Northern MA, Southern NH timber supplier?

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Scotty1187

New Member
Oct 4, 2015
1
Northern MA
Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums, but have been using all of your information to help out with me being a first time user of a wood stove for a primary heat source. Recently I got a Jotul F500 and have it running now. I got 3 cords of "seasoned"(not quite as dry as I hoped, but manageable) wood delivered at $350/cord (which seemed to be average cost delivered) and I'm looking to get a supply for next year. Does anyone in the area of Norther MA/Southern NH, near Merrimac Ma, know of any good suppliers of timber? I don't mind cutting/splitting myself, I just can't seem to find anyone who delivers the trees. I would love to find my own but I don't have enough land/ can't find any city contacts to see if I can scrounge off of city property. Also, any idea what would be a reasonable price for unprocessed wood per cord? If they sell it that way? Any help would be great. Thanks.
 
I used Marquis Tree Service (781) 860-9618 a couple times for Grapple Loads a few years back. They were $100/cord at the time.

It's amazing to me wood still goes for $350/cord with the price of oil so low.
 
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I have heard good things about Kimball Tree Service in Plaistow, NH. Also, there is a guy on Highland Rd in Merrimac that always has a whole field full of 4' splits stacked up and seasoning, I think it is called Highland Farms. I couldn't find a number though and I'm not 100% certain if he sells the wood to individuals.
 
Welcome to the site. I am a resident of Merrimac MA and also have a oslo. I guess we are twins. Wood does seem hard to find but I was thinking of trying the town dump. People drop brush down there and might look to get rid of logs. Talk to people who work down there. If it works out let me know. Good Luck!
 
Remember, you have to be careful which state the wood comes from as most New England States ban import of out of state wood.
 
I used Marquis Tree Service (781) 860-9618 a couple times for Grapple Loads a few years back. They were $100/cord at the time.

It's amazing to me wood still goes for $350/cord with the price of oil so low.

Price of oil doesn't change the labor cost to tree services... Sure they are saving a little running the truck but that's all. I doubt many of these outfits are getting rich even at 350...

You want to see a ripoff, check the ads for delivery in Boston proper. ;)
 
I used Marquis Tree Service (781) 860-9618 a couple times for Grapple Loads a few years back. They were $100/cord at the time.

It's amazing to me wood still goes for $350/cord with the price of oil so low.

You can try Mayer Tree, Dan is the owner and they always look busy. Manadnock (sp?) Land Clearing, Lyle Pelletier has done a few jobs for me. 100/cd is the number I'm hearing being tossed around as of last week.

The price of oil has absolutely ZERO to do with the cost of equipment and the repairs to it. Don't forget labor and insurance too. Just a new truck and log loader is going to run 200K That's a lot of cut wood to pay for it.
 
Guess I still don't get it. These same tree guys that are now selling the wood for $350/cord used to pay to get rid of it or have it chipped. As soon as oil went thru the roof so did cord wood. I can't believe labor prices went up that much in such a short time - labor to process wood is not expensive ask me how I know, my kid does it for contractor for minimum wage. There is a disconnect between the price of cord wood and other forms of heat energy and I am betting cord wood will drop soon. Just my take on it FWIW.
 
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I don't know about southern NH but the new boiler in Berlin is hauling in low grade wood from 100 plus miles radius. This is wood that formerly would be turned into firewood.
 
The lot next to me just got cleared by an excavation crew and I asked the guy if I could have the trees. His answer: "no way, we get $400/cord for it and all I have to do is haul it back, split it and deliver." This is a perfect example of the disconnect between the price to process it and the profit - he never factored any of his cost into the equation, just the market demand.
 
I know that I would want way more money than that for wood that I process. Its either really expensive and breakable equipment or an A$$ load of work.
 
Even the guy I know with a brand new wood processor is not getting 400/cd.

The wood commodity market is always changing. Chips one week versus veneer versus timber versus logs versus firewood.... Just because some burn it into ash doesn't make it cheaper.

I may have two or three big, really big ash trees, green all the way to the tips in the way for a well rig. First guy who can provide a 2.0 COI and make them go away without stopping progress gets them free. This includes the flare to the tops, no mess left behind. Concord MA area. Easy 2WD access. You got 2 days. Bring a really big saw. LOL
 
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Guess I still don't get it. These same tree guys that are now selling the wood for $350/cord used to pay to get rid of it or have it chipped. As soon as oil went thru the roof so did cord wood. I can't believe labor prices went up that much in such a short time - labor to process wood is not expensive ask me how I know, my kid does it for contractor for minimum wage. There is a disconnect between the price of cord wood and other forms of heat energy and I am betting cord wood will drop soon. Just my take on it FWIW.

I guess I am with you. The prices certainly went up real quick as did the availability of free wood/scrounges when Oil prices went up(demand). People think they can sell Pine on craigslist for 200 a cord now... Even myself as a pretty die-hard burner will probably rely less on the wood stove this year with oil under 2$ a gallon. Personally I think your average wood burner (not us on hearth.com) but the average joe who buys cut/split/seasoned cord wood, is going to do a little math in his head and say its not worth burning wood at 350$ a cord when oil is under 2$ a gallon.

The market will eventually catch on when these guys realize they have a surplus of firewood on hand. which will hopefully trickle down to the craiglist dreamers who are selling softwood and brush at premium prices.
 
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