Author Topic: Combined threads on firewood (Read 5618 times)

Timberwerks · « **on:** August 10, 2005, 09:34:57 am »

How do you guys dry your wood? I've done bucking a let dry for 1 year before splitting. Also bucking, splitting and then drying for the year. I and my customers prefer the look of the recently split wood compared to the wood that has been split for a year. What do you guy's do?

Dale

beenthere · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2005, 10:18:03 am »

It will dry faster if split, rather than unsplit. So it is a trade-off, IMO. Need to satisfy the customer, and only get in a pinch if the customer wants both, dry wood and fresh split.

I split mine as soon as possible, which sometimes is not right away.

Tobacco Plug · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2005, 01:15:15 pm »

If you can store your freshly split firewood under a shelter out of the wind and rain, say inside a barn or something, your wood will look pretty and still be dry. We used to keep our firewood inside and old log tobacco barn and it looked like freshly split wood when we took it out to burn. Nowadays, I don't bother with putting it in a barn, this was something my father insisted on doing. He said that the wood would produce less creosote that way.

ohsoloco · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2005, 04:09:16 pm »

I use beenthere's method of splitting it as soon as I can, then rank it on pallets and leave it sit uncovered. In the fall when I start to burn it I grab the big tarp out of the shed and cover it up so I always have dry wood.

Part_Timer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2005, 08:14:31 pm »

I do it the same way. I slpit as soon as I can then stack it on scraps from the mill to keep it off the ground. Then when I bring it up to the deck in the fall I toss the scraps on top and use it kindling

Tom

rebocardo · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2005, 04:37:05 am »

I cut my firewood before I stack it so

a) I handle it less
b) it dries faster
c) it helps kill the bugs, especially if they are under the bark

mike_van · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:44:00 am »

I don't sell anymore, my back can just about handle the 10 cord we use between 2 houses. My log pile just grows all year, in the spring, I split & stack. One house has a wood shed, mine gets stacked in rows & covered with old metal roofing on top, sides are open all summer on an old concrete slab. Works good, woods always dry by fall.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2005, 06:37:26 am »

Mine gets cut in June-July and dries in the hot sun until mid september and the ends are all checked. I don't have creasote problems. I don't consider it green when I burn it because the bark comes away from the wood and it has large open checks. Sure starts easy when I use it. This year my new wood will be stacked in the basement furthest away so I'll be burning last years wood first. It doesn't take long for the new wood to dry even further.

theonlybull · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2005, 10:14:04 pm »

we cut our when the snow's on and the grounds froze. then we junk as soon as the snow melts. it then gets split and piled to dry till early sept. it's allways nice and dry.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #9 on:** August 16, 2005, 08:02:13 pm »

I get plenty of Elm, Maple, Ash from my local Tree Services but I would like to get some Hickory, Cherry, Walnut, and Oak. These are not trees people have removed in my area. Where can I find and buy logs to use for firewood? What is the average cost and quantity I would need to purchase? I do not have a forklift but I can arange to have a skid loader here if needed. Any suggestions and help is apreciated.

Dale

Don_Papenburg · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2005, 11:13:13 pm »

If you can get elm and ash ,why would you want to burn cherry and walnut?

Jeff · « **Reply #11 on:** August 16, 2005, 11:19:34 pm »

yea, I dont understand that question at all. Your simply not going to find someone that is going to be selling firewood loads of cherry and walnut.

Buzz-sawyer · « **Reply #12 on:** August 16, 2005, 11:21:13 pm »

Are you looking for low grade walnut to saw?

Don_Papenburg · « **Reply #13 on:** August 16, 2005, 11:26:02 pm »

Even Low grade walnut makes for some nice looking wood. Unless your definition is rotted .

DanG · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2005, 12:01:19 am »

Seems like a reasonable question to me.

Timberwerks, have you checked with some of the small-scale loggers and land-clearing outfits in your area? The loggers don't sent the limbs to the mill, do they? Down here, land-clearing companies are usually glad to have firewood hunters reduce their burn piles, as long as they don't get in the way and delay the job.

The want ads sometimes have "free wood" ads, too. Ya never know what it is until ya call.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #15 on:** August 17, 2005, 08:43:36 am »

Hi Guy's

This is the main reason for other types of wood http://www.wisconsinfirewood.com/
I get calls from people who ask if I can supply them with an assortment of Oak, Cherry etc like Wisconsin Firewood can. I'd like to be able to say yes to a few. Wisconsin Firewood has a large marketing budget so they advertise in my area as well. I would like to offer my local customers the same types of wood. I explain to them that there is nothing wrong with Elm, Maple etc that I have a good supply of but they like the reputation that the other woods have as well. Oak and Cherry are the most asked for.

