Can't sell any firewood

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pen

pen

There are some who call me...mod.
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Aug 2, 2007
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N.E. Penna
I've got 2 going on 3 years of seasoned wood on hand and I've been asked if I would sell a cord or 2 for 175 a cord.

Price is more than fair for my neck of the woods, wood is ready to go, and I just can't do it.

Now, if I heard of someone who needed a cord (down on their luck) I'd give it to them in a heartbeat, but I just can't bring myself to sell any.

My buddies think I'm nuts but I have a hell of a hard time even putting anything but real junk (short butt ends) into a camp fire for an evening enjoyment outside anymore.

I am an eagle scout and certainly never had a problem disposing of wood as a kid when we were camping. Boy how times have changed. Anyone else revere their firewood stash a bit too much and make the lady friend / buddies shake their heads at you?

pen
 
Nothing wrong with that, pen do you have land you cut on or how do you get your wood?


zap
 
I'm with you. I'll happily help someone in need- but I worked too dang hard to be compensated in mere cash. I'd rather have the wood in the bank than the money. :)
 
I was thinking about writing a thread on this subject. I am bringing down my Holz Huazen this winter, and it is like taking away a part of me. I am the Holz Hauzen. I need the room in this spot (part of my driveway) and I will never be rebuild it to its former glory. I think it is the pride and the amount of time you put into the whole process and results. I have a friend that needs some wood, and I have plenty and want to give some away, but it is hard for me to decide what to give away.
 
zapny said:
Nothing wrong with that, pen do you have land you cut on or how do you get your wood?


zap
Click to expand...

I've got access to 20 some acres of my parents land, plus family and friends call me whenever a tree falls down on their property. However, the vast majority of my wood comes from a buddies land who has 500 acres. They get 40 acres selectively cut a year and a bunch of us buddies work together cleaning up the tops and cull trees.

At the end of the day, I've never had to pay a single red cent for fire wood and perhaps that why I would feel guilty about selling it.

Glad I'm not the only one who looks at the seasoned firewood and work involved as being more than the $$$ it's actually worth.

Course if I were to sell it I'd be the only guy around selling truly seasoned and ready to burn wood.

pen
 
Sounds like you have some good land for getting your wood, you could always sell it and make a donation to a good organization in the area. Do what your gut feeling tells you.

We have a good number of elderly in the area that still burn wood and once in a while they will run out and then they go to the country store and pin up a note that they need wood so if that happens Mr. & Mrs. Zap can help this year.


zap
 
The work my old worn out butt puts into dropping the trees, bucking the stuff, hauling it out of gulleys, back to the house and splitting and stacking.

A grand a cord. Not less.
 
I dont see stacks of wood.... I see stacks of dollar bills. Would I sell.. probably not... would i donate to a worthy family.. absolutely!
 
I almost made a post the other day about the same dilemma. From what I can tell, judging by the amount of wood I have stored, the size of my house and the anemic winters here, I have several years worth of wood on hand. The wood is dry and stored in my very large barn. I have considered lately trying to sell some. I see ads on Craigslist for firewood for sale, but from what I can tell (if they are accurate about the price per cord, etc.), it would be a waste of my time for the work I have put into it.

I was hoping someone could post some success stories on selling their excess wood. But, from what others have indicated so far, it sounds like it is more work than it is worth.

Another reason I have been reluctant to trying to sell any is having to deal with people, as most want something for nothing nowadays.

I still have a large oak tree in my yard that I just finished cutting up with my new saw. I asked my neighbor yesterday if he knew anyone that might need it as I would gladly give it away. He remarked that he did not, but that if someone did, they would want me to finish splitting it, loading it, delivering it and stacking it for free. Unfortunately, I was inclined to agree with him.
 
Last Sunday afternoon, I picked up and split a cord and a third of maple. If someone wants to give me $175 for 3/4 of that, I'm all over it. The only thing I get sentimental over is what is under a roof that is going to keep my family warm this winter.
 
BrotherBart said:
The work my old worn out butt puts into dropping the trees, bucking the stuff, hauling it out of gulleys, back to the house and splitting and stacking.

A grand a cord. Not less.
Click to expand...

What he said...

I like cutting wood for/with the family, but the $300/cord that "seasoned" oak sells for around here isn't enough to get me interested. If I was in need of extra cash, I would be more likely to buy/flip cars/saws, or bikes.
 
I'm with most of you on this -- would give wood away to one who needs it and can't afford to buy, but not likely to sell any firewood. What irks me, though, are those who see my 20+ cords of wood stacks, make fun of it, and think it should be available to them for free, even though they can well afford to buy wood, and do buy wood from commercial sellers. Instead, I offer to provide them with a share of wood "for free" if they help me cut, split and stack. Not a taker yet on the offer.
 
My wifes friend came over and wanted my wood (Just some small rounds to make crafts). So I give in. In return she give my wife some crafty things. I could never sell a cord for the $120.00 it goes for around here. Way to much work for that amount.
 
I'm not sure how much I'll go through with the new stove but I'm guessing I'm about 3+ years ahead after a recent score. My wife suggested I consider selling some and I want to get at least 3-4 more cords on hand!

My neighbor is having a bon fire party tonight and I'm helping ouit with some wood for free but I'm not interested in selling any.
 
