Author Topic: Firewood prices (Read 17880 times)

Frickman · « **on:** November 12, 2007, 08:24:18 pm »

A while back, maybe a couple years or so, there was a discussion here about firewood prices. I remember someone, I think it was Ron W., say that a cord of firewood should be priced about the same as one hundred gallons of heating oil. I might be twisting the facts a little, but it was along these lines. If it was priced more than that, the customer is better off just buying oil.

I bring this up because my local competition is selling firewood for $120.00 to $140.00 / cord, dry oak and cherry. Heating oil is up around $3.00 / gallon. I can't understand why my competition doesn't raise their prices some. If nothing else, their expenses for making it have gone up. This is forcing me to keep my price low. I'm only selling downfall we generate around the mill, I'm not really in the firewood business in a big way. I would still like to make a couple of bucks at it. Have any of you been able to raise your price this year?

Furby · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2007, 08:26:40 pm »

I'd just keep your price up and wait for the others to run out.

You should be able to sell for your price a bit later in the season!

bull · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2007, 09:05:17 pm »

keep your price up... maybe you can educate your competion.... I am selling at $250.00, haven't seen $ 140 in over 5 years,,,,,, 1 cord equals 100 gallons of #2 fuel oil which just hit 3.05 on friday and is still climbing.... most likley will stay at $250.00,,, wood is all ready to go, my cost of goods hasn't gone up.... May need a delivery charge ( fuel surcharge) if gas prices continue to climb...

Warbird · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2007, 09:08:34 pm »

$250.00 per cord? Is that slab wood or split wood that wasn't good enough to mill?

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2007, 09:15:21 pm »

Firewood around here is over $200, sometimes much more. I can't see how anyone can make a go of it at $120-$140. That was prices from at least five years ago, when fuel was cheaper.

Dave

Frickman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2007, 09:57:04 pm »

Yesterday's Sunday paper had a number of ads for $120.00 to $140.00, DELIVERED AND STACKED. I can't see how they do it. And not all these sellers are fly-by-night outfits trying to make beer money. Down along the highway is a fruit market that brought in cherry poles, cut and split them on site, and are selling it for $60.00 / truckload. That's about 1/2 cord. A good, good friend of mine, the owner of a big sawmill, put in a firewood processor last winter. He is selling it picked up at his yard for $40.00 / truckload. That's about $80.00 / cord for mixed hardwoods. If you bring a dump truck the high lift will load you. If you have a pickup you can load it by hand.

If I had the room I would go buy some and stockpile it. As it is I don't have alot of space right at the mill, so I like to keep things moving. I have plenty of room around the farm, but it entails more handling. Of course, for a couple hundred a cord maybe I can throw firewood around a little.

I sell it by the box, a half-cord box if you measured it. It makes a full-size pickup load. If you have a Ranger, like I do, you make a second trip. I don't guarantee a half-cord, as it is thrown in loose. I hump it up a little though to give you a good deal. I have a box of cutup slabwood, 16" long, mostly tulip poplar, with a little maple, sitting there at $25.00. It's been siting there for two weeks. It was green, and it's poplar, but it's only $25.00. I can't sell it. The boxes of cut and split are $50.00. It can be from six to sixteen inches long, any species, including tulip poplar, green or dry, I throw it in, and I only sell a box a week if that. It's just a way to clean up the yard every Saturday, I'm not going out of my way to make firewood. Maybe I should just raise the price and hold on to it until the snow gets deep.

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2007, 10:56:45 pm »

The trade offs we used as a rule of thumb was 1 cord of wood equals 100 gallons of heating oil or 1 ton of coal. What's coal going for in your area?

Other factors to consider is that a lot of people have turned to pellets. Pellets sell for about $250/ton and are a lot handier than having a pile of wood. That also means a few less stoves.

But, the prices you see advertised are for guys working for beer money. They have about 10 loads of wood, and they sell it and are out of the market. But, that price is etched into every wood buyers brain and is hard to break. If its much higher, they just won't buy. I've been seeing $130-150 in my area. $250/cord is just out of sight. Coal would overtake the market.

solodan · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2007, 11:11:23 pm »

$200-$250 pine and cedar $300 oak.

DouginUtah · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2007, 11:35:13 pm »

It's been almost two years since I uploaded my Excel spreadsheet to the forum.