Dale

beenthere · « **Reply #16 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:02:53 am »

DanG has a good suggestion for you, if you have the means to 'collect' firewood from a logging site. You may get your hands on cherry that way, as Wisconsin doesn't have 'great' cherry logs for lumber, from what I hear. I have cherry on my place, and not a tree around that would make a respectable saw log, in size or in quality.

If I were looking into competing for the firewood market, I would look for the 'niche' that others can't provide, rather than try to be everything that the competitors say they have. One cherry in that big semi load being dumped would qualify it to be mixed with cherry. A local firewood producer sells white birch, almost exclusively. At one time, he thought his customers would really like some good hickory in with the birch. They complained - the fire lasted too long with the hickory. His customers are the Chicago area, where a bundle of wood is good for one fireplace fire in an evening. They want it out with no embers left before they retire for the night. The hickory apparently kept burning too long. Just pointing out some 'fussiness' on the part of customers.

Find your niche, that works for you, and do it well and you should succeed. Have you thought of setting up a vending spot like the vegatable and fruit growers do, on a street corner or in a vacant lot? Either bundles of wood, or a trailer load or pickup load with advertising may get you some added business. I'd assume you would have a delivered price, and a delivered and stacked price, as well as a 'will split at your site' price (and I think your 3½ hour job splitting for only $100 was giving the store away - read that in your previous posts last night

). Wish you well in your endeavor.

Jeff · « **Reply #17 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:11:58 am »

http://www.wisconsinfirewood.com/ must be doing quite well, or someone has some disposable income or a friend who does web design. That menu is pretty cool and would not be cheap to hire done.

I do notice they dont list walnut. I would think that a firewood dealer that does promote the fact that they sell walnut firewood would be questioned about it at every turn due to the general public's perception that walnut is gold with roots. We all know that birch is not a very good heat wood, and I suspect cherry isnt either but you see by thier website that they are out of both. Tells me that they are selling a lot to urban markets not for heating purposes but for decorative reasons. White birch looks good by the fire. Cherry makes a pretty fire.

DanG · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:59:15 am »

That is a neat website, for sure. I noticed in their "about us" section, they are getting their wood from tops and culls left behind by the loggers.

OneWithWood · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2005, 12:06:10 pm »

The idea of tying into consulting foresters, loggers, and landowners can work. I am working a property now that was recently logged. The landowner had it logged to make pasture for his horses. He wants all the tops broken down and the pile of end cuts removed. I hope to get enough wood to last me for this year and next. The material is predominantly white oak and hickory with a smattering of cherry. The loggers did not leave much of the cherry lying around.

Gabby · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2005, 12:51:12 pm »

As usual I've done things back-as wards. For years I would order a load of cull logs from a local logger for firewood to supplement what I cut on my own property. I notice alot of cherry, hard maple, oak that looked like they might make small logs for a mill. What a shame to cut them for firewood. A bolt of lighning struck! I bought a band sawmill. Only took me about 12 years to figure this out! Now the firewood I sell covers the cost of the logs delivered, gas for the saws and mill. About 15-20% of the "culls" become lumber. Good luck in you search and as previously mentioned I hook up with a local logger. Be careful.

Ron Scott · « **Reply #21 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:54:56 pm »

Also in addition to what's already been mentioned, if you are located near State or National Forest system lands, check with them as they often have firewood areas available for thinning or cutting dead and downed wood.

ohsoloco · « **Reply #22 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:36:29 pm »

Ron made a very good point. Here in PA I think a fuelwood permit is $10 a cord. I'll burn walnut if I have some to get rid of, but I'd rather burn cherry...I think it makes a nice hot fire that lasts a long time. I can throw a few big chunks of cherry in the woodstove and still have lots of good coals in the morning

My firewood pile (for my home heating) is mostly oak, with the occasional ash, hickory, and cherry thrown in.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #23 on:** August 17, 2005, 04:08:19 pm »

Thanks for your input everyone. I'm going to start making some phone calls and see what I can come up with. Even though Wisconsin Firewood does not list Walnut I thought it might be worth listing. One tree service I know did a lot clearing last year and removed about a dozen small Walnut trees. The land owner had them cut for firewood since they were on the small side for milling. I'm kind of hoping a situation like this comes up again but the owner wants all trees off the property. Bottom line is I enjoy the firewood buisiness and I would like to offer my area the best selection and service I can. It's hard work but I really enjoy it and learning more about the buissiness.

