I buy all my wood. (Scrounging, bucking, splitting, and stacking 10+ cord a year? I ain't got time for that!) Out of curiosity I asked my supplier if he had any scrap wood that he was looking to get rid of cheaply for the firepit I have. He mentioned he had 6 cord of pine that has been sitting on his property split for two years. No one wants it since it isn't good for anything... $50 a cord, delivered. "Pine is dangerous. Just make sure you don't burn that in your stoves." Oh, heavens no. I wouldn't dream of it... (Seriously, though, to all the scroungers, my hat's off to you guys. But, a few years ago I priced it all out and buy my wood at $150 per cord made a lot more sense than hauling, bucking, and splitting it myself.)
He really was concerned. Almost like the pine was going to run around inside my house with lit matches an a container of lighter fluid.
I hate it when that happens. They always catch the drapes on fire and I hate shopping for new drapes.
Good to see you over here BBar. Even though I do try to cut/scrounge all my wood I certainly do not blame anyone for buying wood. I c/s/s about 12 cords this year and that is a heck of alot of work. There are many years I could not come up with the time to do that and honestly I can buy wood c/s/d for about $75 a cord more than it cost me to do it myself. Figuring in the time it takes to process it I would certainly be at a loss if I actually put off work for processing wood.
That is certainly true. I'm definitely negative if I value my time processing wood at the same rate that I get paid at work. But the again I'm salaried, so the more I work the less I get paid (per hour).
BBAR, good to see you here. I agree with you, totally. I buy wood to supplement what I can't get for free. Buying wood is something that might be a good idea on a few levels. Less equipment to buy and maintain, keeping a local business afloat, and less cleanup. There are a few other advantages like not having to spend the limited time one might have cutting and splitting. There are some who frown upon those of us who buy our wood. Hey, it's a matter of convenience and personal preference. I'll scrounge and C and S all I can get. But I will buy when I don't have enough. There are therapeutic reasons for CSS your own wood, and it is something I enjoy as well. Still, no reason to disparage anyone who buys their wood. Buying is also a fast way to get you set up for the three year plan.
Welcome aboard BrowningBar. Nice to see another jumper. Don't you dare burn that evil pine in your stove! It'll grow hair on your.....uh, somewhere you don't want it, and you'll burn down entire towns and forests. I say, pretty nice score. I've been contemplating buying a cord or two of Oak to get myself back on track.
1/2 to 2/3 of what I burn is lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), it's very well behaved wood. I guess it was just raised right. But seriously, I think a lot of this type of "information" originated from older stoves that were not air-tight. Easy to get a runaway with insufficient control (not unlike children).
Curtains - burned those a few years back , ran out of wood, don't last long but took the chill off Always keep pine and what not around for the burn pit acquaintances. Makes good kindling as well. I do not buy wood to be used same year cause it isn't going to be seasoned( seasoned= 20% or less moisture content on a fresh split face) unless you consider 2 stroke fumes and bar oil seasoning.
Nothing wrong buying wood. I do, even got the overdone one's blessing to do so! Seriously, I bought everything the first year, then had some lucky scrounges just fall in my lap to cover most of my wood the last couple years, but now I went back to buying when I had less than 2 years on hand and no time or truck to chase big scores. Around here seasoned goes for 250+, but there is a mill that will deliver 3 cord loads of green cut/split for $500. I might get one of those loads in the spring if I've got the space. 250 is about my break even point to be saving money over gas.
I cut all my own + some for others only because I enjoy it. I will never look down on someone that buys firewood. Wood heat is warm, efficient, & safe if done properly. I'd much rather buy to get ahead than burn wet wood. Thankfully I haven't had to do that , but it could happen. However you get your fuel wood , it's still the best heat IMO. A C
And scissors? Although I don't have to process it all (only about 5-6 cords,) I have to cut 10+ a year just to stay even. If I want to get the rest of the family as far ahead as I have me and MIL, I need to kick it up a notch. I might need to hook up with a tree guy that will cut to my specs and dump it.... I don't watch prices much but looking at CL I'm seeing a lot of $60-70 pickup loads. I do know one guy who sells 1-year-dry wood for $85 a half cord, delivered and stacked, last time I checked.
Burning pine indoors has been known to lead to very severe hair loss... Please refrain from burning and deliver to Ohio to dispose of properly Nice score B-BAR..