You should be able to find it by searching for - Comparisons_BTU.xls .

Plug in the current prices and you will see how many BTUs your dollar buys today.

DouginUtah · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2007, 11:59:08 pm »

Well, I just discovered that files that are uploaded do not show up in a Search.

Or maybe I just don't know how to do it.

So, I went to the message where I posted it.

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=14883.msg213254#msg213254

Gary_C · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2007, 12:21:48 am »

According to the Forest Products Lab's calculator, a cord of seasoned firewood is equivalent to 133 gallons of #2 fuel oil. So that cord of wood would be worth $400 with fuel oil at $3 per gallon.

However the problem with using these numbers is a cord of seasoned wood can range from 33.5 million BTU's per cord for Osage Orange to 14 million BTU's per cord for Basswood. Plus there can be a 2 to 1 difference in net BTU's for green vs. air dried wood. So with fuel oil at $3 per gallon, a cord of wood could be worth from $140 for green basswood to $673 for seasoned Osage Orange.

Seasoned Red Oak should contain 24.4 million BTU's per cord and with a burning efficiency of 77 %, it should be worth $490 per cord with fuel oil at $3 per gallon.

So if a customer says the guy down the road is selling firewood cheaper, you can just say that he surely must know what his wood is worth.

RSteiner · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2007, 07:19:29 am »

Here in southwestern New Hampshire firewood is running just over $200.00 a full cord of mixed hardwood. One of the largest wood dealers is offering kiln dried firewood for $225.00 a cord delievered in 3 cord loads within 15 miles of their operation.

In the eastern part of the state where more people live wood prices are around $250.00 a cord for what they call seasoned wood.

Randy

jackpine · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2007, 07:49:13 am »

Firewood here in central Wisconsin is selling for $130 to $150 for a full cord. This is split but not delivered oak wich is oak wilt killed wood and may not be seasoned very well.There is so much oak available here (because of the oak wilt) that prices remain low and the beer money guys keep it that way.

Bill

sharp edge · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2007, 08:28:10 am »

Bill
Same thing going on in n-wi

, but on the bright side the beer is nice and cool this time of year.

stonebroke · « **Reply #14 on:** November 13, 2007, 09:16:39 am »

In CNY semiseasoned( inlog for a while) wood is going for 160 to 180$. Fully seasoned wood is going for 225$. I guess it all depends on your area and how many guys with pickup truck and chainsaws there are around. You cannot buy a new skidder and processing equipment and sell for that money. But on a brighter note at least the price is up. It had remained at the same price around here since the 70's .

Stonebroke

rebocardo · « **Reply #15 on:** November 13, 2007, 10:14:27 am »

Around here it is selling for $100-$150 a cord, hardwood, split, seasoned, and delivered. Though what I have seen that passes for seasoned means it was cut the last season, as in August. Some advertise $200 a cord, I suspect it only sells at the height of winter.

You pretty much can't find a buyer for pine unless it is the dead of winter and maybe then $50 a cord.

When I sold firewood about two years ago, I did a brisk business selling it for $70 a cord cut and split (they pick up and load) with mixed oak and sweetgum. Some buyers would come, buy a 1/2 a cord (truck load) and then come back an hour later for some more. I suspect they sold quite a bit at the local supermarket parking lot up the street

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #16 on:** November 13, 2007, 10:41:57 am »

It's amazing how many people will work for nothing and feel good about it.

leweee · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2007, 10:44:45 am »

I see a few factors at play in my neighborhood.
1.less in the house wood stoves.(insurance companies hate wood stoves)

2.People who burn wood are converting to outdoor boilers(less cut & split, more large pieces)
3.More firewood processers.(machines cost money.....lots of volume on tight margins....lots of people having custom processing done that wouldn't have in the past.)
4.Everyone that has a pickup & a chainsaw is in the Firewood Business.

WDH · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2007, 10:48:02 am »

One thing about the BTU calculator......When wood and oil are equal, they really are not equal. There is much more work and personal time involved with wood versus oil, so if you buy wood at a price equal to an equivalent amount of oil, the wood turns out to be more expensive because of all the work in stacking, toting, storing, tending, etc. With oil, you just flip a switch or thermostat and you are good to go.

However, I still choose wood

.