Thanks Again Everyone
Dale

Timberwerks · « **Reply #24 on:** August 18, 2005, 04:13:17 pm »

Does anyone know off a good reference page for these measurements? I explain to callers what each unit is but I would like to give them a visual reference. Some sites I have seen focus mainly on the measurement of a cord. Some people that call are confused about the size of a face cord vs a half cord.

Thanks
Dale

dave7191 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 18, 2005, 04:38:56 pm »

A cord is 4x4x8 or 128 square feet of wood here in mo if you sold a cord it had to equall 128 sq. ft now a face cord is two ricks or ranks depending on your location from of what ever lenght wood you've cut that stack 4ft high and 8 ft long of corse a 1/2 cord equalls 64 square ft.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #26 on:** August 18, 2005, 04:54:32 pm »

Thanks Dave

I actually no the units very well. It's the customers I sometimes get that have never bought wood before that are confused. I explain the size of the stacks to them but they still seem a little confused. I'd like to find a site that has an actuall visual drawing or picture of each unit. I would draw out a page of reference myself but I think an existing or established reference page would be more comfortable for people to view. This way they can rest sure these are standard measurements in the US.

Thanks for your help,
Dale

Bro. Noble · « **Reply #27 on:** August 18, 2005, 05:14:58 pm »

A rick, rank, or face cord isn't a standard measurement. It is a stack 4' lhigh, 8' long, by however long you cut your sticks of wood------14", 16", 18" or whatever. I think it is illegal to advertise wood in Mo. by the rank or rick. Seems like I've seen that notice in the classified where they advertise firewood.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #28 on:** August 18, 2005, 06:02:29 pm »

Quote from: Bro. Noble on August 18, 2005, 05:14:58 pm

I think it is illegal to advertise wood in Mo. by the rank or rick. Seems like I've seen that notice in the classified where they advertise firewood.

I think I heard that somewhere to. I wonder if saying 1/3 cord is acceptable?

Dale

Ron Scott · « **Reply #29 on:** August 18, 2005, 06:03:38 pm »

Firewood can only be sold by the cord or fraction of a cord and should be explained to the buyer as such as to what part of 128 cubic feet (full cord) you are selling. If you are decribing your wood in nonstandard measures, be sure to explain the length of the cut pieces to equate to fractional cords based on the full cord 128 cu ft. measure.

http://www.brocktonmass.com/weights/wood.html

http://www.jwiwood.com/faq/rick.html

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #30 on:** August 18, 2005, 07:29:16 pm »

You're selling firewood by the cord, but the customer has no idea what you are talking about. You have to talk at his level.

A cord of wood weighs about 3 tons. So, a face cord is probably about a pickup truck load. 1/2 cord is a big pickup load. A full cord would be hauled in a small dump.

You can use other forms of measurement, but when you write the bill, just write it in cords.

Gunny · « **Reply #31 on:** August 18, 2005, 08:25:41 pm »

TW:

Ron's nailed it pretty well and it might be easiest for you to just create a small flyer right off your computer to use as an aid for your customers. (You might even provide a list of those species you have available and the total BTUs/cord output, etc.) The "rik" has long been a "standard" 1/3 cord (16" logs stacked 4' high by 8' long) in these parts and an old Russian imigrant from north of Big Rapids used to come into my store (where I sold both "riks" and "racks" (half-riks) throughout the mid- '70s to early '80s) and share his stories of delivering riks of firewood into town with his horse and sleigh during the Great Depression.

The key--and I say this as the past-president (1980-'83) of the Michigan Wood Heat Organization--is in communication. If you deliver and charge for a "rik", your customer is going to expect at least that amount, no matter how he/she stacks it. I always tried to leave a little more than paid for, just for safety's sake.

Best of luck. I've walked several miles in your mocassins.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #32 on:** August 18, 2005, 08:51:58 pm »

Thanks for the replies. I think from now on I will refer to a face cord a 1/3 cord. Ron, the last link you gave give's a good discription of Rick, Rack and Face. I think I'll copy and print that. All my logs are 16"- 20" and I stack in 1/3 cords. I even toss in a few extra myself. I get people that are very surprised about the amount of wood I bring them (new customers). I always overflow the area they had set aside based on previous deliveries from others. It takes more work for me to stack inbetween post's rather than pile everyting but it's worth it. Everthing is acurate and dry

Dale

Ron Scott · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2005, 10:49:28 am »

It's always good to throw in a few extra pieces to make up for the "air space" and shrinkage.

