What ever you decide make sure both sides are in full agreement so there is no miss-understanding when your work is done. Sounds like this guy wants to think he is the “boss” and call all the shots, and come out ahead of every deal he makes. If you can make him “think” he is getting the better deal and still get the deal you want you should be OK. I’d say give him a measurable amount of wood (not a percentage) so he knows exactly what he is getting. I’d say 1 cord is more than enough for what he needs and if everything goes well a box of Old Mill light to share.
I think I would take a nice red oak for him, C/S/S, he will see you kept to your word and see a big pile of wood, then start with the trees you most want first, stack what is left per tree in piles for the fish, but I wouldn't cut more then you can take that day. You spend a day coddling his ego but in return that's a lot of high quality Wood you will get
I don't have a tractor (yet!) other than saws and a utility trailer. Yes, I know, a ton of work is ahead. But I like doing it and I get to run a saw, lol. It's nothing more than a large-scale scrounge. Trees downed, bucked, hauled off to my place or either bring my splitter there. But if I split everything there, it takes longer and I could be there two months as it is, lol. I think I will be able to drive close to each tree; many or all right up to them. Think of it like this. Here I've been yakking about trying to get a logger to allow me to come take some rounds and big limbs out of tops after they clearcut. And here's 20 full trees with perfect stems that I can drive right up to and don't have to dodge stumps and logs and such. Might even get some felling practice. I am a bit surprised that more people have not thought it's an decent deal, lol, as scrounging is quite the popular subject here.
I think its the having to take the trees down, and give him some of the wood that's the part people aren't agreeing with. It sounds like you really want to do it, so I'd say go for it. Just be careful. Without any machinery and the trees being in the 2' range, it'll be a ton of work, but you know that based on your replies. Will this rich playboy at least pay to rent you a machine?
I've worked for guys like this quite a bit. You have to stroke his ego, become friendly, listen to his stories. Then casually mention, "Hey Carl...I really want to help you out and help me out and do this for you. Any way you could rent me a machine for a week or two for me to use? I'd really appreciate it, and it'd make the job so much faster". See what he says. Have a few wobbly pops with him when you ask.
I think it's a good deal, if it was by me I would jump on it as well, would be 2 years worth of firewood for me. Only thing that I would be iffy on is the land owner. Guys with big ego's and no idea what manual labor is can change there minds quick
Only thing that I would be iffy on is the land owner. Guys with big ego's and no idea what manual labor is can change there minds quick... bullseye. If possible, get him to sign a simple contract stating exactly what work will happen, and by who. If not, pass. My 2 cents...
I think I would personally give the guy his cut last...hate to give it first and then something happens and you never get yours...
I Just wouldn’t want to post up on some guys property splitting 20 cord. He probably thinks you’ll be in and out of there in a few days. When he gets annoyed with you back their splitting all day then what. Just my two cents.
I hired loggers this summer, and I was paid $5/cord of firewood. Some years they pay $9/cord. Hard to see how you will be able to do a lot better than that unless you use some as saw logs (lumber priced).
Get in and get out. I would fell and brush out those trees with a helper in one day ,hopefully. My log truck driver charges fifty dollars to load and fifty dollars to unload and three dollars a loaded mile in between. If I cut 23 to 24' long and logs are straight he can get eight to nine cord on the truck. Then when I feel like some saw time it all right here behind the shop. Just something to think about.
When I was young I remember scrounging a truckload here and there. Hand loading and unloading everything. In that mind set this doesn't sound like a bad deal. However since I've gotten older and wiser I'd recommend asking the rich playboy to use his assets to rent a skid loader, grapple bucket and one of these bad boys. It sounds like he is not afraid to part with money... Also you said he is a smooth talker. Don't wear your back out working for free, for the smooth talking rich man. Money comes and goes, a bad back is for life.
Walk away from this one! Unless you are paid in coin as well as wood. AND a contract with all the stipulations agreed upon so the rules can't change. You sound like you really want this wood bad and I believe he senses it....I can. I have dealt (or not) with rich guy users like this. They have a problem (a bunch of trees in the way) and they want you to solve the problem for them and make hay themselves off your work! The times I have gone ahead with them have always given me cause to regret my decision even when I was being payed. The reality is that I won't pay for firewood on somebody else's property with some of the split wood, money or extra labor unless it is a good neighbor or close friend that I am really helping out. Wood grows on trees my friend and it is not worth the trouble you invite when you indenture yourself to another man to get some!
It sounds like this guy doesn’t give a hoot if all these trees rot at the bottom of the pond he’s building. If you already have connections for getting free wood elsewhere, I’m not convinced you should care either. Ahhh but the hickory! I get it. Maybe work out a deal to score just the hickory and anything else that’ll keep you up at night? That way you’re not strapping yourself to a gargantuan task and you can keep the job manageable on your end. Just a thought.
Also hickory is not that great for firewood, its stringy and tough to cut and split and it takes 2-3 years to fully dry. Also every time I fire up my saw and sink it into some hickory the bark is sooo tough I get some big chunks of it flying off the chain and hitting me in the face. (very annoying) I had an 8 ft long piece of hickory bark laying on the ground for a year, I ran it over countless times with the skid loader and it was still hard as a coffin nail. I'd take some Black Locust, hedge, or mulberry over hickory. All are easier to cut and split. Not to mention the powder post beetles that turn hickory into dust.
