why is firewood so expensive?
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Ctwoodtick
Minister of Fire
What prices are you seeing in your area? Compared to my electric baseboard heat, it’s far cheaper.
I’m upstate I see $350-400 a cord I don’t buy wood tho, but I’m bout to get a log truck tho
It’s gone up just like everything else. Wood pellets are even worse.
A load of logs is the way to go. It’s been pretty steady price of $100 per cord for years around these parts.
A load of logs is the way to go. It’s been pretty steady price of $100 per cord for years around these parts.
Burnin Since 1989
Member
NW Boston they're getting 425-450 a cord for one year seasoned and 275-300 for green split cords. I did see an ad on craigslist the other day from a guy that delivers grapple loads of green logs for 125 a cord minimum 8 cords. The prices here have been pretty steady here the last 5 years. When I started out with my stove we were paying 100-125 a cord seasoned one year and green was 75 a cord. All above are delivered prices. Seems like a lot, but the big three; Oil, Gas and Electric are pretty expensive and wood and pellets are still less expensive. I guess it's all relative.
I can get a years worth of firewood for less than a months gym pass...
House Insurance because of the two stoves is a different sad expensive story...
House Insurance because of the two stoves is a different sad expensive story...
can you get hooked up with a local tree cutting service? I did that a few years ago, he brings a mix of odd shaped and sometimes hard to split pieces, but the logs are free and he delivers for free.
Ctwoodtick
Minister of Fire
It honestly may just be inflation overall. I saw at Lowe’s yesterday that my snowblower is $1500. When I bought the same model 15 years ago, it was 500 (not on sale). 15 yrs is a long time but prices don’t triple. Prices have really gone screwball over time.
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I’m already hooked up with a tree service company. He gives free wood. I just have to cut it up, now what I’m doing is going through my community , and asking neighbors do they want me to cut down a tree for them. I was just asking for a friend
House Insurance is (750k SCARY. I switched from Safeco to Cincinnati saved at least 2k with Home/Auto for Year. $2600 for 2 New Vehicles and $1600 for House for year. Vs 6k for Safeco and they had 6 months car Insurance. So far so good. Went with Hagerty for 2 more Cars for $1000 for year. (Rolls Royce and Convertible Sports Car for Wife in Summer, I keep the Sports Car shrunk down in Winter). Room for Pellets if I need it! https://www.cinfin.com/cincinnati-personal-insurance
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Wood isn't expensive, labor is the expense along with the equipment and fuel. That's what makes processed wood expensive. Want to cut out the middleman buy all of the equipment and process yourself and you'll understand what you're paying for.
Dieselhead
Minister of Fire
Haha yep, I’ve never paid for FIREWOOD, what I have paid for is a sore back, splinters in my fingers, tools for processing, lots of fuel and oil, tarps, plastic pallets, stove and pipe, etc etc etc…
Wouldn’t trade it for the world 😬
hickoryhoarder
Minister of Fire
If you produce a cord -- find the downed tree, saw it into logs, transport it, stack and season it, sell it -- and charge $10/ hour for your labor, how much will you sell that cord for?
When I buy wood it seems expensive to me. But I think the guys selling it here for $240 a cord are lucky to make much money. Lucky if they're making $8/hour.
When I produce firewood from a downed tree, sawed up (I don't have a chain saw), it's very labor intensive. And splitting some stuff can be tough on my elbows.
I like splitting wood, but it's probably economically better to work extra hours at $18/hour and buy the wood.
When I buy wood it seems expensive to me. But I think the guys selling it here for $240 a cord are lucky to make much money. Lucky if they're making $8/hour.
When I produce firewood from a downed tree, sawed up (I don't have a chain saw), it's very labor intensive. And splitting some stuff can be tough on my elbows.
I like splitting wood, but it's probably economically better to work extra hours at $18/hour and buy the wood.
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
It's kinda funny, being in the same region as the OP I agree firewood is either expensive or it's simply free if you're willing to do the work yourself. I am willing to do that work, and I think it's actually strenuous to the point where I usually refuse to sell any firewood I process for myself because even if I got $100 for a face cord (typical metric of wood sales around here) I feel like that hardly makes it worthwhile to me. It's more value for me to keep that wood and use it myself even if it does take several extra seasons to actually get to it in my stacks.
So it does seem expensive, but also it seems like a lot of people are just quite willing to pay the price. The times where I have agreed to sell wood it's been wheel barrows of camp wood which seems a lot more profitable for me anyway.
So it does seem expensive, but also it seems like a lot of people are just quite willing to pay the price. The times where I have agreed to sell wood it's been wheel barrows of camp wood which seems a lot more profitable for me anyway.
