Is it more cost-effective to buy firewood or to obtain log-length wood and process it personally?
Is it more cost-effective to buy firewood or to obtain log-length wood and process it personally?
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Depends on how much you value your time.
EbS-P
Minister of Fire
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.
So from a cash outlay perspective, of course it’s cheaper to buy logs.
Whitenuckler
Minister of Fire
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
Minister of Fire
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
Minister of Fire
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.
I’ve scrounged for almost 10 yrs now and it has become too much of an effort so logs it is.
hickoryhoarder
Minister of Fire
Dieselhead
Minister of Fire
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.
I buy cut split firewood when I am behind.
If I am a couple of years ahead I will cut wood at my on place. The cost of cut split wood this year is $215 a cord.
If I am a couple of years ahead I will cut wood at my on place. The cost of cut split wood this year is $215 a cord.
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It is green ,cut,split New England hardwoods. There was maple ,brown birch a little white birch and red oak.
He is the only one we have gotten cut split wood from ever.
I was buying log length wood and or collecting our own wood from our property.
I have been working on a woods road to get around the lawn and better access to the lower part of our place.
All the wood in that small shed is what I cut this past winter when the ground was frozen.
In that shed is maple,oak ,white birch and some white pine.
We have been loosing our mountain view at the house so we are going to have a big cutting project going on here.
I need to get the skidding winch on the tractor.
So many projects so little time.
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Woodsplitter67
Minister of Fire
All of the log length is free to me scores. So it's definitely worth it. I'm heating my house at basically no cost, just fuel and maintenance. The cost of any equipment purchased goes down every year you do it
I know someone posted of "how much is your time worth " That theory doesn't work unless your taking time off from a paying job. I split in my FREE time. That time is free because I'm not working and I'm FREE to do whatever I want. I could go fishing, the grocery store, or split wood.
There is an upfront cost to splitting and processing your own wood. If your in it for the long haul it's worth it. the cost goes way down. I bought my splitter for less then 900 bucks, at this point it's cost me about 100 bucks a year for it
I know someone posted of "how much is your time worth " That theory doesn't work unless your taking time off from a paying job. I split in my FREE time. That time is free because I'm not working and I'm FREE to do whatever I want. I could go fishing, the grocery store, or split wood.
There is an upfront cost to splitting and processing your own wood. If your in it for the long haul it's worth it. the cost goes way down. I bought my splitter for less then 900 bucks, at this point it's cost me about 100 bucks a year for it
It depends. How much is the cost? Do you have the equipment necessary to process the lengths? Do you have a workspace to maintain the equipment necessary to process the lengths? Do you have enough property to store the wood that needs to be processed? Are you having the log length wood dropped off or are you picking it up yourself? Finally, what type of wood is available in your area? I would probably jump at the chance for some red oak. For now I am processing ash, cherry and maple on site and will hook up a trailer to grab already cut to length rounds. 1 hour plus drive if it's cut oak or better.
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