I'm on the fence about this one for reasons other than profit for me. This is my first year burning and believe I will go through six cords a year burning 24/7. I've been accumulating wood for about three months from craigslist and now have over 18 cords cut with at least 15 of those cords split/stacked. In my mind I'm at least two years ahead at this point and I'd be more than willing to give wood away to those in need without even thinking about it.

The dilemma of the matter is this. My oldest son is 13 years old and is my helper in the wood process. He will be driving in three years and we've discussed the idea of him selling wood. I try to teach him the value of hard work as it equates to making money. We've come up with an idea that once we have three years solid worth of wood anything above that will be "his" wood pile. I'll still help him cut and split but he will be responsible for everything else. He's agreed that 80% of anything he makes would go to his savings for his first car. I'm excited about the idea of my son earning money like this but I still get an uneasy feeling in my stomach thinking about parting with wood that came from my sweat and time.
 
woodsmaster said:
My wifes friend came over and wanted my wood
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, really? How did that work out for ya?
 
I wouldn't seek out a sale, but I'd sell some to a friend, or give it to someone in need.
 
pen said:
I've got 2 going on 3 years of seasoned wood on hand and I've been asked if I would sell a cord or 2 for 175 a cord.

Price is more than fair for my neck of the woods, wood is ready to go, and I just can't do it.

Now, if I heard of someone who needed a cord (down on their luck) I'd give it to them in a heartbeat, but I just can't bring myself to sell any.

My buddies think I'm nuts but I have a hell of a hard time even putting anything but real junk (short butt ends) into a camp fire for an evening enjoyment outside anymore.

I am an eagle scout and certainly never had a problem disposing of wood as a kid when we were camping. Boy how times have changed. Anyone else revere their firewood stash a bit too much and make the lady friend / buddies shake their heads at you?

pen
Click to expand...

I have turn down several this year..
 
Almost everybody that comes to the house and sees my stacks comments about them. Most want to know if they can have "some" for their fireplace, camping trip, or bonfire. I used to let people take an armload or 2. Then I had a very good friends wife call my wife to ask for more. She came over and loaded up off the green stacks and then complained that the wood wasn't as nice the stuff they bought the year before. Some splits were too big and the wood "sizzled" too much. Maybe because it was 2 month old red oak?
So now if somebody asks for camp wood, I suggest they buy it at the campground to save gas and room in the car. That space is better used by a cooler of beer. If they want fieplace wood its $125 for a truckload( about a face cord). Or they can come over and bring all the help they want, use my saw, atv and maul and split all they want. Haven't lost any wood yet.

But if I get laid off this winter, I will be spending most of my time gathering wood, maybe for sale.
 
Nic36 said:
I almost made a post the other day about the same dilemma. From what I can tell, judging by the amount of wood I have stored, the size of my house and the anemic winters here, I have several years worth of wood on hand. The wood is dry and stored in my very large barn. I have considered lately trying to sell some. I see ads on Craigslist for firewood for sale, but from what I can tell (if they are accurate about the price per cord, etc.), it would be a waste of my time for the work I have put into it.

I was hoping someone could post some success stories on selling their excess wood. But, from what others have indicated so far, it sounds like it is more work than it is worth.

Another reason I have been reluctant to trying to sell any is having to deal with people, as most want something for nothing nowadays.

I still have a large oak tree in my yard that I just finished cutting up with my new saw. I asked my neighbor yesterday if he knew anyone that might need it as I would gladly give it away. He remarked that he did not, but that if someone did, they would want me to finish splitting it, loading it, delivering it and stacking it for free. Unfortunately, I was inclined to agree with him.
Click to expand...
I sell it all the time. I love everything about making firewood. I know how much wood I need for at least the next three years, then I sell the excess (I also give a lot of it away). I sell it in small quantities, mostly to campers and fireplace burners (1/6 of a cord for $25). I do not look at making firewood as work, but recreation and fun exercise. The money I get from selling the wood is merely an added bonus to the savings I get from burning, plus it is an excuse to keep on cutting and splitting.

Once in awhile I do get some people in the "want something for nothing" category, but I just tell them to go away. I think I sell my wood plenty cheap enough, and if they think it's too much, they can try to find it somewhere else or cut it themselves. I save more money by keeping it and burning it myself than I could ever sell it for, so I am not hurting for business. And I tell them that.
 
Just got back from delivering another cord. That makes three cords delivered that I am still awaiting payment on. Done "giving" my wood away. proccesed 20 cords this year, and had 5+ left over from last season. Pine here is going around 175-200 a cord, and I was selling to friends and such(150 for a healthy cord) just to re-coupe costs of the splitter purchase. My "money in the bank" aint no good if I keep selling it for less than its worth.
 
We've been known for giving a little bit of wood away and have also sold a little bit. I will sell wood if someone asks but we always sell at less than the going rate and still give them more than expected. We also make sure they have some kindling along with the wood.

I also agree about the money in the bank thing. Those wood piles to me are better than some CD's.
 
As I have said in a few other posts, I like all things firewood. I have thought of doing some sale stuff but I would have to get it cheap. I want to get a year or two ahead first. I'm just getting back into burning and do not have enough for this year.
 
I too wouldn't sell any. I have helped friends aquire wood many times when I didn't have time or just didn't want it. I'm known for being very picky about what I take. Limited space has made me that way. Why have a few cords of Silver Maple when you could have a few cords of White Ash instead.
 
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