Warbird · « **Reply #19 on:** November 13, 2007, 11:00:40 am »

Any of you guys burn dunnage? There is a shipping/railroad company up here that sells huge rolls of dunnage. It is mostly oak slabs, at least 1.5" thick, varying lengths. Last time I checked, it was a great deal. Just not sure about burning dunnage in the wood stove with the catalyst. I'm concerned any oil or crud on the wood might damage the catalyst when it burns off.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #20 on:** November 13, 2007, 11:09:46 am »

Ok, $1500 for 7.5 cords of wood for the entire winter.

24 hours at $10/hr for handling and stacking in the basement = $240
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1740 for winter's wood

4 - 200 gallon oil tanks at $950 a pop = $3800 for the winter and likely need another tank before summer.

hmmm

fuzzybear · « **Reply #21 on:** November 13, 2007, 12:35:03 pm »

During the winter up here there is NO work. We get few young people that try to stay for the entire year. To survive they turn to cutting firewood. They try to sell for $150 a cord. They quickly realize they are still starving. Most wind up coming to work for me. I pay them $50 a cord. This all comes off my lot and is delivered on my vehicles. I pay for the saw fuel and oil, and I always have food on the stove in camp. Most can make $100 a day. A few can make $150. Better than they were making before, and helps me keep my prices stable.
This is all 14 yo fire killed spruce and birch. There is no bark and it is dry as can be. So I can cut and deliver all day long. I figure I still have enough on my lot for about 5 years cutting. Then I move on to the other lot that is 10 yo fire killed. about 15 years cutting there.
This year my summer price was $200 a cord. As soon as the temperature hit 0 and stayed there, it went to $225. Now with the colder temp. I am raising it to $250. And in January when there is only about 4 hours of day light and the temps are a constant -30, I will raise it again to $275.
I have tried for years to get people to buy during the summer when they are all working and making good money. I only have a few costumers that do that. About 10 people have a 3 year supply.

beenthere · « **Reply #22 on:** November 13, 2007, 12:42:27 pm »

Warbird
I'd worry about that too...taking a chance, but I'd contact the catalytic converter mfg about it...which stove do you have?
I'd be concerned that it would have some wood treatments that would cause some health problems.
Interesting where/who they sell it to, and for what other than heat.

Warbird · « **Reply #23 on:** November 13, 2007, 01:01:44 pm »

beenthere, we've got the Blaze King "ultra". It's a big 'ol piece of steel that does an awesome job. The Mrs wasn't too keen on how it looked but I wanted performance and long term burns in a stove that I wasn't paying an extra grand for, just cause it looked purdy. She's come around and has learned to like the stove.

Corley5 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 13, 2007, 08:21:34 pm »

I've been selling 4 16" face cords delivered for 180 bucks or a 135 a standard cord

My price went up with the last delivery last week. The ever rising cost of diesel for delivery is the main cause of the increase but it's that time of year. Everything gets more difficult from now until April and people should have had their wood in by now anyway. The average I've been seeing in the classifieds is about 55 dollars a face cord. The lowest was 35 dollars picked up and the highest was 65 delivered. Some guys are delivering for 50. There were 8 different ads in last weeks Gaylord Herald Times.
The last order I did was a referral from another customer because not only did I have good wood but I was fast

The guy had been trying to get pulp cords since Sept and had gotten promises and run arounds but no wood. He'd gotten promises and 2 week waits for cord wood and no wood. He had 20 face cords dumped in his backyard two days after he called me

Most of the beer money guys get swamped and can't keep up with orders. A pickup and a chainsaw is slow

Ads come and go and once the snow comes and stays most of them are gone

We didn't have snow last winter until the middle of Jan. There was cheap firewood advertised until then.
I'm processing my own pulpwood that we produced last winter so my overhead is much lower than if I was buying pulp as I have in the past and with the processor I can make firewood a lot quicker

It's takes an average of an hour and a half to run a four face cord load in this wood. I didn't advertise any last winter as I was logging and am going back to the woods in few days, finally

so I don't plan to advertise any this winter. I did have last winter's production trucked into the yard just in case the snow gets too deep to log. Best to be prepared

Onthesauk · « **Reply #25 on:** November 13, 2007, 09:45:10 pm »

Just ran across an ad on the Seattle Craigslist for "Organic Firewood."

