Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[shooterdon]

Like others, a big component of using a fireplace is that I enjoy a fire. Heating with wood is also the most economical way to heat as I do not have natural gas as an option.

My total investment has been less than $20k. That gives me a tax write off of $4k per year. I will add more stuff to raise the capital deduction as the business grows so I keep earning tax free profits.

 

[grsthegreat]

At least the firewood actually keeps me warm. I can’t get behind the gardening idea when it’s not by a long shot enough to actually feed you self substantially.

Now, if she could grow hershey bars and butterfingers, now thats something i can get behind

 

[WinterDeere]

Now, if she could grow hershey bars and butterfingers, now thats something i can get behind

... coffee beans and little flight-size bourbon bottles.

 

[4570Man]

You are not producing much firewood so finding a few dozen trees a year works for you. You are not efficient but you do not need to be.

Imagine producing 100 cords a year and work out the numbers. Where will you find that much free wood. How far will you drive and how long will it take? How long will it take to buck it, split it and transport it? What are your costs for fuel and supplies? Your costs for fuel and supplies do count…they are not free.

I can produce 100 cords in 300 hours. Return of about $10k.

Plus how old are you? I am 75 and work alone.

Firewood in my area doesn’t pay enough to justify buying logs. The only people selling firewood here are tree guys and get paid to cut them. After my personal need for firewood is met I give away logs off land clearing jobs. I gave these away a while back.

 

[Jstpssng]

Firewood in my area doesn’t pay enough to justify buying logs. The only people selling firewood here are tree guys and get paid to cut them. After my personal need for firewood is met I give away logs off land clearing jobs. I gave these away a while back. View attachment 4510379

That's nice looking firewood!

It wasn't so long ago that you were taking logs from the tree guys and selling firewood.

 

[shooterdon]

4570man, I do not know anyone who sells firewood by doing it the way Joe Shmoe does it. By that, I mean getting logs, bucking them and splitting them with a log splitter. Too much work and time. Guys like me, or the bigger commercial suppliers, take most of the work out of making firewood by using processors.

Of the logs in your picture, I could use less than half of them. They are too large in diameter to process in my processor. It is limited to 18" but even that is a stretch. Those logs would be OK for a commercial grade processor.

When I buy logs, I specify logs from 4-12 inches in diameter. The "sweet spot" is 6-10". I put aside logs I cannot process and take them 12 miles to where my friend works. They have a large Dyna processor that handles them. They charge $20 to process 2/3 cords (my truck only holds 2/3 cord of splits).

The commercial processors prefer logs over 8" as they get more firewood per cycle. That works out well for me as I prefer smaller diameter logs. Joe Homeowner is my competition for smaller logs but fewer people are willing to do the work. As a result, I have a good supply of logs and prices have come down about 15% for the smaller logs. Three of my largest customers used to buy logs and split their own wood but they now buy from me. Age and convenience factor into this trend in my area.

 

[WinterDeere]

4570man, I do not know anyone who sells firewood by doing it the way Joe Shmoe does it. By that, I mean getting logs, bucking them and splitting them with a log splitter. Too much work and time. Guys like me, or the bigger commercial suppliers, take most of the work out of making firewood by using processors.

Not just processing, but automated palletizing, wrapping, and conveyance, to boot!

 

[dodge man]

I saw an ad on Marketplace yesterday in a small town of about a 100 people near here. They wanted free firewood. An unusual request but not that crazy. Then it went on to say they didn’t have a truck so you’d have to haul it for them. Usually an ad like that says “single mom needs help”. They didn’t even bother with that, just bring me free firewood.

 

[WinterDeere]

I saw an ad on Marketplace yesterday in a small town of about a 100 people near here. They wanted free firewood. An unusual request but not that crazy. Then it went on to say they didn’t have a truck so you’d have to haul it for them. Usually an ad like that says “single mom needs help”. They didn’t even bother with that, just bring me free firewood.

I tried to buy a new wood stove for a "single mom needs help" situation on another internet forum, a few years back. I was just the guy with the funds, I think some other more local members were available to help her with the installation, and she had a source for firewood.

But at least for me, it was a lesson in why some people routinely find themselves in these situations. Between not responding, throwing up unnecessary obstacles, and changing her mind a dozen times, she made it impossible for us to actually follow through with the help she had requested.

I wouldn't have cared so much, except for the fact that she had a young kid also living with her in a house with no heat, in Canada. I knew some kids who lived a winter or two in a house with no heat or hot water down here in PA, and even that was rough.

 

[4570Man]

That's nice looking firewood!

It wasn't so long ago that you were taking logs from the tree guys and selling firewood.

The firewood is selling for almost the same price now as it was back then.