Burnin Since 1989
Member
I agree. I have gone both routes. I have scrounged wood, bartered wood, had loads of either rounds or logs that need to be cut into thirds and split, whatever I could do at the time. I also bought cords delivered. I'm at the point in my life where I don't mind scrounging around for wood, if it's convenient for me. I also have over two cords stacked and ready to go of wood that I had delivered.
The smaller the increment of wood that you sell, the higher the premium. I've watched more than a few videos on you tube of very profitable bundled wood enterprises that consist of a family and a few road side stands.
I bought a cord the first year I burned. Most was pretty wet. Now I find my wood for free. Sure it costs me money to get it and process it as others have said, but I enjoy being outside and spending time doing it. I burn about 3 cords a year so it doesn't feel to crazy when I spread it out. Usually I just wait till something near me pops up or I'm at my parents where they have tons of dead ash. My dad has a splitter right near the woods so I can close to a cord in half a day.
walhondingnashua
Minister of Fire
Mind sharing a few of those video links? I have been considering doing a little firewood bundle side gig with my son. He's 13 and I think it would be a great thing for him to learn you can get some value for the work you do. We even have a great spot on the way to a large lake/campground that we could make a little profit.
Burnin Since 1989
Member
Sure, The links are to their YT home pages (not sure of the correct term)
Seems to me there is a way to organize them in chronological order. There is a lot of info in these videos and it can be a little overwhelming!
I truly enjoy watching other people work! Hahaha
The first two are definitely G rated. Todd and his son are good people as are the Nelson family.
Todd’s Outside Again
Hello everyone welcome to the channel. Todd’s Outside Again was started to continue to interact with the good, like minded people, in this outdoor community after my son stepped away for a break from his channel. It will show the growth of my awkwardness in front of the camera as well as growing...
www.youtube.com
Nelson Ridge Farm
Nelson Ridge Farm - Family Christmas Tree Farm & Homestead Adventures Welcome to Nelson Ridge Farm, a charming family-owned farm nestled in the heart of Dickson, TN. Owned by a retired military family, our farm is more than just our forever home – it’s where we’re cultivating a sustainable...
www.youtube.com
Some of these folks below can get a little PG...
Back 40 Firewood
Hi and welcome to Back 40 Firewood. This channel is all about adding a little fun into something most look at as anything but fun. You will get a look into what happens when a guy who loves making firewood decides to dabble into a side business selling firewood. Growing up on a dairy farm in...
www.youtube.com
Nebraska WoodSTR
Nebraska WoodSTR is all about firewood Been selling since April of 2021, in these videos you will see me procure wood, cut wood, fell trees, stack wood, make deliveries, and running my road side stand business. This business is in its infancy and wanted to document as the business grows and...
www.youtube.com
There are many others on the tube but these are my favorites.
Start a thread if you decide you're going to do it. Maybe even start your own tube video as I understand it, some of these folks earn some good side coin posting their videos as well.
walhondingnashua
Minister of Fire
Thank you. We are in the preliminary stages... whats our market, how much to charge, what is our supply going to be, how will we process... all things these videos will help with.Sure, The links are to their YT home pages (not sure of the correct term)
Seems to me there is a way to organize them in chronological order. There is a lot of info in these videos and it can be a little overwhelming!
I truly enjoy watching other people work! Hahaha
The first two are definitely G rated. Todd and his son are good people as are the Nelson family.
Todd’s Outside Again
Hello everyone welcome to the channel. Todd’s Outside Again was started to continue to interact with the good, like minded people, in this outdoor community after my son stepped away for a break from his channel. It will show the growth of my awkwardness in front of the camera as well as growing...Nelson Ridge Farm
Nelson Ridge Farm - Family Christmas Tree Farm & Homestead Adventures Welcome to Nelson Ridge Farm, a charming family-owned farm nestled in the heart of Dickson, TN. Owned by a retired military family, our farm is more than just our forever home – it’s where we’re cultivating a sustainable...
Some of these folks below can get a little PG...
Back 40 Firewood
Hi and welcome to Back 40 Firewood. This channel is all about adding a little fun into something most look at as anything but fun. You will get a look into what happens when a guy who loves making firewood decides to dabble into a side business selling firewood. Growing up on a dairy farm in...Nebraska WoodSTR
Nebraska WoodSTR is all about firewood Been selling since April of 2021, in these videos you will see me procure wood, cut wood, fell trees, stack wood, make deliveries, and running my road side stand business. This business is in its infancy and wanted to document as the business grows and...
There are many others on the tube but these are my favorites.
Start a thread if you decide you're going to do it. Maybe even start your own tube video as I understand it, some of these folks earn some good side coin posting their videos as well.
If we get stated, I will defiantly start a thread. The youtube channel I have considered in the past but haven't had any good content. This may be a start.
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