Your customers apprerciate this and you will retain them and get more business by "word of mouth" through them.

rebocardo · « **Reply #34 on:** August 19, 2005, 09:35:55 pm »

How I break it down for people:

1/2 a cord (64 cubic feet) is what a full sized 8 foot bed Ford F-150 or Dodge 3500 holds
1/3 a cord (42 cubic feet) is what a full sized Chevy or 6 foot bed holds
1/4 a cord (32 cubic feet) is what a Ford Ranger or mini pickup truck holds

These are dried white oak weights up to the bed rails with cubic feet being taken off to account for rail height and wheelwells. If green, cut the amount carried in 1/2. Many trucks (especially 2x4s) are limited by spring capacity and can't hold nearly as much as the bed would allow.

beenthere · « **Reply #35 on:** August 19, 2005, 10:23:42 pm »

""These are dried white oak weights .....""

rebocardo
I don't see what you are referring to as 'weights'

Isn't it volume, and would be independent of the species of wood?

IMO these are the kinds of 'units' that just add to the confusion of what a 'cord' is. I could be wrong, but seems when someone pulls up with a Toyota, the 'guidelines' fall apart.

Measurement stacked and measured firewood is best, in the end, I think.

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #36 on:** August 20, 2005, 08:23:04 am »

Although volume is how firewood is measured, weight has a lot to do with hauling. The state doesn't care if you have a 1/2 cord or a full cord of wood in the back of your pickup. They do care if you are over the weight limit.

Customers can grasp the weight concept a lot quicker than they can the cord concept. Then you get into such factors as split volume vs unsplit volume.

Personally, I think weight is a better measurement of Btus than cord volume. The only factor there is the green vs dry. Too many variations within the cord measurements. 1 pound of hardwoods have 8,000 Btus, if I recall correctly.

Anytime anyone wants to sell a cord of firewood and brings it in a pickup truck, you know you've been taken for a ride.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #37 on:** August 20, 2005, 08:53:25 am »

Next year when I have my fliers printed I will replace face cord with 1/3 cord. After looking in the local papers I see so many if not all firewood sellers using the term face cord. If this is not a legal measurement I no longer want to use it. I can see now how come some people get shorted when buying. Only a few of these sellers stated the logs are 16" in length.

I can get a half cord of wood in my F-350 with the addition of 16" rails. This is just tossing the wood in the bed. On my lot I use fence T posts spread 8' apart and 4' tall to stack and measure. I also have a small area where they are 4' and 2' apart because some calls I get are for small orders. I was calling these 1/2 face cords and 1/4 face cords, now I got to fiqure out the right term to use for these. I wish I was better at math

Dale

sawguy21 · « **Reply #38 on:** August 20, 2005, 09:06:50 am »

"Anytime anyone wants to sell a cord of firewood and brings it in a pickup truck, you know you've been taken for a ride."
Unfortunately, that is all too common. The fly by nighters are notorious for that here because the consumers have no idea what a cord is.
Thanks to all for the explanation of the terms. I had no idea what a face cord is.

beenthere · « **Reply #39 on:** August 20, 2005, 10:04:38 am »

Timberworks
Your face cord (1/3 cord) divided in ½ would be 1/6 cord, and divided in ¼'s would be 1/12 cord, I believe. (remember when we were told to divide a fraction, first invert and then multiply?

)

UrbanLogger · « **Reply #40 on:** August 20, 2005, 11:44:23 am »

Just to clarify . . .

I have personally put a "1/3" face cord--16" x 4' x 8' in the short bed of my 4x4 Toyota Pickup.

This was split and dried and rounded just above the bed rails in the middle.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #41 on:** August 20, 2005, 03:33:16 pm »

I've noticed firewood adds where there is an extra charge for Oak. Cherry, Hickory etc. I have a couple nice woods such as Beech and Locust, should I charge more and keep these seperate? Or should I supply everyone with a good mix of woods and have pricing just based on amount? I leaning more towards a good mix for everyone and charge based on amount. This would even apply to when I have Oak and Cherry as well. I'll just mix a little of everthing in the order. This way everyone will be happy. Perhaps I would raise the cost a couple dollars per unit because of the higher grade woods. What do you guy's think or do?

