Advice to get ahead

I have a friend who burns and we cut together at times. Two men working together can easily triple or quadruple what one man alone can. I have an indoor insert and he has an owb and that really works out. We cut limbs that wouldn't need split into 3-4' lengths and he takes all the nasty crotches, plus some bigger 20-24" rounds. Then we cut some 15-18" rounds for me that are easy to split. It takes no time at all to work up 2 cord.

We both have access to plenty of wood so we just help each other out. He has a hydraulic splitter and will run it while I toss rounds to him.

To me buying wood defeats the purpose of trying to save money in propane/oil heat. I don't know how many cord you will go through but you should be able to get ahead by cutting yourself. I cut on weekends and by my self can get a cord c/s/s easy, I split by hand. Now with a OWB you should be able to cut a lot that don't need split as I would have to split plus they can be longer too. I don't know what you have as set up as saws, tractors and so on. I would contact a few tree trimmers and let them know if they got any wood they want to get rid of and then slip them a few drinks, green backs or have you wife make them a pie. The tree guys here in town go up to the gas station and have dinner and they brought me a load of soft maple , I told them eat away on me and get a drink for the road.

Like Tigeroak said talk to some tree guys. You will be amazed how fast you can get ahead if you find the right connection.

Bwhunter85 said:

I do my own cutting, basically me, my saw and my truck. I cut as much as possible, but trying to get ahead so I am not pressed for time and feel the stress of getting enough wood for the next year or two. I can get 10 cords of split 8 ft logs delivered for $1200.00. So all I would need to do is buck it, so save a lot of time there. We bought the OWB to save money (Propane) (DHW), so I am torn to spend $1200.00, but it appears this is the only way to "get ahead" with working a full time job and have a wife and two little ones to spend time with. Thoughts?

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I cut 10 cord last year, felled, bucked,split and stacked..........a little each day amounts to a lot.......gotta get your priorities right.

bob

Well, $120/cord already split, dropped off at your door doesn't seem bad. Compromise between buying it and doing it yourself. If you have more money than time, I don't think that's a bad option. 10 cord is a lot. For me to C/S/S 1.5/year is a significant time investment for me. I definitely hear you with the kids--amazing how much time they suck up. Not to mention when I stick my wife with them alone while I go have "fun" playing with wood...

It truly is a time/money thing.

My nearest cutting area is 20 miles one way. I can only fit about a face cord at a time in my truck. To get a one cord of green rounds piled up on the landing (my side yard) ready to split is one week of working hard what with call for the hospital and taking a Sabbath and spending a reasonable amount of time with my wife.

I had six and a half cords of logs delivered one time. It was $165/ cord for me, compared to $10/ cord buying live standing trees. But I put 6.5 cords of rounds in the side yard ready to split in nine days instead of spending six or seven weeks on it.

$120/ cord would be a kiler deal up here, but that doesn't mean it is a good deal for you where you are. OTOH once you know what the going rate is, bringing in a truckload might be a good idea. And if you eventually get hooked up with a tree service, even better.

I like cutting my own. I just enjoy it. I know it doesn't make sense for all situations though.

Bwhunter85 said:

I do my own cutting, basically me, my saw and my truck. I cut as much as possible, but trying to get ahead so I am not pressed for time and feel the stress of getting enough wood for the next year or two. I can get 10 cords of split 8 ft logs delivered for $1200.00. So all I would need to do is buck it, so save a lot of time there. We bought the OWB to save money (Propane) (DHW), so I am torn to spend $1200.00, but it appears this is the only way to "get ahead" with working a full time job and have a wife and two little ones to spend time with. Thoughts?

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Do the math on how much it will save you even if you buy. Then do a cost benefit comparison. I had to buy 8 face cords to get ahead. I also have 2 little ones. Keep your priorites on them. Heating your home with wood is meaningless in comparison.
That is why I CSS during their naptime on the weekends.

If I had to pay $120 a cord it would be cheaper for me to just use natural gas. Saws, fuel, time-no way. Here I can buy full cords of hard wood already cut and split for $120, so it is a regional thing.

I've got two little ones and a full time job. If you keep your eyes open and keep an opportunistic mindset you can scrounge a lot of wood for free most of the time. You've already got the chainsaw and truck. When you get permission to take a tree don't dilly dally. Having a helper does triple or quadruple your productivity.

