When is it "worth it" to buy log length wood?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
sksmass

sksmass

Member
Dec 21, 2009
203
Western MA
I have been toying with the idea of getting a load of log length wood and processing it myself. But I'm unsure about the economics of it all. In my area a cord of split and "seasoned" mixed hardwood is $180. How much cheaper would a cord of log length have to be to make it worth it?

Is there a rule of thumb about the price of log length relative to split? Should it be 50% the price of split? 75%?
 
Around Western New York usually if you get logs it will come out to be around 40 per face cord (or 120 per full cord). If I didn't live in such a ritzy area...man I gotta move someday....I would get a load of logs. A lot cheaper and then you can come the size you want for you stove, know when it is seasoned, and get some exercise to boot :)
So in my area with logs you will save about 50%, maybe a little more per full cord. If you are 24/7 wood burner, this is the only way to go IMHO
 
I'd think 1/2 the price. But you have to be prepared to take a big load of logs with most outfits.
Normal here for log length loads is 10 cords.
 
I just got a grapple load for about $100/chord of mixed hardwood logs. The delivery guy told me this wood could not be put through a "processor" to split. I think that means it had too many crooked pieces, and some logs with possible nails and spikes. Split and "seasoned" wood around here is around $300/chord.
 
fire_man said:
I just got a grapple load for about $100/chord of mixed hardwood logs. The delivery guy told me this wood could not be put through a "processor" to split. I think that means it had too many crooked pieces, and some logs with possible nails and spikes. Split and "seasoned" wood around here is around $300/chord.
Click to expand...

Geez, nails and spikes wouldn't be any easier on chainsaws than they would on a processor I would imagine.

When I buy grapple loads, the logs are clean and relatively straight. Cost is about $90 to $100 per cord.
 
I got really lucky and found a guy who has a tree service and is delivering to my property...he said he would charge me $25 per ton which usually equates to $25 for 3/4 of a cord. So he's been doing it as he takes trees down and finally asked for $600. I have a generous 8 cords processed and stacked already and I'm not even 1/3 of the way through the total amount of wood he's delivered. I am estimating $25 or less per cord. He is halting his deliver until I process through more of the wood.

Pros: Cheap wood delivered to my processing site, excellent wood species (all types of oak, maple, cherry, ash, etc.)

Cons: Not completely straight wood, some logs may be too big for my 20" bar
 
what part of western mass ae you in?
you can get prices that would range from 60-100 a cord , most usually get between 5-650 for a truckload and depending on how they load it really affects that price to...
many tree guys will cut it to length for you for around 75 -125 a cord if the job is close to you... but this time of year you can also get it 140-170 c/s/d
 
Wood prices sure vary from region to region. I'm paying $130 Canadian per cord for tree length wood. Cut & split stuff is going for $220-260.
If you have processed your own wood before, you'll appreciate the work involved - cutting, moving, splitting, moving, stacking, moving, etc. There's a lot of discussions on "how many times do you handle your firewood".
Don't forget that if you buy in length (8' to tree length), your volume will probably shrink as you cut it. There's a lot more air between twisted trunks than in split stacks. I usually buy 10-12 cords per truck load, and I can end up with 85-100% of that volume afterwards. (Normally I'd expect to end up with about 90% of my purchased volume, but I have a couple of good suppliers that put a some extra trees on my delivery, so I end up with about 100%.)
Personally, I can't afford to buy processed wood, and I still enjoy doing it myself. I'm even splitting with a maul.
Happy burning.
 
For the last three years I have paid between $90-$100 a cord for log length. 7-8 cord. I buy the same quantity cut ,split ,delivered for $150 a cord . after I buy oil and gas for the saw and splitter not to mention my back I am leaning towards just buying it processed.I guess it really depends on how much your time is worth and if you have the extra money.I will still get to enjoy re splitting some and stacking
 
Assuming you have the tools, storage space, and ability to process the wood, I think it is worth it as long as you save at least a few hundred bucks and enjoy the work. you have to save some money on the deal or you'd wonder why you're doing the work, even though you may enjoy doing it. If you don't have the tools, but have space and the physical abilities, then I'd say it is worth it if the price of logs plus tools is comparable to the price of c/s/s firewood. Then you can enjoy the work and end up with new tools for the same price as buying the wood. Although I enjoy processing wood as much as anyone, i think part of the reason I like to do it is that I feel I am saving money, so price of the logs does matter.

