minimal unless they buy lots of toys to go with it, which is not always a necessity, but a want.
Most on here will testify that they are saving a craplod of money vs paying for, and burning the standard fossil fuels. And getting the added benefit of exercise free of charge, rather than buying a Boflex that sits and collects dust, or paying a gym to use their equipment. Most, and I am one, enjoy being outside and processing, and it may be seen as labor yes, but it is labor I, and many other enjoy. It is also a feeling of accomplishment, and satisfaction of giving a big ol middle finger to the oil companies etc.
There ain't many making $1,500.00 a day, but there sure are a lot of folks saving a ton of dough over the heating season. And for me, a few weekends over the winter processing wood, rather than sitting on my arse watching TV, or other things, is something I truly enjoy. I pay anywhere from $600.00 to $750 for a load of pole length logs. Which will heat for at least 2 seasons. That equals approx. 200 to 250 gallons of oil at $3.00 a gallon. How far does a tank of oil last? More like how many top offs in a season? Like I said, no math needed. It is very obvious.
I do agree many will keep their home warmer and more comfortable, with a more satisfying heat. And many are doing that at a considerably cheaper cost than oil or gas.
So to generalize as the other poster did, and say that processing wood and enjoying the fruits of that labor/time makes your worth zero, is BS.
And the statement "If you work for more than minimum wage, it's a loss. Just burn oil or gas.", again is complete BS, and just a frustrated new burner lashing out.
See em every year here, they come & they go. While many of us are here year after year, processing our wood, staying nice and warm, and not trying to make ends meet doing so.
The source of the person making the statement, is obviously new to wood burning, an most of their posts are asking for help about the wet wood they are burning not burning right. So the statement source should be considered. It appears they did not consider there is effort involved, more than sliding a lever on a thermostat and walking away. So they make statements like this in frustration.
See it every year. So yes, the statement is BS.
If you can't handle the task, then buy some more oil, and turn the thermostat up. No need to grow a set then.
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TooColdHere
Member
I make GREAT money...and SAVE a ton of it by burning wood! All the other benefits, more comfortable heat, exercise, sense of accomplishment...are ADDED benefits!
JP11
Minister of Fire
For me.. it's got very little to do with the money. My home budget would look not much different if I just let the oil man keep my twin 275s filled.
However.. I ENJOY the idea that I have 5 years of 'heat' piled up out by the barn. I ENJOY the idea that no matter what, my woodlot will provide me heat for eternity (even if I have to pay someone to come and work the land when I'm old) I ENJOY the idea that I make solar power enough to be self sufficient (on an aggregate basis of course, as I 'sell back' my excess and buy other power on cloudy days or at night.
Sometimes, it's not about the money, but about what you choose to do with your time, money and efforts. Oh yeah.. I make my own diesel fuel out of used fry grease. Some might look at my pay stub.. and think I'm a moron for wasting my time doing these odd things. But what can I say, I treat them as hobbies. We are each here burning for our own reasons. For some, it's necessity for finances. For some, it's desire to use renewable fuels. No matter what reason we all ended up here.. this place is THE SPOT when it comes to wood heating knowledge.
JP
However.. I ENJOY the idea that I have 5 years of 'heat' piled up out by the barn. I ENJOY the idea that no matter what, my woodlot will provide me heat for eternity (even if I have to pay someone to come and work the land when I'm old) I ENJOY the idea that I make solar power enough to be self sufficient (on an aggregate basis of course, as I 'sell back' my excess and buy other power on cloudy days or at night.
Sometimes, it's not about the money, but about what you choose to do with your time, money and efforts. Oh yeah.. I make my own diesel fuel out of used fry grease. Some might look at my pay stub.. and think I'm a moron for wasting my time doing these odd things. But what can I say, I treat them as hobbies. We are each here burning for our own reasons. For some, it's necessity for finances. For some, it's desire to use renewable fuels. No matter what reason we all ended up here.. this place is THE SPOT when it comes to wood heating knowledge.
JP
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Knots
Minister of Fire
True - I need the exercise. The good money job involves sitting on my butt stressing in front of a computer and on the phone. Wood is exercise/therapy, insurance against prolonged power outages, and higher quality heat.
bsruther
Minister of Fire
mass_burner
Minister of Fire
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Definitely not a hobby for me . . . I do it to save money. As Hog said . . . the math is pretty simple . . . or almost not needed.
I do however turn around and use the savings from buying oil to buying other things . . . thanks to wood heat I was able to go on a few cruises to the Caribbean in the winter (of course the oil did kick on for those days while we were away).