For my part I love the exercise. I love being on a woodlot running my saws. Some people hate this type of work. So that's a factor too.

I'm also a one man show. I have a few saws, ATV w/ Polar ATV trailer and a 28 ton splitter. I mainly cut and haul during the winter and the start splitting/stacking towards spring. I don't have any kids though but do have a GF.

Since the spring of 2014, I have fully processed and stacked 36 cords of mostly red oak and black locust. I won't begin burning this stuff until early 2018 or so, as I have enough seasoned wood stacked elsewhere I'll be burning until then. I will probably have close to another 10 cords or so stacked in this area by late spring this year. It can be done. It's amazing what can be done by just going out and doing it. Last winter alone I did 16 cords. Started cutting in February and by late spring I had it all stacked.

Here's 35.5 cords taken spring of 2015, I've since added about a half of cord more. This area was bare in March of 2014. There's also another couple cord of pine/poplar off to the left not shown in the photo.

three feathers said:

If I had to pay $120 a cord it would be cheaper for me to just use natural gas. Saws, fuel, time-no way. Here I can buy full cords of hard wood already cut and split for $120, so it is a regional thing.

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Same. We can buy it at $185 a cord. Time is money at a certain point and if I the difference was that small, I'd let someone else cut and split and deliver it to me.

Bwhunter85 said:

I do my own cutting, basically me, my saw and my truck. I cut as much as possible, but trying to get ahead so I am not pressed for time and feel the stress of getting enough wood for the next year or two. I can get 10 cords of split 8 ft logs delivered for $1200.00. So all I would need to do is buck it, so save a lot of time there. We bought the OWB to save money (Propane) (DHW), so I am torn to spend $1200.00, but it appears this is the only way to "get ahead" with working a full time job and have a wife and two little ones to spend time with. Thoughts?

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I know it does not help a lot, but my two little ones come outside with me, as I split just down the hill from the house. I have them picking up dead branches and I get to spend time with them outdoors, with reasonable breaks from splitting. All of this is done from a safe distance, mind you, and it gives the wife some precious alone time. It does take longer than if I just went out by myself, but the family is why I am doing it in the first place. I don't have my 2-3 years of supply cut already, but I would imagine that once that is done, I won't have any issue taking twice as long to split and hang out with the kids. If you figure out a magic trick to get it all done another way, please make sure you share with all of us!

Firefighter938 said:

I have a friend who burns and we cut together at times. Two men working together can easily triple or quadruple what one man alone can. I have an indoor insert and he has an owb and that really works out. We cut limbs that wouldn't need split into 3-4' lengths and he takes all the nasty crotches, plus some bigger 20-24" rounds. Then we cut some 15-18" rounds for me that are easy to split. It takes no time at all to work up 2 cord.

We both have access to plenty of wood so we just help each other out. He has a hydraulic splitter and will run it while I toss rounds to him.

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I totally agree with this, i can cut and haul a cord in about two hours. When i have help we can get about three cords in the same amount of time.

As said during nap time and I even bring my little girl when just splitting and stacking so the saw doesn't scare her. Good for her to be outside I get wood processed and the wife gets a breather from the little princess. Plus she loves my old diesel pickup so hauling wood is always a great time. Just keep at it you will get a head if you want it bad enough it will become a reality.

CentralVAWoodHeat said:

Same. We can buy it at $185 a cord. Time is money at a certain point and if I the difference was that small, I'd let someone else cut and split and deliver it to me.

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Same boat here. I can pick up a face cord for $40 or $50 and they let me pick the species, lengths, and split size.

Sometimes the area you're in is tough to scrounge. It's almost impossible for me here in southern Maine. I have gotten a few good scores but normally any tress that get dropped are gone that day or within a few days max. Around here I believe log length mixed hardwood is going for $100-120/cord so if you can get split lengths for the same price it would be even better. I also don't burn wood just to save money, I don't have a problem paying someone local $230/cord if I need too. For me, I'd rather do that than pay a big oil company to burn a non-renewable resource.

If you can find enough wood to be picky, processing the easy stuff saves lots of time. I can split straight grained trunk sections of oak, ash, etc super quick with the Fiskars. The crotches and super knotty pieces really slow things down.