I have heard of log length as cheap as $50 per cord here in central PA, but haven't actually bought any myself, so I can't verify. Cut, split, delivered and 'seasoned' firewood wells for about $140 per cord on Craigslist here. I think with those prices, it would be worth buying logs here instead of buying c/s/s firewood.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Arfter all this, I am leaning towards just buying c/s/d. I think if my wife came home one day to find 8-10 cords worth of logs dumped in our front yard she would freak out. My driveway would look like a sawmill all summer. Plus, I've got little kids so every hour spent bucking and splitting is an hour NOT spent with them. I think I'll just satisfy my chainsaw and maul needs with the occasional trees I take down on my property and scrounge from around town.
 
Watching you cut and split wood alllweekend from the window could be cheap entertainment for them, though.
Especially if you drop things on your feet a lot.

Cutting and splitting in the heat of Summer is not fun.
I'd rather be out in the cold of Winter.
 
processing wood with little kids around doesn't sound like much fun - too much concern that they'll get hurt, and they probably want you to play with them. Wait a few years, and they'll know how to stay out of the way and be better at entertaining themselves, then you can buy logs. A half-way alternative might be to buy rounds instead of split wood. you can have a stack of rounds, a stack of splits, and only need a small space nearby to split. it is good excercise and you can pick up a maul and split a few whenever you get a chance.
 
sksmass said:
Thanks for the info guys. Arfter all this, I am leaning towards just buying c/s/d. I think if my wife came home one day to find 8-10 cords worth of logs dumped in our front yard she would freak out. My driveway would look like a sawmill all summer. Plus, I've got little kids so every hour spent bucking and splitting is an hour NOT spent with them. I think I'll just satisfy my chainsaw and maul needs with the occasional trees I take down on my property and scrounge from around town.
Click to expand...

I am in the same exact position that you are in (lots of little kids) and debated the log length issue last year.
I can get green cut/split delivered for $175/cord, so this year I asked my wood guy if there was any discount if I took 3 cords instead of the usual 2, and he knocked a few bucks off. Might be something to check into if you wood guy can deliver multiple cords.
 
maplewood said:
Wood prices sure vary from region to region. I'm paying $130 Canadian per cord for tree length wood. Cut & split stuff is going for $220-260.
If you have processed your own wood before, you'll appreciate the work involved - cutting, moving, splitting, moving, stacking, moving, etc. There's a lot of discussions on "how many times do you handle your firewood".
Don't forget that if you buy in length (8' to tree length), your volume will probably shrink as you cut it. There's a lot more air between twisted trunks than in split stacks. I usually buy 10-12 cords per truck load, and I can end up with 85-100% of that volume afterwards. (Normally I'd expect to end up with about 90% of my purchased volume, but I have a couple of good suppliers that put a some extra trees on my delivery, so I end up with about 100%.)
Personally, I can't afford to buy processed wood, and I still enjoy doing it myself. I'm even splitting with a maul.
Happy burning.
Click to expand...
Over here on PEI log length runs about $100 - $120 and c/s/d goes for $160 - $200.Maybe it would be cheaper for you to get it over here. ;-)
 
sksmass said:
I have been toying with the idea of getting a load of log length wood and processing it myself. But I'm unsure about the economics of it all. In my area a cord of split and "seasoned" mixed hardwood is $180. How much cheaper would a cord of log length have to be to make it worth it?

Is there a rule of thumb about the price of log length relative to split? Should it be 50% the price of split? 75%?
Click to expand...

I dunno about all that but I'd probably pay $50 per cord for Doug Fir (way better than your eastern "hardwoods") in log form. . . maybe.
 
Bigg_Redd said:
sksmass said:
I have been toying with the idea of getting a load of log length wood and processing it myself. But I'm unsure about the economics of it all. In my area a cord of split and "seasoned" mixed hardwood is $180. How much cheaper would a cord of log length have to be to make it worth it?

Is there a rule of thumb about the price of log length relative to split? Should it be 50% the price of split? 75%?
Click to expand...

I dunno about all that but I'd probably pay $50 per cord for Doug Fir (way better than your eastern "hardwoods") in log form. . . maybe.
Click to expand...

Let's see, Douglas fir comes in at 21.4 Million BTU/chord, Hickory comes in at 30 Million, White Oak at 26.5 so what am I missing?? Oh yea Douglas Fir is easier to carry to the stove 'cause its lighter! :snake:
 
C/S/D not dry oak around here runs about 165-180/cord. I get a 20 cord load dropped for $75/cord, then process myself. My guy really doesn't like bringing anything less than 20, but will bring 10 for a premium. I didn't ask what that would be.
After gas, oil, etc., I figure it runs me between $80-85/cord. I use about 2/3 cord average during the winter. I'll take the time to process my own to heat my house for $60/month. That's worth it to ME. YMMV
My kids are grown and long gone though, and I'm retired. In that sense, easier for me.
 
fire_man said:
Bigg_Redd said:
sksmass said:
I have been toying with the idea of getting a load of log length wood and processing it myself. But I'm unsure about the economics of it all. In my area a cord of split and "seasoned" mixed hardwood is $180. How much cheaper would a cord of log length have to be to make it worth it?

