Don't forget to factor in cost for a truck (taxes, reg, ins. and other expenses) especially if it gets used for little else, the cost of your splitter, chainsaw(s), tractor, ATV, barn to store the equipment, etc.. I do some occasional wood if I have the opportunity but it's pretty rare around here (lots of ppl burn wood here). Have done around 4 cords over the past 2 years. I pay $185.00 a cord C\S\D and I'm done all my moving and stacking in under 2 weeks.. Not a bad deal when you factor everything into it..
The wood may be free, but getting it into the stove isn't. No free lunch either. But Like PPete said, "man has to eat."
There ain't no free lunch; ever! Our cost is low as we have it close to the house. Some gas for atv, saw and splitter. Always a little cost for maintaining equipment rather it be truck, atv, trailer, splitter, etc. I've never really figured cost though. If I did, I'd have to say even a part of the estate taxes would have to factor into it. As for time, I look at it as a hobby. After all, we burn only about 3 cord per year but most years will cut over double that amount. Actually have not sold any for 2 years now but have helped out a few needy folks. We do it because we enjoy helping and we simply enjoy working in the woods.
Well IMO ; for some of us we have fun & enjoy the whole process. It's a a fun hobby but it just pays us back. Heck years ago, I cut wood & had it stacked for years & didn't even have a stove to burn it in. To add in the tools, sheds & vehicles is tough. That be like the cost of bowling if you added in the car, garage, gas , taxes, insurance, >>> ....<<<<bowling ball, bag , closet, shoes & beer. To me it's OK we each have different lifestyles I can make my wood burning a job & hobby, make it cost more or cost less. I can take the process way above others or keep it simple & sweet. Either way, it's hard work that most of us enjoy, call it fun. Some have withdraws when we're shut down, like Campinspector. I'm in campinspectors crowd, I NEED TO CUT , SPLIT & STACK WOOD ! & oh man, I love to run a chain saw & see the tree fall ( Don't tell anyone, Id pay $$ to do it )
I'm all for it Dave. Not trying to offend anyone just wondering if people realize how much they have into this free wood.. I've had people think I was crazy to buy wood and that they would never do this however as we all know it's never really free. Pretty interesting seeing the responses so far.. I probably have $700-800 in various tools and I am really small scale here.. I would have a chainsaw around as a just in case tool but not the splitter.. I think if I had better wood resources I'd have done more on my own so it's understandable. You, Dennis, Pete, Zap, and others have access to much more wood than the average Joe and that's awesome! Ray
I have to fight for most of it though hard one heat. Its not easy finding people who will let me cut.
For most ofthe cutting grounds thos I find I cant often let out because somebody usually shows up and offers cash and then I have to find another. Its happened twice recently.
You guys are making my head hurt trying to figure out how much it costs for free wood. It costs the same as free hunting, free golfing, free vacations, or my wife's free trips to the salon. I'm fortunate to have several places to cut and I know some don't but for me I'll be burning and cutting wood until I can't do it or the Good Lord calls me home.
How much does a psychiatrist cost? You can deduct that cost right off the top (I'm sure some here feel I need to see one any way). About 50 miles round trip if I go to tree dump at county seat, take truck and trailers, spend a couple to a few hours. Local tree dump would be less than a mile round trip. Then there are all the wood piles that people put on the curb during trimming season. I will snatch them up, even if pine. Just have to keep old lady away from pine when I process it due to her asthma, if it's in town I can send her home.
I probably put $300 to $500 a year into it because I inevitably fall in love with a new saw or tool(s). If I could cure my CAD I would think it's $25 a cord or so all told. On the other hand the electric bill last month was less than $100 when some nearby friends' were in the $550 and up range. So, it more than pays for itself. Dollars aside, the payoffs come in other ways. I spent all of this past weekend outside splitting. It was gray, raw, and spit a little snow both days. There was no one else outside. I thought they were both great days. They were very satisfying. Today at work all I heard was what a snotty weekend it was with the cold and gray and no football to watch. So, I think some of the return is in added value to your days.
And your coworkers need to learn to love college basketball as much as I do. One of the few things I drop everything for is when my Hawkeyes are on the court.
$25 or so per cord. Vehicle doesn't factor in unless I want to walk to work. Saw was bought for work and long payed for. One wood grenade, fiskars SS, 8lb maul is about all the tooling I had to buy to process firewood. Always have fresh mix on hand for the other 2 stroke engines. Factor in a chain some bar lube and vehicle gas and my "free" wood is cheap enough.
You should figure your time into the cost. You would have to spend time at work to pay the gas or oil man and we all know that is not cheap.
My cost is about the same as Bogy's, $10/cord permit, $30-$35 in fuel, bar oil, 2-cycle oil, chain sharpening. I do get more than 8 cords from a chain, though.