Warbird · « **Reply #26 on:** November 13, 2007, 10:49:50 pm »

Quote from: Onthesauk on November 13, 2007, 09:45:10 pm

Just ran across an ad on the Seattle Craigslist for "Organic Firewood."

JD350Cmark · « **Reply #27 on:** November 13, 2007, 11:08:48 pm »

I'm selling mixed cords for $250 to $275 and hardwood for $325 a cord. That includes deliverery up to about 30 minutes away. I have not had anyone say no thanks, they just ask when will it be delivered.

beenthere · « **Reply #28 on:** November 14, 2007, 12:05:47 am »

I think people are willing to pay different prices for fuelwood if they just want a cord or two for the fireplace through the winter, vs several cords to heat their homes with just wood. Makes it hard to compare when that is going on.
Local firewood dealer makes wood for the Chicago market, and it is all birch...bundled and sold for very high prices at a 'per cord' rate. Has been in that business for 30 years. He thought he was doing his customers a favor adding some hickory to the mix. Backlash, as it burned too long in the fireplace.

tonich · « **Reply #29 on:** November 14, 2007, 02:23:06 am »

Quote from: Onthesauk on November 13, 2007, 09:45:10 pm

Just ran across an ad on the Seattle Craigslist for "Organic Firewood."

This one makes my day!

customsawyer · « **Reply #30 on:** November 14, 2007, 02:39:41 am »

It is all in the marketing.

bull · « **Reply #31 on:** November 14, 2007, 08:33:27 am »

i'm going organic....
I went organic w/ the vegetables, those people will pay almost any price for organic.....

remember the true definition of organic is : matter that was once living and is now dead...
Shhh, I think we might all be eligible for this Niche market, don't blow it !!!

I'm starting @ $ 350.00 a cord, uncertified. I think you could get $650 a cord for certiified, certification for vegetable is $1500, that covers the land where the vegetables are grown.
I wondering if it would cover the woodlot that is contiguous property!

I have to figure out how to deliver it, my organic horse is six feet under and i dont think he will pull a wagon anymore!

WDH · « **Reply #32 on:** November 14, 2007, 08:55:28 am »

If you start up the "Certified Organic Firewood" label, I want to buy stock

.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #33 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:15:14 am »

reminds me of

http://www.dogpile.com

That must be the first organic search engine isn't it?

I have a sick sense of humour sometimes.

speedbump · « **Reply #34 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:29:24 am »

Hey guys,

I don't get here often, but was curious what y'all called a cord.

I was always told that a cord was stacked split wood four foot high two feet wide and sixteen feet long. Is that what you have one as? I was also told that a face cord was half as long as the above or eight feet long. I think a face cord in the back of a pickup truck with a standard box would be heaping a bit. What do y'all think?

bob...

tonich · « **Reply #35 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:31:37 am »

Quote from: SwampDonkey on November 14, 2007, 09:15:14 am

I have a sick sense of humour sometimes.

No, it suits me best!
Keep going!

Roxie · « **Reply #36 on:** November 14, 2007, 10:03:15 am »

To supplement our own woodpile, we're paying $110.00 a (generous) cord for split, seasoned, delivered and stacked oak.

Note: Thank you Amish boys who want a little spending money.

Greg · « **Reply #37 on:** November 14, 2007, 10:47:59 am »

Quote from: speedbump on November 14, 2007, 09:29:24 am

Hey guys,

I don't get here often, but was curious what y'all called a cord.

I was always told that a cord was stacked split wood four foot high two feet wide and sixteen feet long. Is that what you have one as? I was also told that a face cord was half as long as the above or eight feet long. I think a face cord in the back of a pickup truck with a standard box would be heaping a bit. What do y'all think?

bob...

You have brought up a huge pet peeve of mine. Simply put, a cord is 128 cubic feet, no matter how it is stacked.

Typically (around here) that means a stack 4 foot deep by 4 foot high by 8 foot long, i.e. 4 x 4 x 8 = 128. And a "face cord" is the same only 2 foot deep, or 64 cubic feet. Your dimensions you state are not "standard" around here, but the total cu ft. numbers end up being the same.

(I've also heard about using "ricks" but I've almost never seen that used in practice. Maybe thats a regional thing?)

