8 Ohio cords for 800$? deal or no deal?!?

[WoodButcher80]

hey guys. first time poster. long time viewer.

i have a logging company close to me and they were running an ad in the paper.

800$ for 8 cords worth of solid round logs (8'-15' long) , cut a month ago . obviously for next season burning. they're all hardwoods , mostly maple. they include delivery with a truck with a boom to grab each log and plop it down in the spot of your choice.


is this a good deal? i have nothing to compare it to. i know a cord should go for about 300$ , so if i do a little labor - cutting and splitting- is is worth it?

they also sell slab wood for a reduced rate.


thanks

 

[Redox]

300$ a cord is the NY state price. Tell them you live in Ohio! :cheese:

It sounds a little high to me, but I have nothing to compare it with. I hate paying for firewood!

Welcome to the forum!

Chris

 

[blujacket]

$100.00 a cord sounds good to me.

 

[WoodButcher80]

well, 800$ for 8 cords is 100$ a cord, uncut. if you assumed labor it doesnt seem too bad, seeing how 300$ is for a cord thats cut but needs to be picked up as well. im young and willing to slice away with my fiskar !

 

[xrayman]

that's a good price

 

[BrowningBAR]

I'd do it. Around here (eastern PA) $200 a cord is the norm.

 

[InTheRockies]

Well, you're going to be expending a fair amount of labor so factor that in. If they're really delivering 8 cords, then it may be okay. You may not have a good feel on whether you got a full 8 cords until you've cut, split and stacked the wood. You may be able to get a better price at a saw mill. I had a large dump truck load of wood delivered by a nearby mill, it was 3'-5' pieces so I had cutting as well as splitting to do, but the price was only $175. Cut, split and stacked, I got 565 cf, or slightly more than 4 cords.

 

[Shipper50]

I would have to ask how much experience in cutting and splitting do you have? And then ask yourself is your time worth the work to save x amount of money over buying it cut and split. That is the best answer I can think of.

Shipper

 

[bebopin]

I say BUY IT. I did that with about 9 cords for $700.But also remember that you will have to cut,split,and stack.do you have a saw? Split by hand or get a splitter from somewhere.And where to stack,and on what.Just some of the things to think about.
I bought a splitter$1500,had a saw,and built a $150 open shed to hold it.And every time I burn this wood i feel GREAT!

 

[WoodButcher80]

im gonna need a new huskie , and i got a ton of room to stack on dry pallets from a warehouse in semi-shade. i dont have a splitter, just a monster maul and fiskars splittin axe.

 

[blujacket]

You could rent a splitter for a weekend or two.

 

[big_fish]

well the price sounds good if it is 8 cords at finish time but depending on the saw you buy( if you can you should do it right the first time)and if you rent a splitter for the weekend you could end up with another $500.00 (my rancher was about 400 and a splitter rental about 100 for 3 days) tacked to the end of the wood when you add it up and look at the average price of a cord ready to burn this yr ($175-average)if you bought it you would get about 7.5cords for the same 1300 with no work it is up to you remember they don't sell new backs and knees at walmart anyways happy cutting my friend and be careful

 

[yukiginger]

This sounds like a standard load of logs, or triaxle load, whatever you want to call it. Search this site and you will see many posts on this. Most people estimate 6-8 cords worth of firewood in such a load. Your logger is telling you it's 8 and there is only one way to find out. If you want a price comparison call other logging companies and find out their price. Species of wood clearly makes a difference in what you are getting in the end.

MarkG

 

[the_dude]

You also mention it is mostly maple. My question to the logging company would be what maple? There is a big difference between silver or red vs. sugar maple.

 

[johnsopi]

Sounds high to be. A tree service might drop there wood off to you a lot cheaper.800$ is a lot of money. Plus you have to split the wood. A spliter @ me is 75$ a day.
CSD wood is 150-200$ here. Plus if it turn out to be less then 8 cords your out of luck.

 

[mikedengineer]

THough it may seem like a good deal, I have heard of a guy getting a triaxle for $125 in chardon. I'd call around first before putting $800 on various length pieces.

Although $800 it's still cheaper than heating with gas or oil... so you can't go wrong.

 

[Eric Johnson]

Price is really a function of competing local markets. If you live in an area with a pulpmill, pellet mill or wood-fired power plant nearby, these days you're lucky if you can find wood delivered at any price. If you live in a place where there's little other competition for wood, on the other hand, then the price will be less. $100 per cord for HARD or SUGAR maple is probably a good deal these days most places. If it's SOFT or RED maple, on the other hand, I'd shop around.

 

[WoodButcher80]

all valid points. thanks. ill have to search around a little more before i dive in . i do need a new chainsaw too so i must incorporate that into the price.

 

[ManiacPD]

I paid $90/cd a year ago, and now it's up to $120/cd. I'd buy it.

If you're buying a saw get something that's made to cut firewood. Plan on $500.

Good luck!

 

[flewism]

That's no deal but that's what it is going for around me also, log loads at $100 a cord, up north you can get them cheaper. I personally do not buy wood anymore there is to much available for free if you look.

 

[WoodButcher80]

i guess the only place i look is craigslist. i do know the UPS guy and he looks out for me while on his route. thats about it . any more ideas?

 

[glacialhills]

hmmmm.... ideas...ideas... Well, Larger tree service companies also deliver and most have good prices.smaller ones might not have much storage and need to get rid of wood regularly. Also both usually have a good mix of wood so you can try out different species to see how different ones burn. As others have said 800.00 would be a decent deal if sugar maple but if its silver, red, or other soft maple not so much. Also could try calling power companies, township/village public works and ask if they are doing any cutting. And if they need to get rid of wood. Because of grain prices, Farmers have been clearing fence rows to add acreage recently, maybe drop by after harvest when they have time this winter and have a chat. Farmers are always great guys to make friends with. if you ever need the use of a front end bucket or something they have the equipment and usually, at least around here, are more than happy to help out someone that helps keeps an eye on their farm and equipment and live stock. Good luck.

 

[the_dude]

$500? I bought a Husky 235 18" for $239 last year from Tractor Supply, and I cut about 11 cord worth of wood with it since spring. It never skipped a beat. I would love to have a $500 chainsaw, but I'm not sure it is required.

 

[bdog]

Check your local Home depot tool rental for used saws. I picked up a Makita 6401 earlier this year for under $250. 62CC, 20 inch bar and runs great. I'd look at the saw as an investment. If you get a good saw and treat it well, it's gonna cut a lot of wood for you for many years.

As to 8 cords for $800, like other guys said, it depends upon the tpe of maple and the actual size of the load (8 cords now, or 8 cords after processing). In either case, if your willing to work and its the right kind of wood, it sounds like a good arrangement to me.