Dale

beenthere · « **Reply #42 on:** August 20, 2005, 03:48:49 pm »

Because it seems to be a bit of a dilema for you, I'd suggest mixing it. Then as you learn more about your customers, you will likely find out what they really want. You can let them know that it's mixed, but if they prefer more heat per cord, you could sort it and then let them know what extra you would charge, and calculate what extra it would be worth to them (in BTU's at the moisture content you dry it too). This will leave you with the less dense woods to peddle.

Then, if you do that, be aware of the customer who thinks "if he is sorting out the good wood for some customers, then this mix he is selling me has had the 'cream' taken off the top and the dense woods are not in there". So, you walk a narrow line of what is best. I think you need to decide more about what you can handle easily on your end, making your time and effort as efficient as possible, and then grow from there. Seems to me, you are 'over' managing your self which could possibly cause you to 'spin your wheels'.

Do you burn wood yourself?

Timberwerks · « **Reply #43 on:** August 20, 2005, 04:39:41 pm »

Quote from: beenthere on August 20, 2005, 03:48:49 pm

Seems to me, you are 'over' managing your self which could possibly cause you to 'spin your wheels'.

Do you burn wood yourself?

I think your right about over managing myself. I'm trying to focus on ways to build a good reputation for product and service. If I see someone doing something different such as type of woods or mix ratio and price I question why it is and if it is a better way.

Yes, my wife and I burn alot of wood. This is what got us into selling wood. We spent so much on wood in the past we fiqured why not do it ourselves and sell to others. I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I do. I am a furniture maker pretty much fulltime in the off season.

Dale

Gunny · « **Reply #44 on:** August 20, 2005, 05:50:27 pm »

TW:

I have to agree that you might be spending more time on wondering about marketing angles and less on gaining customers. I've sold and delivered beaucoup thousands of riks (my spelling since no one else ever spelled it for me in the past) and never ran into any of the problems you've cited. But then, your customers may not be as savvy as mine were to begin with.

The KEY is your personal integrity with each and every deal you make. Period.

I've since found lots of things I like doing better than producing fuel-sticks but the market should be growing even stronger now that the global fuels market has begun skyrocketing. Oddly, I got more per load back in the mid'70s than what delivered firewood gets these days here in mid-Michigan. (Bet the price soars when no one can afford their fuel oil or propane anymore, though.) And we have a nice thick woodlot just waiting in the shadows that could use a good thinning soon!

There are as many marketing ploys with your products as there are people who'll fall for them. But the bulk of your "meat-and-potatoes" business is probably going to be those folks who utilize your products to heat their homes and they'll be needing a full range of species since they'll use one for that quick early-morning blaze that takes the chill off a crispy October morning and others to bank the stove through the bleak and chilling winter months.

The customer who questions everything you're doing might well be the one you want to steer to your nearest competitor.

Be careful out there and remember: "Thumb Under, Always!"

Ron Scott · « **Reply #45 on:** August 21, 2005, 10:22:47 am »

Firewood consumers are getting smarter and learning what a cord of wood is or fractions thereof. I've been called in as an expert witness on recent court cases where the buyer has been "shorted the purchased volume" by the firewood seller.

Also, be sure that you deliver the species that you tell them you have. Don't tell the buyer oak and then pass off aspen or basswood, as was the situation in a most recent case. Buyers are checking species also.

billbobtlh · « **Reply #46 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:18:19 am »

Check out the new cord calculator. You cannot use weight as a figure for selling firewood. /http://www.firewoodcenter.com/

Murf · « **Reply #47 on:** August 22, 2005, 12:04:43 pm »

There's a garden center near me that sells a pretty good amount of firewood, I was talking to the owner the other day while my meesus was picking out some stuff. He was hard at work making up some firwood at the time and looked like he needed a break.

He had a clever way to make firewood sales a lot less arguementative. He made up a series of racks out of steel tubing, each rack was 4' x 8', had a hook in the top, and came apart into 4 pieces. He stacked the 16" long wood in each rack as it was split until it was full, at which point he could just pick it up with a forklift, loader or the crane on his delivery truck.

He claimed that the buyers were always happy because they could easily see what quantity he was delivering to them, and it was neat. He said most customers had a couple of pieces of 4"x4" that he could just set the wood on, and slide his rack out without disturbing the pile.