In SW Ohio, firewoods ad appear in one or two forms, a "cord" for $125, or a "full cord" for $175+. I can almost say without a doubt if you call and order from the $125/cord guy, he will show up with a full size pickup truck loaded down with (usually junk) pieces tossed in (not stacked) all the way up the the back window. The $175+ guys (who know what they are doing) will almost always bring an entire cord in a larger truck.

Of course, a pickup truck load is NOT a cord, more like 1/2 a cord. One guy did this, showed up, unloaded and I handed him $70. He said it was $125. I told him I will pay him the full amount when he brings the rest of my wood. He left and never came back.

If you a buyer beware, make sure you agree up front what a cord really means, i.e. full cord or face cord. If he's using a pickup truck with logs thrown in, it should be closer to two trucks, not one, for a full cord. There is alot of ignorance + outright deception out there.

Sorry to vent, I feel better now. (If I am mis-stating anything here, please set me straight...)

Greg

speedbump · « **Reply #38 on:** November 14, 2007, 10:57:50 am »

Quote

Of course, a pickup truck load is NOT a cord, more like 1/2 a cord. One guy did this, showed up, unloaded and I handed him $70. He said it was $125. I told him I will pay him the full amount when he brings the rest of my wood.

Thanks for the info. The reason I used the 2X4X16 was that the two footers would fit nicely into a standard fireplace. At least we are in the same pew, and the square footage as you stated is the same.

I don't buy firewood here in Florida since we don't have many days where a fire is needed and I have enough oak trees on my property to keep me in firewood. There are a few who do sell firewood and your observations are correct here as well, a pickup truck with the wood thrown in haphazardly so as not to take full advantage of the available space, putting more money in his pocket. And most I have spoken to call a face cord a cord.

Like you said, do your homework.

Thanks,

bob...

beenthere · « **Reply #39 on:** November 14, 2007, 11:36:07 am »

A face cord is a 4' x 8' face by whatever the length of the wood is in the stack. So 16" wood stacked 4' high by 8' long, would be 1/3 of a full cord.

With 8' pulpwood, the face is 4' x 4' to give the 128 cuft. Used to be, in the south, that cord wood was normally 4' wood, so a cord had a face of 4' by 8', to get the 128 cuft.

There are so many ramifications, that it is no wonder that the feds and many states have made official rules about how firewood can be sold...some recognize only the use of the word 'cord' to mean a full cord (128 cuft).

There have been several good discussions on this forum, of the various ways and various state/fed laws pertaining to sorting out the confusion....even to the point it is up to the buyer to "beware" of what they are getting..

speedbump · « **Reply #40 on:** November 14, 2007, 11:53:34 am »

Once the government gets involved in something, it is always up to the buyer to be beware. Because the playing field has been immensely changed.

bob...

fuzzybear · « **Reply #41 on:** November 14, 2007, 12:57:44 pm »

greg,

i would have to agree and disagree with you. A standard 1/2 tonn pickup with the box STACKED to the bottom of the rear window is between 1/2 and 2/3 cord. Thrown loose is MAYBE 1/2 cord.
If you take a 3/4 tonn and put side boards on and STACK it to the top of the rear window you will receive 1cord. fill it to the top of the cab and pryamid the load up you will receive 1 1/2 cords. If the truck has helper springs or air bags you can do this. If you throw the wood in you are lucky to receive 3/4 cord.
Most people around here won't even take a load unless it's stacked in the truck. I've been in business long enough that if I'm in a hurry I bring a dump load of 4 cords thrown in loose, they take it. I have always stated if it doesn't stack up to the full amount call me and I will make up the differance.
I guess that's why I'm heading out to deliver my 175th cord for the season, And I only have 5 more months of winter selling. Then I have 150 cords to cut for the Territory Camp grounds.

Just wish I could get more than 4 hours of day light. So far Mother Nature has ignored all my requests. Oh Well I still have the gen set and lights.
Happy cutting guys and girls.

Corley5 · « **Reply #42 on:** November 14, 2007, 03:07:56 pm »

A 16" face cord thrown in loose doesn't quite fill up the 8' box on a 90s GM pickup.

thecfarm · « **Reply #43 on:** November 14, 2007, 08:32:48 pm »

I never heard of a face cord until I came here.We only use cord around here.A cord of green is going for $165 and dry is 225.Saw this in todays paper.There are probaly cheaper and higher prices,but I don't pay much mind to it.I have all the wood I need.

