Cluttermagnet
Minister of Fire
That is real encouraging. So far I have not bought any. We'll see how it goes. It does look like a whole bunch of wood is constantly being given away, or appears regularly alongside the road.eba1225 said:
Do you buy or not buy your wood?
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jebatty
Minister of Fire
Have to chime in here because line clearing done late winter on lines down the rural highway fronting our property (1-1/2 miles of frontage). The trees were limbed but piled every 100 yards or so. I cut all the trees into 100" logs, stacked in piles to haul out, and the theft of these logs was amazing.
While it may not be true in every situation, WE OWN the land to the center of the highway, subject to power company and highway right of way. Although both the highway dept and the power company have the right to clear on the right of way, they do not own the trees - we do.
Before taking any trees after line clearing, ask the property owner, or you may be guilty of timber theft, which in MN is triple damages to the landowner. Besides that, courtesy and being neighborly are a couple of other good reasons.
pinewoodburner
Feeling the Heat
I like to get most of my wood for free, but I found a source that will sell me wood for $100 a chord. I pick it up. At that cost, it has me thinking is it worht doing all the cutting and splitting. I am going to buy one more chord from him and I will have my supply for next year and I will continue to look for the free wood.
We had to buy 4 cords last year as it was our first wood heating system in a new home. The instant we decided to go wood we started cutting our own down. We are surrounded by forest and with a permit are allowed to fall dead standing or take any fallen trees (permit $20) good for 5 cords per heatng season per household. I can walk across the street and get my wood (of course that is all red pine), so usually we drive a 5 mile radius to get all the wood. Here wood guys are selling at $120-$120 a cord and you never know what your gonna get. So I figure its saving me $600 to get my own, of course I have fuel costs but thats probably only $50 or so. So on nice evenings we take our forest map and go scouting in the 84 diesel rabbit and highlight areas with some good trees....kinda fun and relaxing. Then we go out early on a sat with our truck and trailer (hubby built a 7x16 trailer with 4' sides out of 3" 3/16" tubing......this thing is good for 12,000lbs with double axles) we just make our stops and load up.
Couldn't resist replying to the '84 VW Rabbit diesel and then, your tow trailer good up to 14,000lbs? Even if you aren't pulling that much, it still sounds impressive in a zany way. (edit. just saw you went out scouting with teh VW< and then return with a truck... still, I liked the idea of VM and trailer tho I got it wrong).
I attached an OEM trailer hitch to my Saab 900 Turbo (happens to be a sports version tho I ultimately prefer the sedan version of the car, just worked out that way), and purchased a homemade trailer made out of a Toyota truck bed. Have pulled I guesstimate close to 3,000lbs with it. And yes, the setup looks, zany. I wish I could answer the looks I get with the thoughts in my head.... which are spending $20/mo in the throes of winter vs. what would be $350-$400, which is what all my neighbors pay, tho some huddle into a few rooms to conserve heat and still pay the man some serious coin. Not here.
Here's to unusual auto/trailer concoctions!
I attached an OEM trailer hitch to my Saab 900 Turbo (happens to be a sports version tho I ultimately prefer the sedan version of the car, just worked out that way), and purchased a homemade trailer made out of a Toyota truck bed. Have pulled I guesstimate close to 3,000lbs with it. And yes, the setup looks, zany. I wish I could answer the looks I get with the thoughts in my head.... which are spending $20/mo in the throes of winter vs. what would be $350-$400, which is what all my neighbors pay, tho some huddle into a few rooms to conserve heat and still pay the man some serious coin. Not here.
Here's to unusual auto/trailer concoctions!
michiganwinters said:
RedRanger
New Member
I will state again that even at $250 a cord bought csd it is still a no-brainer. To fill my oil tank at $1.60 per litre(and it holds 1100+ litres would cost over $1700. and before I retired we used to go thru 2 and a half tanks per season even out here on the west coast. Total=approx. $4500 per season.
Now I buy my wood at an average price of 170 per cord which costs me about a grand per year, and my oil is reduced to about 300 to 400 litres per year. and my propain cost me about 400 for the upstairs insert which is only used sparingly. So using the 3 sources of heat never exceeds more than 2100 per season. Even if I were paying the 250 for my wood, my heating costs would still be half of what there were with straight oil.
Yes, you have to make sacrifices, like in the evening we only spend our time in the rec-room where the insert is located. It is cooking in that room, hence only one log at a time and on low =250-350 stove top temp. sometimes even have to open a window. which of course only helps to push that warm air upstairs. and then about an hour before bedtime I load that puppy up and then slowly turn the air control all the way down, and it just keeps on churning and burning and keeping that room too hot to be in, but we ain`t in that room anymore, but the heat keeps on drifting upstairs. Do ya get it??
