Is it more cost-effective to buy firewood or to obtain log-length wood and process it personally?

[Itslay90]

Is it more cost-effective to buy firewood or to obtain log-length wood and process it personally?

 

[kborndale]

Depends on how much you value your time.

 

[EbS-P]

Probably if you have the time, space and equipment. What would you pay a cord for split wood?

 

[Itslay90]

Probably if you have the time, space and equipment. What would you pay a cord for split wood?

I hard it goes for 400-450 a cord

 

[Highbeam]

I buy log loads and process them into firewood. This year’s log load cost 135$ per finished cord not counting the inevitable waste. Current market cost for deliverer firewood is just under 300$ per cord and I have very little control over split length, thickness, or dryness. When I sell my extra wood I sell it per 1/3 cord for at least 160$ per 1/3 which is 480$ per cord.

So from a cash outlay perspective, of course it’s cheaper to buy logs.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I buy log loads and process them into firewood. This year’s log load cost 135$ per finished cord not counting the inevitable waste. Current market cost for deliverer firewood is just under 300$ per cord and I have very little control over split length, thickness, or dryness. When I sell my extra wood I sell it per 1/3 cord for at least 160$ per 1/3 which is 480$ per cord.

So from a cash outlay perspective, of course it’s cheaper to buy logs.

Are your logs clean? I bought logs once and they rocks were embedded in them as they dragged them around.

 

[MRD1985]

Log length cheaper, without question, if you have the time and means.

That being said, I scrounge for most of my wood. Cost is my time and a little fuel and oil for the saw.

 

[Highbeam]

Are your logs clean? I bought logs once and they rocks were embedded in them as they dragged them around.

Always spotless. These are logs that would otherwise be going to a mill for sawing or pulp.

I did have one log one year that had a cable inside of it. Missed it with the saw but hit it with the splitter. Couple nails over the years too but never enough to ruin a chain.

Working a load of logs is much more fun than driving around getting a tiny scrounge every once in a while. Less time scrounging, more time processing.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Always spotless. These are logs that would otherwise be going to a mill for sawing or pulp.

I did have one log one year that had a cable inside of it. Missed it with the saw but hit it with the splitter. Couple nails over the years too but never enough to ruin a chain.

Working a load of logs is much more fun than driving around getting a tiny scrounge every once in a while. Less time scrounging, more time processing.

There's is a lot of good wood out your way. We made a trip down there from Vancouver. I forget where we stayed, but I just loved the forests there.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

The time factor is big, as mentioned above. I like to cut and split my firewood. I moved to buying log lengths recently and if you can get a good deal and quality logs, I think you can save a bit of money while getting exercises and that whole thing.
I’ve scrounged for almost 10 yrs now and it has become too much of an effort so logs it is.

 

[hickoryhoarder]

If you make good money at your job, it's basically cheaper just to buy firewood.

I like to get involved in it, because I end up with better wood. Better fires.

 

[Dieselhead]

I have been scrounging for the last 15 years but pickins has been slim on firewood in my area so I’m debating a log truck load also.