Possible HIGH dollar firewood in the future????????

I imagine my wood price won't change a bit.

Anyway, I'm young, but I would imagine that as wood prices go up fewer people will like the idea of using it to heat and the demand will go back down. Basically, don't these things equalize over time?

sorry lee, posted before i read. this wasn't the same as the other two posts lately talking about increased use of wood because it's a renewable resource.

I understand your concern. I keep reading these posts online of people losing acres of trees. I hope it doesn't ever get that bad here.

Literature I've seen from the heat treating equipment manufactures state $45 a cord to dry and heat treat. Takes 24 to 36hrs. The problem is the kiln costs $25,000+ so most small fire wood sellers would have to job out the heat treatment and that would add time, handling, and that adds cost. The kiln idea is interesting as far as drying the wood in 24hrs.
leaddog

Makes me think how many people should have planted many trees 20 years ago on their property. Grow your own wood.

At least one of the imported problem pests has been found in pallets from Asia. Ironically, China and many other countries require import shipments from USA to be on heat or toxic gas treated pallets.

Some New England states (probably others, too) have prohibitions on moving firewood from one county or district to another. Pain in the lower unit for those in the business and hard to enforce but will probably become more common as the various plague critters spread.

It would make more sense to me to start with some sort of public awarness campaign. Educate people on the dangers of transporting firewood over long distances. I think most people would readily comply if they were aware of the implications of spreading dangerous pests. That would be a good place to start, and evaluate the need for legislative changes later. I believe that you will always have people that wouldn't care about the risks of spreading pests, and would continue to transport thier own campfire wood from Worcester to Maine, and despite legislation you would still have back-yard wood sellers selling unseasoned wood, also.

Now is your chance to get ahead of the curve Lee, and build a giant solar kiln.

Also, did you submit a comment? You only have until Oct. 26th.

That's why I said solar kiln. No fuel cost.
What are you going to do after you get out of the wood biz?

Dune said:

Now is your chance to get ahead of the curve Lee, and build a giant solar kiln...

Click to expand...

A solar kiln would probably not reach the 160F for 75 minutes rule mandated by the USDA. There is a difference between simply heat treating versus drying, WRT how much fuel it takes. Kiln-direct.com claims a cost of $15 per cord to dry firewood using wood waste and $40 a cord using propane.

http://www.kiln-direct.com/content/firewoodenergy/index.html

Of course there is the capital cost of the kiln and the labour cost to load and operate it.

Can anyone reference some articles that offer more detail on these killer insects and what environment (tree species, temperature, etc.) they best thrive in and conversely, what environments they struggle in? I burn mostly hedge and I find far fewer critters in hedge relative to what I find in elm, hackberry, mulberry, ash, willow and cottonwood. I find far more insects in the lower BTU woods. Just curious if I'm contributing to a problem.

Thanks.

onedog

Just make it so you can't sell it outside your town. The campers dragging bundles around can be a problem.

I'm sure a you could get a solar kiln up to 200 degrees if you wanted to, but the engineering cost would of course kill that idea. Hitting it with a fossil fuel is just downright offensive. Maybe a wood fired boiler? Burn up the little critters.

Putting the small shops out of business is what its all about ain't it? A big company can afford the increased capital expense, and simply push the cost onto the consumer. I guess they were content to leave firewood alone as long as it was just a hobby, but once oil hits $5/gallon that's it, suddenly they'll be money and its time to regulate the small guy out of the picture.

Not sure what anyone is paying for or selling for a seasoned cord. Here the cheapest I found is Two to two fifty. I did call a local nursery out side Boston, and got a price of kiln dried delivered for, any guesses ? May be a 15-20 mile round trip

I"m guessing they wouldn't sell a full cord, and that a 1/2 cord on a pallet was about $300.

Not bad . They do sell a full cords. 499,picked up and 574 delivered. I'm new at this but almost triple ? Is that the way it is or just that location. Maybe someone local knows of a good place for regular seasoned,at a fair price. let me know, please.

are you in boston or outside of the city?

Actually a couple towns over from you,Stevebass4. Just moved out this way. I was just outside the city,just in the habit of saying Boston

got ya - i process my own now but i have purchased firewood from

Firewood Shop
1060 Pulaski Blvd, Bellingham, MA
(508) 883-7582‎

and also from a guy at

264 central street foxboro ma - this stuff was the best

Do you have a name or number for Foxborough. I try both. I just need to get this year. Already started for next year. I usually do my own but with the move and all.

Joe O said:

Do you have a name or number for Foxborough. I try both. I just need to get this year. Already started for next year. I usually do my own but with the move and all.

Click to expand...

let me see if i can dig it up - i tend to drive by the place once a week so i'll send you a PM no later than saturday

If you can't get good seasoned wood try the biobricks.

I'll look into it. Thanks