Wish I had my camera with me, it was a really slick setup.

beenthere · « **Reply #48 on:** August 22, 2005, 12:31:33 pm »

To add to that, maybe offer to sell a wood rack to the customer, that keeps his wood neat, and maybe keeps him coming back as a customer.

dave7191 · « **Reply #49 on:** August 22, 2005, 03:12:33 pm »

Got to disagre with you that you cann't put a cord of wood on a pickup If you know how to stack it it can be done I didn't do it very often because you couldn't get that extra wheel brower load over a cord on and that was how i figured a cord A cord is figured on weight a lot of the time for simi loads I:M thinking it's 3800 to 4200 but may be wrong it's been a few years I wouldn't load a cord of green wood on a pickup it's just a little to much
Dave

Timberwerks · « **Reply #50 on:** August 22, 2005, 05:32:49 pm »

Quote from: billbobtlh on August 22, 2005, 11:18:19 am

Check out the new cord calculator. You cannot use weight as a figure for selling firewood. /http://www.firewoodcenter.com/

Thanks for the site. I just added myself to the sellers listing

Dale

rebocardo · « **Reply #51 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:57:44 am »

Actually it was weights and measurements, but I decided not to add the weight part to the listing since I did not want to dis

any particular model because of their weight limits. I should have used "measurements", just a typo.

I thought the size of the pickup bed would keep it about equal (visual aid) and people could use their common sense about not loading it until the springs snapped.

FWIW: I have only one Toyota customer (small truck) and it does not hold as much weight as the 80s Rangers (2.3L 4 cyl) a couple of customers bring around. Even though the beds are about the same size, its almost as useless as a Chevy Avalanche, with a bed cover, for firewood.

The older Chevy trucks can hold wood until it goes over the bed rails without dragging the bumper over my curb

The only trucks I have had in my yard that were limited only by bed size where the Dodge 3500 (big beds) and Ford F-350s. One of the newer F-350s with DRW and the high bed sides took 3/4 of a cord and did not even move the springs as far as I could see.

I have found the table I posted, which I give over the phone to customers, helps them from getting ripped off by the "pickup load for $150" or "face cords" even if they do not buy from me. I get calls from people wanting to know what I mean by "cord".

I like the previous post about the firewood rack on the truck. Wish I had that type of truck, I would just drop off the whole 1/2 cord rack. When I build firewood racks for customers I do it by the 1/2 cord so when I dump it and they stack it, they always know I gave them extra wood

beenthere · « **Reply #52 on:** August 23, 2005, 10:49:31 am »

What 'size' is a 1/2 cord rack?

woodbowl · « **Reply #53 on:** August 23, 2005, 01:26:14 pm »

I've often wondered how wood is positioned in the cord. Say you have a cord of wood made up with big straight logs and small straight logs in the spaces. That seems to be a tight fit measure. VS a thrown together pile of all sorts of logs that are bowed, knotty, swell butt ect. with visible spaces. ........What is the standard configuration for what a measured cord (128cf) is? It is clear that there is more actual wood in the first example than in the second.

Murf · « **Reply #54 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:08:36 pm »

In my case a 1/2 cord rack is 4' high and 12' long. That works out for us 'cause we cut 16" long, and 'cause that's how long the wall I stack against in the garage is.

If it was 12" long stuff, it would have to be 4' high an 16' long.

Basically just divide 64 (cubic feet in a half cord) by the length of yer' wood, and again by the height of the rack. Just remember to use the lenght as a number of feet not inches, so 16" would be 1.25 feet instead.

Here in Kanader, they define a cord as 128 cubic feet of neatly stacked wood. A heap of wood is just a big mess, literally.

Tom · « **Reply #55 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:15:16 pm »

How much is a Heap of wood?

Oh! and while I'm being inquisitive, how much is a mess? ........or is a Heap a mess? or....... What part of a whack is a Heap" uh..... is a whack a mess too? Hmm-mm Kevin needs to get into this.

am I confusing myself? 'Scuse me while I go take a nap and get it all back together again.

Murf · « **Reply #56 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:23:21 pm »

Tom, you fellers down there in "warm winters'ville" just don't know 'bout firewood much.

It's like this;

A mess of firewood is a loose scattering 'bout knee-high an' usually right where it got tossed outta da' pick-me-up truck.....

A heap of firewood is similar, but it's usually taller, 'round 'bout waist-high, often a dually-dump load......

A whack of firewood is taller'n a heap by far, usually 'bout shoulder high, and prolly' came outta da back of a 5 ton or bigger truck......

Sheesh, this is all basic wood heatin' stuff, mebbe Kevin or Da' Boss needs ta put on a seminar fer ya'll down there.

Tom · « **Reply #57 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:36:06 pm »

I guess we do talk a different language. Firewood to us is what's left after a running fire gets loose in a tall understory and then crowns when the wind changes and burns back the other way. It's more of a salvage job than a creative thing.