Ed_K · « **Reply #44 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:52:13 pm »

Fuzzybear, if you loaded a 3/4 ton like that around here you'd be getting a ticket from the weight boys right quick

.
Prices started at 175 in sept. most guys start there and go up $5. every two weeks till their out

.

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #45 on:** November 15, 2007, 06:00:17 am »

I mentioned this thread to a guy at the mill who sells a little firewood. He's at $120/cord, but he doesn't sell much. Too much work.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #46 on:** November 15, 2007, 06:39:40 am »

Not easy work either, it's a little better with a processor. But, you have to be serious about the firewood business if you buy one of those.

Corley5 · « **Reply #47 on:** November 15, 2007, 12:03:44 pm »

It's a WHOLE lot easier with a processor and that makes it easier to be serious about it

Corley5 · « **Reply #48 on:** November 15, 2007, 12:06:12 pm »

I thought I was caught up but have picked up orders for another 10 face cords since yesterday

Two are repeat customers and one is a word of mouth referral

Larry · « **Reply #49 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:38:53 pm »

Well...I buy my beer in bulk from some far away state where taxes are not quite as oppressive. Noticed today the supply was getting quite low so figured it is near time for a beer run. Checked my wallet and found it a little light. So...bout time to start chopin ricks (official Arkansas redneck measurement unit) to earn my beer money. You guys have shamed me so much now, Imma gonna give up the habit...chopin wood that is. Much easier to get a cash advance from the boss.

Climber · « **Reply #50 on:** November 15, 2007, 03:52:13 pm »

Hello Guys,
I am shocked to hear price $120 for cord. I am not in firewood business.
I am selling from job site green, unsplit, cut to your dimensions (14”-24”) and delivered for $150 to $100 depends how much you are buying.
It is in Southern NH and Northern MA.

Frickman · « **Reply #51 on:** December 24, 2007, 02:08:48 pm »

Be careful what you wish for. I can't keep up with the firewood business right now. I sold everything I had on Saturday, and had more people stopping today, Christmas Eve. So I'm out there on Christmas Eve splitting firewood.

ely · « **Reply #52 on:** December 26, 2007, 02:40:11 pm »

i make the real firewood guys mad all the time. if folks will come and get the wood at my place they can get it for 30 bucks a rick, i do not generally deliver wood, unless i have to go get some parts or food. if someone is old and can not do for them selves i just haul the wood to their house and give it to them free. i can do that because i am able to. i have several folks that i give wood to, and they know if they gripe about the different lentghs and types of woodthat i will slam the door shut. 70% of the wood i cut is slabs off the mill, the rest is dead trees that are too small to make anything with on the mill.

Frickman · « **Reply #53 on:** March 04, 2008, 07:36:59 pm »

$100.00 / cord. That's what I can buy mixed, green firewood for right now. Delivered too, if I'm close, which I am. One cord to ten cord loads. A number of local sawmills and loggers have put in firewood processors this past year, and that's what they're all selling it for. Back in 1990 I remember selling it for $90.00 at the mill. I cannot see how you can sell and deliver firewood for $100.00 / cord.

We have no pulpwood market here, so you have no cost for the wood on the stump. I still can't see how you can pull out the logs, truck them to a yard, process them, and sell the delivered firewood for $100 / cord when gas and diesel are over $3.00 / gallon.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #54 on:** March 04, 2008, 08:51:05 pm »

Quote from: Frickman on March 04, 2008, 07:36:59 pm

I cannot see how you can sell and deliver firewood for $100.00 / cord.

Tree length firewood for that price here and 12-14 cord TT loads.

Quote

We have no pulpwood market here, so you have no cost for the wood on the stump.

To buy stumpage it's around $25-30/cord here. If you own the wood, that's different. No one gives wood away here off private land.