I do however turn around and use the savings from buying oil to buying other things . . . thanks to wood heat I was able to go on a few cruises to the Caribbean in the winter (of course the oil did kick on for those days while we were away).
sportbikerider78
Minister of Fire
I think you are missing the point of what he is saying. If you were working instead of processing wood, you could easily make up the differential savings of burning wood or using a oil and gas heating method.
What everyone else is saying further enforces this idea that it is a choice outside of financial calculations. Rather something we enjoy doing that has a side benefit of saving some cash and keeping things cozy in the winter. I'm very new to this too...so I don't speak from experience and I do not effeciently process...yet. For me burning isn't the end goal, it is something to do with the trees I clear off my property.
And thats ok!
ironpony
Minister of Fire
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
When I was in my mid teens through mid 20's, my friends and I well always in competition with each other, on who had the nicest car, quad, clothes, woman and ext.. most of us in our group of friends have bought houses in the last 5 years or so, and now we are in the competition of who can save and stretch out the all mighty dollar. My truck that was my baby is now used like a truck, I take care of it but if there's a job to be done that truck will be in the middle of it, I don't buy clothes until they are literally falling off my back, the girl friend tries to throw out a shirt every once in a while, but I catch it, she yells and screams when will you ever wear that again.. I say when I do something in the garage and an old shirt is like a friend - do you throw your friends out hun? Anyway for me burning wood saves me extra $$, yes there is a upfront cost to burning but it depends how far you take it. The real key to see the wood burning saving is to add up all the oil bills, then take that money an either use it to make an extra payment on the mortgage or put it into a savings account and not touch it for a couple years.
brant2000
Feeling the Heat
I hear this analogy all the time and just wonder who has jobs that afford them the ability to work as much, as long, whenever they please? As someone who's always been quasi-salaried, I've never understood this. If I put in more than 40, I get nothing else to show for it. Just time lost, not spent at home with my family.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Depends on your employer. Sometimes time > 40 hours translates to a larger percentage of bonus monies and stock options, or high consideration for promotion, but often you are correct.
As someone who is making easily 25x the aforementioned $10/hour, I can say that there are only so many hours I want to spend earning money. I enjoy the time spent mindlessly processing firewood. While my hobby is different than others, I assume most people at any pay level are going to have a similar sentiment.
As someone who is making easily 25x the aforementioned $10/hour, I can say that there are only so many hours I want to spend earning money. I enjoy the time spent mindlessly processing firewood. While my hobby is different than others, I assume most people at any pay level are going to have a similar sentiment.
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Hogwildz
Minister of Fire
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
I haven't sat down and figured my total costs for stove/pipe/chainsaw etc, but it sure feels nice to not be held hostage by the oil companies. Up here in Saskatchewan, our fuel is actually cheaper this year than past years. Price was $1.05 a liter (or 4.5 l= 1 gallon $4.72) in early November. That's cheap.... by our standards.
It seems in times past, averaging the good weather and bad, we burn $100oil a week in the cold months. Put in $600, and watch it go down for 6 weeks. Not blasting the heat either, 60 at night, 65 in the day. Just a rough ballpark. Burned 9 inches worth in the tank since November 3rd, and have another 16 inches before we even need to think of getting it filled up. I don't even run 24/7, morning until late evening.
So obviously there's extra work involved, but it's my own doing. If I want to give 'er I can. If I go for a load of wood with the neighbor, and it seems more like a coffee and tall tales in the woods than wood cutting, I can.
Nobody pays me to mow the grass, fix the furnace, fix the plumbing, going for groceries, napping on the couch, going hunting, or watching a movie. So why is my time supposed to have a dollar amount affixed when I process wood?
I forgot to add that with the weather and where we live, sometimes the road is blown in, and the fuel truck can't make it in.
It seems in times past, averaging the good weather and bad, we burn $100oil a week in the cold months. Put in $600, and watch it go down for 6 weeks. Not blasting the heat either, 60 at night, 65 in the day. Just a rough ballpark. Burned 9 inches worth in the tank since November 3rd, and have another 16 inches before we even need to think of getting it filled up. I don't even run 24/7, morning until late evening.
So obviously there's extra work involved, but it's my own doing. If I want to give 'er I can. If I go for a load of wood with the neighbor, and it seems more like a coffee and tall tales in the woods than wood cutting, I can.
Nobody pays me to mow the grass, fix the furnace, fix the plumbing, going for groceries, napping on the couch, going hunting, or watching a movie. So why is my time supposed to have a dollar amount affixed when I process wood?
I forgot to add that with the weather and where we live, sometimes the road is blown in, and the fuel truck can't make it in.
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