Hey, a question for you guys and girls. I don't typically buy wood but I saw this today on craigslist and was curious as to opinions on this? I normally am on the two year plan give or take just from scrounges here and there. This would allow me to easily get ahead. I burn a progress hybrid and heat about 1700 feet. Never really measured how much I annually burn as a lot of it is odd shapes and sizes, unlike some of the pictures on here, but it burns fine just the same. Please let me know what you think. Firewood Thanks, Steel city
A cord of wood split and stacked neat is just under 5 yards. I think that container is a 30 yard dumpster and the wood certainly isn't stacked neat so it'll probably yield a little less than 5 cords. Means you are looking at $150-160/cord for wood that you will still need to recut and split. And it'll make a tremendous mess of your yard if you get it dumped on a lawn, something else to think about if you are under a space constraint.
. Depends if no how much that ends up being split. However if you take into consideration it's already cut. No fuel or saw expense wear and tear on your vehicle the fact that it's delivered I would think it's worth it because it's hardwood and it will put you ahead which gives you more time to scrounge and get further ahead. Most of the hard work is already done
I wonder what a "load" of firewood is. I can fill up my wheelbarrow - it is a "load". Don't see the word cord in that ad anywhere. Need to ask how many full cords are provided for $800.
Sorry, the wood supposedly is in lengths of 18-24 inches. With the maximum length for the progress being 22 inches I don't think many will need cut. As the dad reads it is not in a quantity of cords. The dumpster size is 22x8x6. I appreciate everyone's thoughts. Thank you.
I figure that to be a little over 8 cord by those measuments, but not stacked neatly, lets say 7 cord. That figures about $115 per cord, hard to pass that up, JMHO!!!!
The deal is suspicious. Title 70 of the Pennsylvania Code Wood used for fuel shall be sold by the cord of 128 cubic feet (4' x 4' x 8') or fraction thereof and shall be accompanied by a statement or invoice certifying the amount sold and presented to the buyer or his designee at the time of delivery or billing. Section 2.11 of the Weights & Measures Act of 1965 Cord: When used in connection with wood intended for fuel purposes, the amount of wood that is contained in a space of 128 cubic feet (4' x 4' x 8') when the wood is racked and well stowed. Firewood may not be advertised or sold by the truck load, the pile, the piece or any other method other than by the cord or fraction there of. There is no such thing as a face cord. An invoice must be given at the time of sale.
The wood in the pic isn't all cut to log length and it's always fun cutting those shorties. Looks like a big mess in the yard and a lot of work for what you get. What do you get? It's like guessing how many m&ms are in a jar.
It will stack 5 cord if its a 30 yd container. I sell 30yds of hardwood rounds/logs for $600 here. Pittsburgh Metro is a whole different ball of wax. The firewood market in that area is limited.
Consistent with what JustWood just posted, loose-thrown wood has a lot more air space between the pieces than it would if stacked. Rather than insisting that all firewood has to be stacked in order to be measured, Maine's state law defines cord volumes for loose-thrown wood as well as stacked. In' Maine, a legal loose-thrown cord of 24" pieces is 195 cubic feet. I'm not sure about the complication of rounds vs. splits, but this isn't going to be anywhere near the 8.5 cords you'd arrive at by assuming 128 cubic feet per. My guess is that it would work out to $135-$145 per cord after you're done with it. Here's the business that placed that ad. This is going to be the waste from tree services and operations clearing land for development. It will have been cut for the convenience of the guys throwing it in the dumpsters, so while most of it might be 18-24" long, there will be some variance. Heck, you can see longer and shorter pieces in the photo they used for the ad. It's also going to be a random mix of everything that grows around here, which is a big variety -- oak, cherry, maples (mostly soft), locust, mulberry and ash, but also poplar, ailanthus and elm. The mixed species and sizes will make stacking a pain and drying time unpredictable. I would pass.
I have not been collecting firewood for long, maybe two months, and I have already acquired about 4 cords for free. I live just East of Pittsburgh in the suburbs. I hear chainsaws right now as I type this, and free wood is sometimes as easy as following the sound of the saws and saying hello. I put an ad on CL for a place to drop off wood and received a load of pear wood. The only money I have invested is gas money, and equipment upgrades. The wood is free and very abundant in our neck of the woods if ya know where to look.
We'll I thank everyone for their opinions and will pass. I appreciate all the responses. I will just keep checking craigslist as I normally do. Thanks again.
I think you're doing the right thing. You just have no idea what you'll get. I've seen these loads and, around here anyway, they tend to have a lot of unmanageable crotches that have been bulldozed around so they're full of dirt.
Welcome to the forum steelcity. I think you have decided on the correct thing. I would pass for a couple reasons. First would be the mess. Second would be I always balk when someone says it is hardwood. Why? Shoot, hardwood includes things like cottonwood, popple, willow and other junk. Any tree that drops its leaf is technically a hardwood. No doubt lots of crotches and crooked pieces which would not stack well. Also different lengths won't stack well either and many would probably be a real pain to put into the stove. Also cutting those pieces that are too long is not a fun job. Good luck finding better wood. You certainly have a great stove!
I appreciate the advice here, that's why I asked. I am not though against spending money on something that has value. That's why I came and asked what I believe to be the experts. Everything I currently have is free. It also though is mismatched size but burns perfectly fine. I imagine I can get through next winter as well as this year. Value is what I seek. I asked and the majority pushed me against the idea. I am thankful for all the input I received. I also appreciate the people that have welcomed me. There are many great people on this site that are helpful to a lot of us. Thanks
I would buy a load of logs before I bought that mess. Cheaper and you will know exactly what you are getting.
