Actual cost of firewood

[majorwager]

4570 Man.
Not sure of point, did not read a statement that any purchase drops to zero unless that is the vaule. As for the 20K+ number, believe that includes the tractor, but for fairness should include only the proportional use of the tractor for firewood harvesting Similar to renting the tractor from your other uses by the hour. Possible to assign a hourly rate cost for each activity utilizing the tractor to cover the total outlay. Or forget the whole thing because thinking about the firewood cost seems to be inducing acute headache syndrome. I do believe most harvesting firewood have considerably more than $1K invested. Bottom line, be happy with your efforts, don't worry about threads that question the costs.

 

[goeduck]

Not practical, would need a large body of water. I think it would freeze up.

Even though geo lines are underground, the ground temp around the loop gets colder as you extract heat from the ground. After a long cold spell, the water in the loop can get down to freezing. You need antifreeze in the loop. Heat pump refrigerant works on a temperature and volume difference.

There are DX geo units, along your thought, that have an outdoor unit and bury copper refrigerent lines in the ground. I looked at an installation once. I didn't like the concept.

Dang, for a while there I thought maybe I could drop some cables off of my dock and relocate and dangle the outdoor unit in the saltwater. Large body of water that does not freeze with good circulation (really good in a storm).

Do barnacles make for good heat transfer?

 

[majorwager]

Second half,
You adequately stated that "everyone comes on a thread with a different perspective" Dilly Dilly

 

[goeduck]

I致e read it痴 a tube inside a larger tube. Picture a straw inside a larger pipe that I assume is several feet long. I think the Freon is inside the smaller pipe and the water in the larger pipe. The equipment all looks different than a heat pump.

Kind of sounds a coax cable. I wonder what the expected life of the tube is and if the antifreeze is sufficient anti corrosion protection. Replacing the tube obviously would be a PITA.

 

[4570Man]

4570 Man.
Not sure of point, did not read that any purchase drops to zero unless that is the vaule. As for the 20K number, believe that includes the tractor, but for fairness should include the proportional use of the tractor for firewood harvesting Similar to renting the tractor from your other uses by the hour. Possible to assign a hourly rate cost for each activity utilizing the tractor to cover the total outlay. Or forget the whole thing because thinking about the firewood cost seems to be inducing headache syndrome. I do believe most harvesting firewood have considerably more than $1K invested. Bottom line, be happy with your efforts, don't worry about threads that question the costs.

There was some information in that post not gathered in this thread. Operating cost of equipment is equally if not a more mind boggling task than firewood cost. I along with most people have more than $1000 invested in firewood equipment, but I believe you could cut a years supply of wood in timely manner with $1000 in equipment. That’s assuming you already have a pickup truck and are buying a used splitter and new saw with the $1000. You’re going to need a few other things like a wheelbarrow, cant hook, gas cans, and safety equipment. Maybe you’ll be in this one for $1500, but most of it could be recouped.

 

[4570Man]

I don’t think LD1 is wrong, but I don’t think it’s exactly fair either. Look how much the miles on your vehicle would be worth if you were a taxi driver or look how much the meal you cooked for your family was worth if you were a restaurant.

 

[Creamer]

There was some information in that post not gathered in this thread. Operating cost of equipment is equally if not a more mind boggling task than firewood cost. I along with most people have more than $1000 invested in firewood equipment, but I believe you could cut a years supply of wood in timely manner with $1000 in equipment. That’s assuming you already have a pickup truck and are buying a used splitter and new saw with the $1000. You’re going to need a few other things like a wheelbarrow, cant hook, gas cans, and safety equipment. Maybe you’ll be in this one for $1500, but most of it could be recouped.

I for one have cut wood for 25 years and do not have near $1000 in equipment. Of course some of it was "re-purposed" and other was built from scratch and I do not have a powered splitter which is usually a big share of the cost. My tractor came with the house so i would have it anyway. My pallet forks I bought for other reasons but like everyone says how do you live without them and they work great for firewood and logs too. Basically it is my saw - which I needed for other reasons anyway - and the tools to maintain the saw, i.e. file. Hatchets and wedges and little ole me. I have as much money in screws for reinforcing the shipping box and building a sawbuck as I do anything.

Oh I did have a wood splitter until it gave out on me.

 

[LD1]

Do you have a thread on your geothermal install? I'd like to hear more about the details.

This is a good start.

Never did post final pics of everything. but I imagine it looks like any other HVAC system

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...geothermal-plumbing.html?highlight=Geothermal

 

[jcmaurice6]

I use for heating my shop 90% wood and the rest with electric heating, I cut my own wood and that why it is probably worth it. And also it is another reason to play with my tractor! One small wood stove it ok for thr 20"x40" even if the insulation is not so good.

 

[goeduck]

I use for heating my shop 90% wood and the rest with electric heating, I cut my own wood and that why it is probably worth it. And also it is another reason to play with my tractor! One small wood stove it ok for thr 20"x40" even if the insulation is not so good.

That is a very nice shop! I could live in something that nice.