I saw this video and it was impressive. My question is there the market to handle the cost of the equipment as well as shipping costs? I would think the time to break even would be long.
Guy unloading the tubs (first setup) should have a remote switch for the conveyor.....way too much walking goin' on there. Some pretty slick operations though.
Very few can make a living by doing this and you are correct that the equipment is very expensive. There was a fellow not far from us who had a processor, a bit different from what was pictured and he made a good living for many years but not enough to get new equipment once the original purchase was worn out so he just quit. But he had built up a large business over the many years he did it. And like @bobydave stated, he did like his job. He also had a large old dairy barn that he stored wood in until he made deliveries in the fall and winter.
That pendant appears to have a cord, so there should be enough cable to at least cut half of those wasted steps out. Coming from a German company, I'm surprised they don't have the efficiency steps taken care of.
Those machines would never work on the crooked, bent, and twisty wood. Only feasible on baseball bat straight trunked trees. I'd like to see that thing try to split a elm round!!
There's an outfit about a mile from me that has a similar automatic splitting set-up. They sell those stretch-wrapped bundles of firewood to the local gas stations. One of my buddy's dad owns the property they work and store the wood on, I'm pretty sure he's mentioned that they make enough to stay in business, but that's about it.
Oh those Europeans and there bigger better machines, the agricultural equipment coming from Europe in the last ten years is getting bigger and crazier. Probably 75% of the farmers around my place drive European tractors now.
The wood being processed was beech. I didn't have the sound on, but I can't imagine that wasn't filmed in the US.
Does tractors in the USA have to have licence plates on them? They don't here in Canada but I know parts of Europe do so I just figured it was filmed there.
Really don't understand some of the comments. I have a friend in the firewood business and I can tell you without a doubt there is money to be made in firewood. I suppose it depends on what money is to some people, but I know for a fact that a two guy operation can and does make $250k plus. Im assuming that would be enough for more than a few folks here. The right place, equipment and supply of logs is great money...if you want to,work and grow the business.
You can sell good quality logs all day hear. It's the getting hold of them that's the hard part . £40 for a builders bag of random split logs £60for seasond £100 for kiln dried. Roughly
Location location location, I know in my neck of the woods firewood sells for $60-70 a face or 210-250 a full cord but if you move 2 hours north to Toronto is like 120-140 a face and 360+ a full cord.
I have done a fair amount of research on this as I was tempted to sell firewood as a primary business. There are two huge variables that make this less risky. One is having a huge property which allows one to get free logs. The other is living near a large population that has some more affluent suburbs. The two generally do not go together. Buying logs would is a huge variable cost. A lot of guys with tree businesses make this a secondary business. Tough dream, but I cannot make it work......yet.
Around here, $50-$60 per face cord/1/3 of a cord. $ 150.00 to $ 200.00 per full cord depending on species. Some tree companies sell firewood, but don't know anybody that makes their full living from firewood. I will not sell you a stick of firewood, but if someone's in need , I've been known to give it away. Too much work for the prices to have to make the stuff.