$180-220 processed and delivered seems to be the range here. Mill wood trimmings seem to be higher in price, not including barked slabs.

jesse · « **Reply #55 on:** March 04, 2008, 10:43:38 pm »

Quote from: Frickman on March 04, 2008, 07:36:59 pm

We have no pulpwood market here, so you have no cost for the wood on the stump. I still can't see how you can pull out the logs, truck them to a yard, process them, and sell the delivered firewood for $100 / cord when gas and diesel are over $3.00 / gallon.

and have money to replace the euipment when the time comes

roger 4400 · « **Reply #56 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:12:34 am »

Hi. Overhere near Montreal, what we call a *cord* of firewood is usually 4ft X8ft X16 inches...... what some of you call a *face cord*.
SO we need 3 firewood cords to get the cord everyone of us use in pulp wood or else. Overhere I sell $90 per *16 inches * cords or $270 for the usual cord.. And $5 to $7 for delivery (16 inches )per cords...I guess this price is +- equivalent to yours. Last week I received 2 vans of +_ 36 to 38 **firewood cords* each ( only hard wood ....Maple, beech, yellow birch...paid $1600 each) See you Roger

stonebroke · « **Reply #57 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:24:22 am »

I guess as you go south and it gets warmer firewood gets cheaper. Same with Wood pellets.

Stonebroke

Frickman · « **Reply #58 on:** March 05, 2008, 07:16:26 pm »

Swampdonkey,

Our timber, all hardwood, tends to be fairly high quality. Plus, we have good markets for industrial lumber and pallet cants. So along with no real market for pulpwood, we pay nothing for firewood logs on the stump. We don't have alot of pulpwood grade trees though. Anything sound and 10" and up can at least go into blocking. We have mills here that buy logs and saw nothing but blocking. The stuff we're running into firewood is either top wood or the occasional cull tree. Most foresters don't even count the volume of the cull timber. They just paint it and count it as one tree. You have to fell it, and have the option of pulling it out or leaving it. On government sales they will measure the volume of pulpwood, but nobody really figures it into their bid.

Even with getting the timber for free I still can't see how you can do it for $100.00 / cord. Like jesse said, how are you going to pay to replace the equipment? These aren't fly-by-night outfits either. Several of them have been in the industry for generations and have a miilion dollars worth of equipment in the woods. Apparently they must know something I don't.

rebocardo · « **Reply #59 on:** March 05, 2008, 07:58:39 pm »

Well, the other thing to remember is trees grow faster and better down south. The woods I have in ME are no where as dense then what I have even in my Atlanta city backyard. I had to get used to having oak trees still green in November/December

Looking at tree rings here of white oak, you get sometimes 1/4" a year. Hard to tell on pines, but, I think some of them get 1/2" a year.

Georgia Pacific goes where the trees are, as far as I know, they do not own 10s of millions of acres in any of the New England states.

More trees = cheaper prices = noone drives truckloads of trees a thousand miles usually.

Though the weather has something to do with it. When I moved here I couldn't believe the amount of hardwood trees going to the landfill. I bought my first gas chainsaw so I could easily grab some big free oaks.

Though with the cold weather lately and how many people can't afford their natural gas bills, my customer has been able to give away his pine (for free) once we got it to firewood size cut and split. Last spring we literally couldn't pay people to take it away for lumber.

fencerowphil (Phil L.) · « **Reply #60 on:** March 05, 2008, 09:42:25 pm »

Even after paying for classifieds in our little bargain hunter classified paper,
I still had to have my slab pile hauled off. The city has been after me to
"beautify" due to the fact that much of our old down town railroad district
has now been cleaned up to be more of a park area. Times change!
My shop/warehouse adjoins this area. I am still in a zone
which is considered industrial/commercial, so go figure! Can't work
sometimes for taking time to satisfy "aesthetic requirements of the
downtown traffic corridor."

Of course, I just knew I could get a little something for the stuff. NOPE!
Finally, I began to tell folks that they could have it all, if they would get it all.
That way I wouldn't be forced to be distracted by repeated interruptions, or
have to make arrangements to meet someone to get a load.

Fortunately, I had a tree service for whom I had sawed some dump side boards,
who had not returned the favor. They hauled it off in a couple of big loads! The clean
up continues!

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #61 on:** March 06, 2008, 06:11:08 am »

Quote from: rebocardo on March 05, 2008, 07:58:39 pm

The woods I have in ME are no where as dense then what I have even in my Atlanta city backyard.

I know something of the areas of forest down south and there is a different management strategy, you have more forest values than fibre for starters. I don't know where you were, but the woods are plenty dense where they aren't over harvested. In fact I've heard many people that come here say the woods are denser than where they come from. I guess you've never walked in managed immature fir and jack pine forest. It's also plenty thick where I'm thinning. Oh, 12,000-15,000 stems per acre.

