My wife and I have been burning wood in our for 15 years. I've been purchasing two cords for a local farmer friend that charges $230 for a cord. However; he splits the wood just before he delivers it. Which means it's not seasoned. I'd like to start getting/processing my own wood each year.
As a volunteer fire fighter for 15 years, I've learned how to use and respect chainsaws. Looking at the local craigslist, there is tons of wood to be had. I'm a bit concerned about unknown implications of getting wood from someone's house. Any trees near a structure I'd not bother with. Are there any other factors I should take into consideration when deciding whether it's worth getting free wood from a homeowner?
I'd also love to get recommendations for an intro log splitter.
Thanks
Skrebel33
Do any of you order a truck load of logs, and then process it at home? I seen where you can get a load of logs for around 600-800, and it will produce between 7-9 cords. That is a great deal cheaper than the $230 I've been paying, and it eliminates the need to scrounge.
I am leaning towards ordering a truck load of logs. While this will cost money, it will save me from running all over. I would also suspect that by getting a load of logs, I will end up with logs that are good for burning. Please let me know if anyone has experience with ordering firewood by the truckload.
Skrebel33
Sounds like your farmer friend does exactly like the normal wood sellers do. That is okay if you can stack it for a year or two before burning it. In addition, at $230 per cord, that is some expensive wood! As for getting wood from someone's house or land, it all depends upon the situation. Some work out nicely while others don't.
Getting logs by the truckload is a good way to go for many folks. If we did not have our own woodlot this is probably the way I'd buy wood. But I would buy it long before it would be burned. It just does not work worth a hoot to burn green wood and until we learn how to burn water, I'll be stacking my wood for a few years before it gets burned in the stove. Once folks try some really good dry wood they are amazed at the difference. Not only does the stove perform better and less or no creosote, it takes less wood to heat the house if it has been dried properly and drying does not start until the wood has been split.
Logs by the truckload really is nice to in that you don't have brush to handle and don't even have to cut off any limbs. Most truck loads are what we would call medium sized so that a large saw is not needed.
On the log splitter, there are many on the market. My advice is to not get sucked into the bigger is better crap. Our splitter is over 20 years old and has split well over 200 cord of wood. A lot of that wood has also been elm which is well known for its ability to grow in a twisted mess and very hard to split. Naturally we have split a lot of knotty stuff too. It is a little 20 ton MTD, which is a lot like the splitters sold at Tractor Supply. You can usually buy those for around $1000 or if you insist on the very best and/or powerful splitter you can spend well over $3000.
For sure you want a splitter that you can use in either a horizontal or vertical position. Vertical is the best way to use them in 99% of the situations. If you look at my avatar, this is how I split wood. I sit and split. I simply can not see any sense in lifting every log up onto a horizontal splitter. That is crazy. But of course, you can also buy a log lifter if you care to par with another thousand or two...
Another thing to not get hung up on is cycle time unless there is one that is super slow but those are few and far between. The reason I stay this is because once you learn how to use the splitter, on a lot of the wood you split the ram does not have to use the entire length of travel. For example, you can let the ram (wedge) go all the way back up every time you split but there is no need to. Just let it go up high enough to get the next log in there or to turn the log you are splitting. Also on a lot of wood, ash for example, you simply do not need much travel distance with the ram. 3-6" will do just fine. But, if you are splitting a 16" log and the splitter can handle a 26" log, then if you let the ram go up each time, there are 10" of travel that is doing nothing.
Good luck.
over some of the things folks want done for nothing. You may find people wanting $5000 tree jobs done for nothing from you. In some cases thay want you to do the cutting and hauling and charge you for the wood! All in all C.L. is a good thing, just be careful.
. I usually get mine thru word of mouth, let everybody know that you're on the hunt, and I also listen for Chainsaws running in the heighborhood. I did have some luck with a tree service who dropped off a chit load of logs at about the same time we hired a tree guy to drop 4 trees in my yard after sandy came thru.....wood overload, still dealing with it.