Now I buy my wood at an average price of 170 per cord which costs me about a grand per year, and my oil is reduced to about 300 to 400 litres per year. and my propain cost me about 400 for the upstairs insert which is only used sparingly. So using the 3 sources of heat never exceeds more than 2100 per season. Even if I were paying the 250 for my wood, my heating costs would still be half of what there were with straight oil.
Yes, you have to make sacrifices, like in the evening we only spend our time in the rec-room where the insert is located. It is cooking in that room, hence only one log at a time and on low =250-350 stove top temp. sometimes even have to open a window. which of course only helps to push that warm air upstairs. and then about an hour before bedtime I load that puppy up and then slowly turn the air control all the way down, and it just keeps on churning and burning and keeping that room too hot to be in, but we ain`t in that room anymore, but the heat keeps on drifting upstairs. Do ya get it??
- Feb 10, 2006
- 259
I get free wood from a local tree service. They cut the wood into rounds and I pickup and haul away. The customer is charged a haul away fee by the tree service, which they pocket. I, in turn sign a waiver and grab the wood. Go green I always say..
Hogwildz said:
Adios Pantalones
Minister of Fire
I love collecting/processing wood. I don't always have the time. If I could get $150 CSD wood like I hear people talk about- I might buy a few cord for safety reserve.
hornett22
New Member
i own a tree service so i don't pay for my wood.not getting as much as i used to though.a lot of folks are keeping the wood this year.can't blame them.
CK-1 said:
I would not automatically say NO DEAL IS BETTER THAN FREE. Free comes with a cost. Even if the free tree is on the ground you need to get to it, it will take many many back breaking hours to cut it to length, split it, haul it home, stack it, then store it a few seasons before you can use it. Depending on how much free time you have, how you like to spend your free time, how much space you have to store wood, how many hours you work a week, it may sometimes be more advantageous to buy some now and then.
One of my suppliers charges $45/face for 3-4 year seasoned, split, ready to burn oak. I can pull up to his wood pile with my F150 and trailer and have 2 face loaded and be out of there in 20 minutes if I don't talk too long. My time is valuable so I weigh how much time it took him vs how much free time I have and how long I will have to work to pay for it.
I agree that free wood is great, and I take it when I can, but sometimes you run out and need some ready to go right now, or don't feel like spending every Saturday all summer lugging wood, or live in town and don't have the space to store lots of wood for years.
Time is money whether it is spent handling wood or working a few hours of overtime or spending it with the family. It all depends on what is most important to you.
As to switching to pellets, that's just crazy.......even the most unlucky person can find some free wood now and then, but with pellets you will ALWAYS pay.
gibson
New Member
Just finished my wood purchasing for the year. I bought two cords of red oak in June (down since March) for $300. Just bought another 2 cord from a different supplier "seasoned", down and bucked for over a year, recently split. $215 a cord. That is 4 cords for $730, that'll more than do me for the winter. I held a craigslist sale of superfluous garage clutter that yielded $300, specifically for wood money. For my purposes I am now at 4 cords for $430. My new budget from the oil man is $470/mo vs. $275 last year. So my estimate using the stove for 60% of my heating needs, saves me $2700 in oil. Subtract the cost of wood = $2270 savings. Now my total outlay for the Jotul 550 and my self install will be about $3000. So by my albeit rudementary calculations, I have recouped over 70% of my stove investment in one year, hopefully. My only work is the install, moving and stacking the wood, which is more than enough. To the original point, I see the cost of buying wood as reasonable.
Most of my wood comes from dead trees and "blow downs" here off the farm, with an occasional healthy oak cut to fill in the gaps.Much of it comes from trees that have to be cut off of fences after a summer storm or winter wind. But as hfjeff said in his post, after cutting, splitting ,hauling and stacking "free wood ain't free".
I ve been getting free wood for years .I find down wood , get payed to cut it and remove it . I have two people that would like me to clear there side yards . I was thinking . I have two sons that all-ways hit me up for money i mite just start selling the wood so they have a job . wood is 250 a cord here when it hits 300 i start selling it.
I agree free wood isn't really free. You have to amortize the cost of a splitter, chainsaw and perhaps a utility trailer. Besides the obvious costs like gas, oil, chains and your labor you have incidental costs of maintaining your equipment. I harvest my own firewood because it isn't very difficult to source where I live and it keeps my time occupied during the months of the season you are confined.
I'll agree that free wood usually isn't truly free once you add everything up. Include ALL the time that goes into picking it up (and time is money), processing, stacking, add up the cost of the equipment it takes to do so (including the maintenance, insurance, etc.), wear and tear, plus all the hard labor, and I think you'll quickly realize the majority of "free" wood isn't really so free. I do occasionally get paid to remove trees and I still wouldn't say this wood is completely free by the time it hits my stove.
Now I know some of you will say you already own the equipment and that you enjoy doing the work. But the bottom line is there's an opportunity cost here with both your time and your equipment. You paid for the equipment up front and you could also sell your equipment and recoup money. You could also be CSD the wood for resale.... Hell, you could also be using that same time to do something far more profitable (which isn't very hard to do given the cost and work involved with processing firewood)... Now I'm not saying it's not worthwhile to collect "free" wood, for many it makes a lot of sense and it's something they enjoy doing, but please don't kid yourselves into thinking it's truly "free".