We might have to assign an interpreter or two..... or three for the forum. What with all the different thinking and sayin' we got going on here.

By the way.... Did you know that the Three Wise Men were Firemen? Yep! I know, cause...the Bible says they come from a Far.

Murf · « **Reply #58 on:** August 23, 2005, 05:14:48 pm »

....... a far .......

That's only two thirds of a pun Tom.

P U !!!

redpowerd · « **Reply #59 on:** August 24, 2005, 03:42:27 pm »

murf, id love to see how that 'lil firewood caddy the storeowner uses works!

Murf · « **Reply #60 on:** August 24, 2005, 04:00:58 pm »

It's kinda late in the year for venturing off to the garden center, but it's not far outta the way to the feed mill, I'll try and make sure the cameras charged and in the truck when I go that way next.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #61 on:** August 27, 2005, 08:53:12 am »

I posted this question awhile back and I learned about Farber bags. This seems like a good place to go with, except for the fact that the most suitable bag for firewood is their onion bag. The onion bag is a little longer and wider than I expected. Is there any other companies that someone knows of that has other size bags of similar material? I've seen a few gas stations now thar are selling firewood in these bags but I have had no luck finding out where the bags come from.

The plastic wrap bundles aren't showing up as often as they used to. Is the trend switching to the burlap/mesh type bags?

Dale

Frank_Pender · « **Reply #62 on:** August 27, 2005, 09:24:17 am »

My uneducated guess is that the wrap material does not shrink along with the wood and therefore becomes real lose? I find that the bundles that I make with bailing twine shrink as the wood become more dry and the bundles get handled more and readjusted. My bundles ewqual 1.5 cubic feet and I try to sell them for $5 and bundle.

It takes 22 bundles for a ric and 66 for a cord.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #63 on:** August 27, 2005, 11:15:58 am »

This is an interesting enterprise. You guys must have some good markets in your area to be able to sell firewood like this. I used to see bundles of kindling at gas stations, but haven't for a few years now.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #64 on:** August 27, 2005, 11:36:54 am »

Quote from: SwampDonkey on August 27, 2005, 11:15:58 am

This is an interesting enterprise. You guys must have some good markets in your area to be able to sell firewood like this. I used to see bundles of kindling at gas stations, but haven't for a few years now.

Every gas station, grocery store or garden center around here has the packaged bundles for sale. I've talked to a few of the store managers and they say they always sell out. Camping season is a busy time for sales. The stores in my area say they would be happy buying from me since I am in the area and I can re-stock them on short notice. This is only about 8 stores or so but I fiqure it's worth giving it a try.

Can anyone offer tips on pricing? The typical bag sells for $5.00 and has about 8-10 logs in them. I'm not sure if I should offer the stores a percentage of sales and collect after sales are made? Or if I should sell them whosale? I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask what they do now but I'd like to gain more knowledge on this first. What do you guy's do that are into the pakage sales?

Dale

Frank_Pender · « **Reply #65 on:** August 27, 2005, 07:05:10 pm »

I am still waiting to see where to purchase the bags.

Bibbyman · « **Reply #66 on:** August 27, 2005, 07:49:16 pm »

I wanted some bags like that one time to package ear corn to sale to people with squirrel feeders. I went to a grocer and he had all kinds they used for produce. Sold me a 100 bundle. I bet your local grocer could tell you where he gets them.

Or do a search on "mesh bags" +firewood Got 2500 hits on Yahoo.

farmerdoug · « **Reply #67 on:** August 27, 2005, 09:28:14 pm »

Fank,

Check with the produce packaging supply houses. Here is one to start you out.

http://montepkg.com/index.asp

Farmerdoug

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #68 on:** August 28, 2005, 07:19:59 am »

One feller from the city wanted burlap bags for cone collecting. I asked if he was ever near a spud farm. I said you need to leave the city and come to Carleton county in spud country. Farmers here have hundreds on hand, I'm sure they could sell ya a bundle.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #69 on:** August 28, 2005, 08:48:56 am »

After thinking about this some more perhaps the onion bags from Farber will be a good choice. These are a mesh type material with an open weave. If I went with a burlap type of closed weave I would not get air flow. The longer length bag would also give me plenty of room to tie it off.

