Sales not near what I thought they would be.

I do the same from a neighbor. He CSS out in a field for a good 12-18 months. It's real decent stuff, I'll buy the whole mess and haul it back to make sure I have plenty of inventory. Bought 15 cord each of the previous two years and I can double my money on it with minimal effort. Last stuff was 15% moisture. I do end up having to split some of it a bit smaller for certain customers. He cuts tops after he gets his woods logged.

 

Considering the time and other costs involved, his firewood is a bargain. However, I don’t receive the same satisfaction of purchasing a truck load as I did from cutting one.

 

Thanks for sharing. This logger sells a lot of wet wood within 10 miles to local burners. I sell it for 7 times as much to my customers after getting it down to under 10% moisture.

 

I am currently selling the most awesome white oak 18 months seasoned firewood I bought in 18-22” logs. Hard cutting and I had to use a wire brush before every cut to clear the dirt and rock debris on the logs. Big bucks make it all worth the effort though. My customers love it.

 

I was cutting on a post logging operation next to this loggers wood yard this past summer. Large pile of logs three football fields long with a massive processor and everything else required and no activity until October. I was selling firewood fast and furious beginning in July. I firmly believe with his equipment and never ending supply of incredible wood I could 10 times his take if managing the operation. However, I love my El Lobo Solo retirement gig.

 

Picture of yesterday afternoon's purchase of red/white oak and hickory. About 2 1/2 hours later it was all re-split, stacked, and top covered. About 1 1/4 face cords for $50.

 

I have to walk back my comment about 10 folding this woodyard's take. No way I could bend the guys that run this operation into my way of doing business. They load customer's vehicles or trailers with big wet mixed wood with a scoop on a front-end loader and dump in your front yard or driveway if you want it delivered. I add my value to the firewood by perfectly seasoning it, selling 100% of one type of wood, delivering on time the same or next day, wheelbarrowing and stacking and cleaning up my mess before departing.

 

That’s a lot of work for a one man operation. Ever thought of having some help like jrider to do some of the splitting? Might be able to maintain the volume or even increase it while decreasing your number of hours at the same time. You’ve definitely found your market

 

The home construction activity in my area has been booming for years. Any unskilled able body person can make $25+an hour easily. And finding someone reliable would be another issue. Fortunately, my fit and strong wife helps me unload, split, and stack. And helps load my truck and trailer for deliveries. The logger dude blew me off yesterday even though we had communicated twice about meeting at his woodyard. This is typical of every business I have encountered since moving to TN. You have to hound people to take your money. Hunting, fishing and football take priority over anything else in their personal and working lives.

 

My afternoon Nashville delivery. Like delivering 1/2 cords; good diesel expense to firewood ratio. This is to a frequent customer. From past experience, no tip likely today.

 

Sounds like they have life figured out down there!

 

I enjoy hunting and fishing also. Hunting for more white oak and hickory and fishing for another angle on how to sell more of it.

 

Well, I did receive a tip. The customer's old Stihl 031 AV. Needs some parts and work, but needed to add a smaller saw to my inventory for de-limbing work. Now I have five saws. How many saws are required to become a chainsaw hoarder?

 

If you have to ask…

you don’t have enough.

 

My guess at least 10… all do not need to run

 

I agree on the non running saws. That’s how you know the illness has truly set in!

 

Best tip of all! Pictures?

 

As long as I have more that run than don’t I am happy. Just wondering if I might be wasting my tip by trying to get this paper weight running?

 

This thing is ugly. The handle bar is bent. Thinking it was run over by the last owner’s truck or a 120’ white oak fell on it. I really don’t have the time or care to work on it. Luckily I have a retired logger that lives about a mile away and repairs saws. Will be contacting him soon for an estimate.