I'd also argue that burning pellets can certainly make a lot more sense for a lot of people. In many areas a ton of pellets can be had for almost the cost of a cord of wood. As a person who has done both, I can tell you overall, burning pellets is WAY easier and FAR less hassle than burning wood... not to mention a lot cleaner. If I had to pay the going rates to have wood delivered to me, I most likely wouldn't even bother burning wood, I would just stick with pellets or possibly even coal.
Now I know some of you will say you already own the equipment and that you enjoy doing the work. But the bottom line is there's an opportunity cost here with both your time and your equipment. You paid for the equipment up front and you could also sell your equipment and recoup money. You could also be CSD the wood for resale.... Hell, you could also be using that same time to do something far more profitable (which isn't very hard to do given the cost and work involved with processing firewood)... Now I'm not saying it's not worthwhile to collect "free" wood, for many it makes a lot of sense and it's something they enjoy doing, but please don't kid yourselves into thinking it's truly "free".
I'd also argue that burning pellets can certainly make a lot more sense for a lot of people. In many areas a ton of pellets can be had for almost the cost of a cord of wood. As a person who has done both, I can tell you overall, burning pellets is WAY easier and FAR less hassle than burning wood... not to mention a lot cleaner. If I had to pay the going rates to have wood delivered to me, I most likely wouldn't even bother burning wood, I would just stick with pellets or possibly even coal.
- Feb 10, 2006
- 259
Wet1 said:
I understand what your saying. By reading your terminology of free its seems like nothing would ever be free. Or course gas and labor is involved to pickup a item that someone is giving away. If someone is giving something away, whats the odds of them actually delivering it to you?.. Lets be reasonable. A friend of mine did a tree job on a oak. I just picked up the rounds this past Sunday. I have to split it and stack it.. of course. If someone was giving me a free air compressor I would have to install it as well. Basically, free wood or anything free is a item you didn't actually pay for.
burntime
New Member
This Is the first year for us burning wood. So to get a head start on wood I bought a load of wood that was on GL.
I payed $700 for this wood and it is just about 10 cords. all Oak@Cherry.
Over 2 years old.I all ready have 2 source's for wood that will get me replacement wood for the next year.And that will be free.
Over 2 years old.I all ready have 2 source's for wood that will get me replacement wood for the next year.And that will be free.
burntime said:You guys are missing the point, burning wood gets you TOYS
Well that and a sore back.
I cut all of my wood off of our place here. So besides the labor, equipment and gas I am paying a mortgage on every one of those trees long after it is burned. :shut:
BJ64
Minister of Fire
I'm in the same situation as Pine Knot.
I'm out here having to dispose of down wood all year round. If I did not keep the mess cut up, this place would look like an exploded beaver dam. Why would I buy LP gas when there is more fuel here than several families could use? The splitter and the wood stove is the only extra equipment cost. There is also the time and labor of splitting and hauling vs. cutting to 8 foot lengths and stacking onto giant burn piles with a tractor and front end loader rigged with twin round bale forks. With farm diesel at $3.85 today, the easy disposal method is getting costly as well.
I was using about 175 gallons of LP gas a month during the winter for central heat. When LP gas wet to $1.80 per gallon, the cost of heating in January was more than the cost of AC in August! Then there was the matter of two freak ice storms in 2007 that left some people near us with out power for 9 and 13 days.
For me, burning wood is a means of survival as well as a means of cutting cost - and I enjoy it.
I'm out here having to dispose of down wood all year round. If I did not keep the mess cut up, this place would look like an exploded beaver dam. Why would I buy LP gas when there is more fuel here than several families could use? The splitter and the wood stove is the only extra equipment cost. There is also the time and labor of splitting and hauling vs. cutting to 8 foot lengths and stacking onto giant burn piles with a tractor and front end loader rigged with twin round bale forks. With farm diesel at $3.85 today, the easy disposal method is getting costly as well.
I was using about 175 gallons of LP gas a month during the winter for central heat. When LP gas wet to $1.80 per gallon, the cost of heating in January was more than the cost of AC in August! Then there was the matter of two freak ice storms in 2007 that left some people near us with out power for 9 and 13 days.
For me, burning wood is a means of survival as well as a means of cutting cost - and I enjoy it.
Cluttermagnet
Minister of Fire
That's a real nice load of wood! A pretty good start for your first year, I'd say. And 70. a cord ain't bad, either.bebopin said:
BTW what is "GL"? Some list like Craig's List?
gibson
New Member
Don't get me wrong, if I had a big property or easy access to wood, I would invest in the equipment needed to process. It seems that, in the part of suburbia I live in, there is plenty of wood to be had.
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