Thanks Guy's
Dale

bull · « **Reply #70 on:** August 28, 2005, 01:53:01 pm »

I bought the onion bags from farber bag *( red 18.5 x 36 )* seem to be ok. I have a stamp to print the buisness name on them and a sharpie Marker to write the price, amount and type of wood. The bags are a little long but you don't have to fill them full. The owners of the stores where i sell,told me most people were buying two packs *( 1 cubic ft )* when we were selling the strapped bundles. @ $6.00 each.. We will be pricing the bags at $10.00 each about 2 cubic ft. also different species ie: mixed soft wood, mixed hardwood, Campfire wood, etc. And cooking woods; hickory, apple, white oak..... Kindling and the well sought after " clinkers" any size under 9' inch for the top fed stoves.
Bulk cordwood is selling for $ 135 GREEN and $175 SEASONED per cord !!!!
Bagged firewood will be $640 a cord SEASONED.
some of the stores will mark it up even higher..

I called Farber and spoke w/ frank he sent me a sample bag before i made a purchase. I now have 1000 bags if you want i may be willing to sell a few ----- hundred ...

Timberwerks · « **Reply #71 on:** August 28, 2005, 04:41:48 pm »

Quote from: bull on August 28, 2005, 01:53:01 pm

I called Farber and spoke w/ frank he sent me a sample bag before i made a purchase. I now have 1000 bags if you want i may be willing to sell a few ----- hundred ...

I may take you up on that. He sent me samples of the new and used bags a couple months ago. I just happend to Email them this morning asking for cost on the new and if they would sell as little as 100 so I can try them out. Can you Email me what you would want for 100 bags? I'm not sure if Farber will be willing to do a small trail order like that.

Thanks
dale9091@aol.com

ARKANSAWYER · « **Reply #72 on:** August 28, 2005, 05:53:21 pm »

http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-8423&root=&keywords=s-8423

They have other size bags as well. I use streatch wrap that is 6 inches wide. I stack the wood in a 5 gal bucket that is cut off half way up. I wrap the streatch wrap a few times then flip the bucket over and do the other side of the bundle. Works well for no more then I do. I put a business card in every bundle between some wraps. Uline has other bags and sizes as well as the streatch wrap.

Timberwerks · « **Reply #73 on:** August 28, 2005, 08:51:24 pm »

Well, I'm going to give the bagged bundles a try. How many logs does a typical bundle have? I've seen anywhere from 8 up to 16 or so. Some of these logs are rather small. Is there a standard unit of measure for these?

Dale

Timberwerks · « **Reply #74 on:** September 01, 2005, 03:47:35 pm »

I currently just sell to residential customers but I would like to learn more about the wholesale market. Reason being I just saw an add on firewood.com for someone looking for 500-600 face cords for next year

. How does wholesale pricing differ from what I get here? In my area I sell mixed hardwood at $75.00 a 1/3 cord with free delivery. I'm actually on the low side of the price per 1/3 cord, in my area $85 - $95 is typical. I'd like to expand but I'm not sure if wholesale is the right move for me. If I did this full time I could most likely produce 600 cords a year easy. The thing I would have to research is shipping and related costs. All comments welcome.

Dale

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #75 on:** September 01, 2005, 05:35:38 pm »

I know a couple of brothers producing firewood with a processor. They said they put up about 400 cords a year. The wood is cut in winter months. I bought my wood from them this year because I couldn't get the wood trucked. Most loggers complain about the truckers complaining.

Rockn H · « **Reply #76 on:** September 01, 2005, 05:40:17 pm »

We used to haul some firewood to texas. We always used 6" shrink wrap. Had two 2x4 frame in the shape of a u about 12" apart and just wrapped the 12" of wood in the middle. It was pretty fast but I imagine throwing it in a bag would be faster. Although shrink wrap is pretty cheap.

Maurice Wilson · « **Reply #77 on:** January 05, 2012, 11:24:23 pm »

Quote from: Timberwerks on August 27, 2005, 08:53:12 am

I posted this question awhile back and I learned about Farber bags. This seems like a good place to go with, except for the fact that the most suitable bag for firewood is their onion bag. The onion bag is a little longer and wider than I expected. Is there any other companies that someone knows of that has other size bags of similar material? I've seen a few gas stations now thar are selling firewood in these bags but I have had no luck finding out where the bags come from.

The plastic wrap bundles aren't showing up as often as they used to. Is the trend switching to the burlap/mesh type bags?

Dale

contact Bag Supplies Canada in Stratford Ontario, they supply net bags of many sizes and colours for firewood.

Magicman · « **Reply #78 on:** January 06, 2012, 08:13:06 am »

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Maurice Wilson.

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Author Topic: Combined threads on firewood (Read 5618 times)