Quote

Looking at tree rings here of white oak, you get sometimes 1/4" a year. Hard to tell on pines, but, I think some of them get 1/2" a year.

Yeah, about half that here, or worst. But our slower growing hard maple and yellow birch is very desirable from indications of Veneer buyers as far away as Indiana.

Quote

Georgia Pacific goes where the trees are, as far as I know, they do not own 10s of millions of acres in any of the New England states.

Yeah, they gutted their woodlands in Maine and New Brunswick and sold to other interests in Maine and the NB government. There was around 900,000 acres. Hmmm, if they go where the trees are then why did they invest in mills and chipping plants up here? What made them leave home? You could live in the middle of the woods, but if no one cuts and sells wood, or government locks it all up in National Forests with minimal harvest levels, it's no good to a mill owner.

Quote

More trees = cheaper prices = noone drives truckloads of trees a thousand miles usually.

The source of timber here is never further than 100 miles from a mill. Only veneer mills haul hundreds of miles, and why are they doing that? Hard to figure out, and pay big prices for it to boot.

As for pulpwood markets, the wood couldn't be any cheaper unless we end up paying the mills to take our wood. I would argue, that we are almost there.

Warthog · « **Reply #62 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:14:51 am »

Greater Chicago area is $120-$140/face cord! That is with delivery, but most places ask for another $15 to stack.

bull · « **Reply #63 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:33:04 am »

phil you may want to grind your waste in to mulch....

Corley5 · « **Reply #64 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:51:53 am »

At 100 bucks a cord there'll be some used firewood processors on the market pretty soon. Fifty five to sixty five dollars a 16" face cord is what wood is bringing around here.

ohsoloco · « **Reply #65 on:** March 06, 2008, 02:41:40 pm »

Go figure Phil, I always wish I had more slabs in the yard $:-\$ I run a free ad online, and I sell out in no time. Of course, I don't saw a whole lot, so I usually only have a couple pickup loads to sell, but I could sell them all winter long if I had them. That's for the hardwood...I just invite people over on weekends and bonfire the pine and spruce, which I always seem to have more of.

'Round here firewood is selling for about $150 for a full cord delivered.

Coon · « **Reply #66 on:** March 06, 2008, 07:24:45 pm »

I just talked to a guy from Saskatoon today. He said they are paying up to $175/ 1/2 cord for cut, split, and seasoned white birch. Last year they were paying up to $100 for the same amount. Guess I better get busy and have a bunch ready for next winter. He claims the people are buying it even green for the same price.

caz · « **Reply #67 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:12:22 pm »

150.00 to 200.00 here more if stacked

RSteiner · « **Reply #68 on:** March 07, 2008, 06:20:43 am »

Watching fuel prices rise right now it looks like next year's heating costs are going to be higher than it was or is this winter. I'm sure many are struggling with getting through this heating season. If the price of fire wood is low right now it would seem like a good time for those who can afford it to stock up for next year.

With the cost of diesel fuel going up like it has I don't know how the price of fire wood can stay so low. I friend of mine is a self employed logger with a good size Cat grapple skidder. On an average day he can go through 50 gallons of fuel, that's more than $150.00 a day. Unless he can get a certian amount for fuel wood it makes more sense to leave it in the woods.

The price of wood pellets has gone up this winter around here, so fire wood can not be too far behind.

Randy

ohsoloco · « **Reply #69 on:** March 07, 2008, 02:47:18 pm »

I think the problem around here is that there are no major firewood processors (at least not that I know of). It's a lot of tree service & landscaping companies selling (it's getting harder and harder to get hardwood saw logs from tree services). The biggest seller around here that I know of operates a dump for the tree services, so all they have to do is split and deliver it.

TeaW · « **Reply #70 on:** March 09, 2008, 06:56:42 pm »

The local shopper mag this week has 7 adds for firewood sales. 3 have prices $250, $270 and $300 per bush cord for seasoned wood. Fresh cut $210 and $240, all prices include delivery , some within 10 mile radius and others within 100K. radius. Bush cord seam's to be a local term ,is it used else where ? I think they mean a 128 cu ft cord, but may be not.

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Author Topic: Firewood prices (Read 17880 times)