WinonaRail's Wood Yard

You did what you have to to please a customer. Way to get it done.

Would you normally separate the nicer splits just for bundles?

 

Here's the weekly update from the roadside stand. We had a rain/sleet/snow mix starting Saturday evening and going through Sunday night so the sales week was shorter than usual. 6 bundles, 1 each oak and cherry loose stacks, 3 2'x2' mixed loose stack, 2 each 2'x3' and 2'x4' loose stacks and a 2 pack of kindling bags.

 

I really enjoy working half days on Friday (which I do because I've maxed out my PTO at work and I have to use it or lose it). I get a lot done, especially since it gets dark at 5:30 now. I picked up some of the rounds I cut last Saturday. Ash on the bottom and cherry on top. There is at least one full load left before I need to cut more. I almost filled a rack of cherry smoking wood and then moved on to the ash. Also managed to mow/mulch leaves before dark.

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Some of Saturday's exploits included quartering a large maple round and splitting into a tote. It ended up filling nearly all of the front row.

I have a regular customer that had initially asked me for $50 of wood delivered. They asked for however much would $50 would cover. So I had devised a rack that essentially measures out $10 increments and will fit up to a third of a cord. This is now their regular order. So I put in $50 worth of wood which is approximately 5 ft by 2 ft. That was delivered Saturday afternoon. The customer remarked how dry and nice the wood burns.

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Always nice to get positive feedback from a customer. Great work Gary!

 

X2

 

Bundles sales have slowed to a stop almost. It is a seasonal thing. I did get a guy come for three bundles on Saturday. Trusty Dewalt halved them for him. I get a little extra to half them. View attachment 459677

 

Drove by one of my local regulars and noticed different bundles in hos log rack. Gave him an immediate call and he complained about my price increase this year and proceeds to tell me how much cheaper the others were. I later pulled in and parked right next to the new bundles. They looked underseasoned IMO and not as nice as mine. He was always cheap and wasn't a higher volume buyer either. Luckily the newest store is close and wanted a lot. Back down to seven stores.

 

I only sold 4 bundles last week and had a small delivery. Weather wasn't great. I'm hoping it picks up a bit this week.

 

Sometimes losing a customer can be a blessing. Maybe his customers will complain about the quality of the new bundles. It's generally true that you get what you pay for.

 

I got a small present from a local tree service yesterday afternoon. Apparently they forgot to bring the chipper to the job. I'll sort out the logs and stack them and likely get them bucked up today. The junk can go to the burn pit.

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They generally don't care nor understand the concept behind firewood. I will try to educate them. Only once I had a complaint years back. Vendors deliver and fill their log rack, they do nothing except collect money when they sell.

I do an apples to apples comparison. You get what you pay for.

 

That's why I've never pursued the gas station or box store market. It's all about numbers. You have to produce cheap and sell cheap. That just doesn't fit my production model or preference. I focus on quality. And that is the sole reason why people that buy my bundles come back time and again. They found out it's just better. I'm sure you've seen the same thing many many times.

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Here's what the pile of logs looks like when you can actually see it without all of the trash. There's also a short maple log that I threw in just because it was nearby. Time to get cutting.

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That will be some good stuff

 

Got a call from my 100 bundle guy today. He's down to 20 left. Load going next week for him. I have a three bundle smoker order being PU tomorrow. Second time customer. Half cord of sugar maple going to a regular as well. Half cord of Mulberry going to new customer Sunday. Tis the season.

Sold a half cord of nuggets to new customer (old friend of the family) He texted me yesterday saying he loved it and wants to reserve another for early January.

 

Sounds like you're keeping busy! Good luck with the deliveries!

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X2

 

I had to make up some smoking wood bags for the roadside stand. This is for the next to last bag of apple. I don't get much of it unfortunately.

I cut to 8" on the miter saw. It's quick and makes really clean cuts with the plywood blade.

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I got into the load of honey locust that was dropped off last week. I also tackled a large maple round that I've had for a while. You can see where I break it up into blocks that are easier to manage. The picture of stacked splits is from a single round. That is nearly 1/16th of a cord.

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