Is there a rule of thumb about the price of log length relative to split? Should it be 50% the price of split? 75%?
Click to expand...

I dunno about all that but I'd probably pay $50 per cord for Doug Fir (way better than your eastern "hardwoods") in log form. . . maybe.
Click to expand...

Let's see, Douglas fir comes in at 21.4 Million BTU/chord, Hickory comes in at 30 Million, White Oak at 26.5 so what am I missing?? Oh yea Douglas Fir is easier to carry to the stove 'cause its lighter! :snake:
Click to expand...

I was gunna say . . .
:lol: :lol:
 
I am also adding in to the economic equation the risk to life and limb. As someone who doesn't make his living wielding a chainsaw, I recognize that every time I operate what is probably the single most dangerous machine you can buy "over the counter", I am taking some non-zero risk. I had an uncle who was sawing and experienced a kickback and the blade hit him right in the face. It didn't kill him, but he lived the rest of his days with a wicked scar.

So, I think my equation looks something like this: to the cost of log length timber I add:
The value of my time (<- this is probably the biggest item)
The cost of consumables like chain oil and gasoline
The cost of depreciating capital expenses like the saw itself
The risk premium associated with the non-zero possibility of serious injury or death
The cost of being asked "when are you going to get rid of all that wood cluttering up our yard" by my wife

If the number is less than the cost of c/s/d than I should buy log length, if it is more, than I should buy c/s/d.

For me, at this time of my life, the sum of all those items more than covers the "spread" between cheaper log length wood and the price of c/s/d wood.
 
I'd say that if you're not thoroughly excited about the prospect of having a load of logs dumped in your yard, then you probably shouldn't do it.

Personally, I can't think of many things that would be more satisfying or fun.
 
sksmass said:
I am also adding in to the economic equation the risk to life and limb. As someone who doesn't make his living wielding a chainsaw, I recognize that every time I operate what is probably the single most dangerous machine you can buy "over the counter", I am taking some non-zero risk. I had an uncle who was sawing and experienced a kickback and the blade hit him right in the face. It didn't kill him, but he lived the rest of his days with a wicked scar.

So, I think my equation looks something like this: to the cost of log length timber I add:
The value of my time (<- this is probably the biggest item)
The cost of consumables like chain oil and gasoline
The cost of depreciating capital expenses like the saw itself
The risk premium associated with the non-zero possibility of serious injury or death
The cost of being asked "when are you going to get rid of all that wood cluttering up our yard" by my wife

If the number is less than the cost of c/s/d than I should buy log length, if it is more, than I should buy c/s/d.

For me, at this time of my life, the sum of all those items more than covers the "spread" between cheaper log length wood and the price of c/s/d wood.
Click to expand...

You could run this equation every time you jump in your car and get on the highway just to go out to dinner (especially with the drivers around here!). You really have to balance your risks with your desire just to live your life and have sensible fun. I think cutting up logs, splitting,stacking, etc. actually adds to my health because its "my time" and it gives me an excuse to be outside and use tools I enjoy - and the feeling of accomplishment - I could go on.....But if you don't enjoy it then I agree with your summary.
 
I have spent most of my life fixing things, making sure stuff works, etc. so any chance I have to destroy a log of wood with heavy machinery makes for a lot of fun. The fact that it is great exercise (not running on a treadmill or lifting weights pointlessly) makes it even more worthwhile.
 
I'm new to burning this year, and for me splitting the wood is all the fun and great exercise. I couldn't imagine buying it all split already. I suggest you go with the person above who suggested buying rounds. This way you get to split (fun and exercise) without the risk of the chain saw and other problems of getting logs (thoroughly noted above).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
Firewood Log length supplier
Replies
3
Views
1K
The Wood Shed
Highbeam
Highbeam
Ashful
Wood storage and processing area layout
Replies
9
Views
3K
The Wood Shed
Poindexter
Poindexter
BillBurns
New Wood Guy!
Replies
16
Views
1K
The Wood Shed
Dieselhead
Dieselhead
N
Need advice for sustained secondary burn in Lopi insert
Replies
8
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
I
Just bought a cord of not actually seasoned wood...
Replies
71
Views
7K
The Wood Shed
vbu
vbu
Top Bottom
Back