Posted by Billy NY on December 04, 2014 at 07:37:54 from (66.67.105.23):
In Reply to: firewood posted by Nick167 on December 03, 2014 at 18:12:51:
In simple terms, you need to plan ahead, cut and split well ahead of the heating season, as the demand for it will usually be there and you will get top dollar for it.
I can give an example of what I see locally. Last winter the snow was plentiful, as was the cold weather. Sellers of firewood I know or others I have spoken too, most had sold out mide to late last season and it was in high demand at that time. There are some larger suppliers with processors, not sure how it went for them with larger quantities. Demand for seasoned firewood in February was high from what I heard from various sellers.
I know of many who buy green firewood in the spring, at a discount, depending on what it is. They stack and let it season until its needed in the fall. I think the consensus is that for the buyer, this is an ideal time to get the best price. So you can get some cash flow from those customers at that time, or wait until its seasoned and then offer it for sale for a higher price.
Last winter was certainly cold and snowy, and this year, the ads listed in CL for firewood have increased quite a bit, from free wood, left by a tree service, hardwood, pine, as well as many homeowners listing wood from tree removal, cut split, stacked, short log length blocked, and prices vary, by the pile, by the measured cord, or whatever, buyer beware. There were some ads with ridiculous prices, most were reasonable, but the numbers of ads have at minimum doubled, given people recognize the need and or the value of making a few extra bucks for un-needed wood. Pine sells, usually in the summer for camp firewood, but it does sell, $100 cord and I firmly believe if you sold it as kindling or had neat seasoned stacks of it, someone would want it throughout the year, I do burn some of it, mix it in, no creosote problems, but its well seasoned and I keep the flue temp up. Early and late season wood, like poplar, willow or any of those that burn hot and fast. I think if you bundled kindling, it would sell too, as you do need to have some of that, though well seasoned split firewood, will usually ignite on a small bed of coals, not everyone has wood that is that dry. We had some in an enclosed shed for years, all hardwood, maple, ash, apple, cherry, split smaller, look at it wrong and it ignites LOL. 3-4 years seasoned.
I have quite a bit, given the land, but I barely have enough time to do my own, and in reserve for the other place if it was needed, though the wood lot and fence rows should easily support that place. I honestly don't think with a common hydraulic splitter I could make enough in a timely manner, beyond what I need, to sell, though I have not tried, one would need to put in lots of full days to get it done, and given many of the logs may not be suitable for a processor anyway, it can be a bit slow. Also remember the labor intensity of the work, avoiding working off the ground and all the rest, one is wise to "tool up" for the task, and some simple ones will make the work much more tolerable. I think at best, unless you buy truck loads of firewood logs, and have invested in a processor, which at some point the investment could be profitable depending on sales, + a suitable truck for delivery, and or other means, its just a seasonal paycheck requiring a lot of time and significant labor, but if you have to the time, and do not need it, you will make a paycheck for your work at minimum.
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