Log Length Wood, Pottsville, Pa 17901

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mbcijim

Member
Hearth Supporter
Mar 10, 2008
419
Schuylkill County, Pa
One of our companies just cut down about a mile by 50-75' wide of trees, the beginning 3/4 is mostly 8"-12" birch, perfect for one split and stack. The last 1/4 mile is mostly very nice bigger oak. The wood is already topped as we are burying the tops and going to haul of the logs or aghast, let them lay. This is in a pretty remote area and is gated. It does not have public access.

I have found a logger who will load & deliver the logs for $85/hour, which I think is reasonable. He hasn't done his first load yet but he says worst case 2 hours to load. But we need to do some to be sure.

Two questions about this:

1. Anyone want to buy a load of log length delivered? I think I would be happy making $250 over the cost of trucking/loading. This is going to take some time to develop, not sure how soon it could be delivered. If you need it tomorrow forget it. We might be able to roll in 2-3 weeks. I know I have some taken already and they will go first. Not sure on this trucker and how many he can do for me a week. It might be a fill-in situation for him. It might take as long as February or March to get something delivered.

2 is a business question. The logs loaded on a truck are essentially free to me. I have a very large flat staging area where I could ship, store, and handle these logs. Any thoughts on hiring some kids to split the wood? Cutting it isn't a problem either I would do that or I have a few adult friends who I could pay to do that. I have a bunch of kids who look for work and if I put a splitter there and let them go to town, we could process a bunch of wood. I know I could sell it, that isn't really a problem. Anyone have any thoughts on a very small firewood processor? Is there anything I could buy for $5k? Even a skid loader or tractor TPO attachment? I am not buying a $20k processor. If you had a few thousand dollars to spend and wanted to get good production, what would you do? My staging area already has trackhoes, forklifts, skid loaders, tractors, and backhoe's there for my use.
 
5k processor not going to happen,but lots of people need work I'd rather pay it to them.
 
You do not say how many cords in log form you would expect the trucker to have on each load.
I agree with smoking jay that $5k will not even get you a processor that needs work.
There are mobile processors that will come and process your wood. How many cords are there total ?
Is this a one shot deal or will you be doing this in the future also. If it is a one shot deal pay someone to process it. If you are looking to get into firewood business I say get this split with a good log splitter, after selling this batch then invest after you see if it is a business you want to be in, and have profits in your pocket.
 
Thanks guys!

Any mobile processors out there interested????

I think it is the normal log truck, aren't they 8 cords? I have a lot to learn yet. It is sort of a one time deal. Our construction company got a job to build a mountain road. But I run into these situations fairly frequently, although this is more wood than normal.
 
I'd spend $200 on a newspaper ad for log length wood and be done with it.
Workmans comp on woods workers will kill your wallet. Believe me there ain't alot of profit in firewood unless you are SUPER efficient.
My "wood hotline" quit ringing around Oct 10. Wood is not moving right now cause of the mild fall and low NG prices. But I know I could move a bunch of log length to guys getting ready for winter 10/11.

There is a paper/particleboard plant in Deposit NY (not to far from you) which buys pulpwood. Might want to look into that.
 
I'd be interested in a load if the transport fees were less then 85/hr. What would it cost to get the oak delivered to Maryland?
 
AndyLupher said:
I'd be interested in a load if the transport fees were less then 85/hr. What would it cost to get the oak delivered to Maryland?

$85/hr for a log truck is CHEAP!
I won't turn the key for less than $110/hr.
 
Yes, $85/hour is cheap, you won't get it for any cheaper than that, IMO. If you are close to I-81 or I-83, it is about two hours to the Maryland border from the trees via those two highways.
 
mbcijim said:
Yes, $85/hour is cheap, you won't get it for any cheaper than that, IMO. If you are close to I-81 or I-83, it is about two hours to the Maryland border from the trees via those two highways.

+ about 45 min to 1 hour for load/offload.
 
I'd bet Lee earns his $110/hour. the $85/hour guy wont work his equipment as hard.
 
Just an FYI, the $85/hour guy is not me. I just have some wood.
And he hasn't come through yet, he is at least two weeks late...
 
If I lived closer than NC I'd be contacting you to buy some log lengths. I used to get a dump truck load of log lengths and cut and split it myself and loved every minute of it. Now, I can't find anywhere to purchase log length and have it delivered.
 
murry said:
Wow, may be interested I live in Schuylkill County also....................

Murry,

The guy did come through. If you are interested PM me. He did 5 loads about two weeks ago. We will be scheduling him again in the next month.

Sorry everyone else I think you are to far away.
 
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