Log Loads vs Pre-Split Loads: You Decide

Going by your math I would say after the cost of gas, bar oil, added to your figures, and my time theres no way in hell. Make em an offer and if they bite, good for you. I see a quad axle peaked with hardwood at the grocery store for 250 so you could say Im spoiled. I get all the hardwood I can carry free, and even pass on some so I just cant fathom what some people have to pay for wood. But if it was cheaper than my other options along with having heat being without power, I guess I would do what I had to do.

hey nordicsplitter, I never went the "log load" route myself but I have to ask, out in western ny do you have any scrounging opptys near you? It would cut your margins way down.

NordicSplitter said:

I know some guys who get full trucks of logs. Roughy 14"-20" round & 16'-20' long. A full load consists of about 36-40 logs. Now the fun begins. They have to cut it to size and then split away. Their company guarantee's 6 full cords per load. Cost :$700 per load. Approximantley $115 per cord. I however get my wood cut & pre-split (16-20") for $150 per cord. Just have to stack it. How may out there get log loads and is all that work really worth the $35 per cord that can be saved? Don't forget wear and tear on the chainsaws and splitters, plus the gas used as well. Just curious....

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Lots of threads about this.
Since moving here, I've had 2 log loads delivered. The last one was 20 cord and the logs were mostly a bit over 8' long. That one was $1500 or $75 cord.
I've thought of the time when/if that spread closes to near what c/s/d would cost that I'll just go that route with some cutting from my property.
That cost is for 100% oak. The c/s/d stuff is oak too and that cost is about $165-175/cord. Haven't bought any that way since '07.

As I go through the log length pile, I am thinking the same thing.
I kinda wanted to see how the splitter worked after I fixed it (no leaks, knock on wood).
The 9 hp splitter motor is not that un-thirsty-another reason to get a smaller engine.
On the plus side you get the exact length you want as you cut it up, and sometimes your "wood guy" might not give you exactly a cord after you stack it up.
On the other hand, I seem to have gotten a number of logs that were somewhat hollow.
Because the logs are at the road, I have to cut the logs into rounds and then lift them into a little trailer behind the lawnmower and transport them to the splitter location.
I've been splitting horizontal so far, so I just take the rounds at about the same level as the splitter rail.
The last guy I bought wood from stopped by after I got them delivered and said he was selling a cord for 160 now, though I have seen ads for 150.
I've gotten the knack, hopefully, of rolling down the logs from the pile, but it's still a little exciting.
I can do it although I'm pretty out of shape, but I lifted a round that affected an elbow, plus I also have a somewhat bad back, that, again knock on wood, is holding up.
Excuse the rambling, but I came in about 8:00, still wearing the ninja outfit for the bugs in 90F.
Anyway, buy the split wood at that price.

My last Estimate on a 6-8 cord Log Length load was about $450. So even on the High side its $75, on the low side if you get "Lucky" and get a Full 8 cord. Its $50..... I still have not bought one yet. Thats the cheapest I have found. I currently am still splitting my own wood (Dead standing) and getting all the Free local scrounges I can . I will be buying a Load soon. When I do, I will def take pics and post here.

On my way home this evening, I passed a logging truck load going the other direction and thought, "Thank God that's not coming to my house."

Our prices (central Alaska) are high enough to make some of you choke, but our fuel oil prices are also high.

I've heard rumors of a 10-cord load running from $1600 to 1200. When I went shopping, the best buy I could find was a nine cord load for 1700 "and that might go up if fuel prices go up" for birch that was dropped a year ago March. (Now I'm wondering how punky that might be.)

When I saw an ad for birch c/s/s for $160, I jumped on that. I couldn't be happier. I feel like I got my summer back. I still need to put up poplar and spruce (have some standing dead that will do great), but the majority of my heating needs will be met for 12-13, 13-14, and 14-15 with this delivery. All I have to do is point to where I want it. I'll take it.

I don't think its worth it when the difference is the same wood. I pay the same for a grapple load but our split cords are $200-$220 for hardwood. Besides, bucking a pile of logs is the fun part, and splitting to me is a lot more fun than stacking.

I've said for many years that if we did not have our own wood that I would buy in the big loads. No brush to contend with and I could still do the cutting. I do believe most folks would save some dollars by doing it this way but not everyone can do it very easily. Fortunately I have some experience cutting like that and find it is not at all difficult. But buying already cut and split has its place too. You usually end up with what you think is best for your situation.

Good for you to find the trees that need cutting at the church. Cherry, oak and birch makes a good combination but do remember: Cherry dries quite fast as does birch. But this is very important: get that birch split as soon as you possibly can else it will rot from the inside out. The bark will hold the moisture in and it can rot in a year. Split it, even in half, and it is good wood. Naturally the oak needs lots of time before it is ready to burn.

Backwoods Savage said:

I've said for many years that if we did not have our own wood that I would buy in the big loads. No brush to contend with and I could still do the cutting. I do believe most folks would save some dollars by doing it this way but not everyone can do it very easily. Fortunately I have some experience cutting like that and find it is not at all difficult. But buying already cut and split has its place too. You usually end up with what you think is best for your situation.

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I agree that buying the truck loads makes a lot of sense, and that was exactly what I was planning on doing, and I was happy to have that option. I saw `seasoned' birch going for 300-325 a cord last winter, which made the truckload sound like a great deal. But when I found a way to buy it cut to length, split, and stacked for less than I could buy it for by the truckload, I gratefully jumped on that deal. I've got a lot on my plate, and for my situation, this was what was best. There is no one right answer for everyone.

This week I have been focusing on my vehicles--oil changes, tire swap-outs, minor repairs. Was going to buy oil and filters--and then priced it out. Five quarts of oil for 12.50, filter for four bucks, vs. paying $24 for a lube, oil, and filter job? Again, no one right answer for everyone, but for me, paying to have someone take care of it was the right choice.

If I only burnt 5 or 6 cord a year I would probably just scrounge for my wood, but burning close to 12 cord a year I would have to spend all my spare time gathering wood.

The effort to process log length is way less than the effort it takes to cut and haul out of the woods, most people don't give away the trees that are easy to get to.

For 35$ more a cord you bet your butt I would have it delivered split.

But in my neck of the woods log length goes for 100$ a cord, while split hardwood goes for 225 to 300 a cord.

Backpack09 said:

For 35$ more a cord you bet your butt I would have it delivered split.

But in my neck of the woods log length goes for 100$ a cord, while split hardwood goes for 225 to 300 a cord.

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Same difference in prices here in southern nh.

Financially, yes it doesn't make any sense not to pay the $35. I easily spend $15 on gas, oil, and a chain sharpening for a cord of wood. then I split it all by hand which doesn't really add anything to the financial cost.

However, I get my log loads for free (I am a real estate developer) and the physical fitness part of it make it worth it for me.

If I were paying for wood, I would get the already c/s if the wood was of the same quality...or some combination of each. I like cutting wood as much as anyone, but not for that kind of money...or in that kind of volume.

If I were paying for wood, I would get the already c/s if the wood was of the same quality...or some combination of each. I like cutting wood as much as anyone, but not for that kind of money...or in that kind of volume.

Log loads are my choice,

Prior to getting paid to take the wood i was only paying 250$ per log load. Averaged 7-10 cords