I sold this last night (nope, not for Nashville money), but am interested in what it might be sold for around the country. It's two year covered oak, hickory and sugar. At least 50% of the splits are barkless. Truck is a 5.5 bed Nissan Frontier. Typically, this amount of wood is sold at a low price where I am and will be desribed as 'seasoned'. I rarely see stacked/packed loads advertised. If I have to place an official 'amount' to this I'll call it 1/4 cord. I do know that it was 327 splits. Just curiosity. Not looking to adjust my pricing.
Hmmmm, let’s see, oak, hickory, and sugar maple. So in my area, that would be 3 unicorns in the same pickup bed. That’s never happened and never will around here so there’s nothing to compare it with. But if I had it to sell I bet I’d be hard pressed to get $75 -80 without delivery. People around here are extremely tight ashed about paying for firewood, which strikes me as odd because there is such a limited amount of “decent” firewood trees compared to farther east.
2-fitty. Lochness monster was the customer. It was delivered and stacked for under $100. I know it has been kicked around a bit previously. It's crazy to me how low we as a society value individual Labor. In the time it took me to get that wood made and delivered, not to mention 2 years of storage an auto shop will have charged a couple hundred dollars just for labor. This is not a complaint so much as having troubles understanding. Why is it acceptable for a 'shop' to charge $130/hr to change spark plugs but not for someone to split wood? Many are fully capable of both. Many are not. What gives? lol No, I don't wish to become rich selling firewood. My measure of wealth doesn't have much to do with money these days.
That's a $75 load here. At least that's what I'm selling 1/4 cord for. I have a similar sized truck bed and if I stack it above the top of the bed, using vertical splits around the perimeter to trap everything in the middle, I can fit 1/3 cord at a time for $100. So far nobody's balked at the price. Looks like that one split with bark in the lower right of the picture is beech?
It was a beautiful day here so I went to get some wood for the stash at work. With this thread in mind I paid a lot closer attention to the actual time I spent doing it. From the time I left the shop and made the 11 mile drive, gathered the wood, returned to the shop, split it right off the truck and into the stack, was 4 1/2 hour’s ish. I measured the stacked wood and came up with .52 cords. I think the minimum wage in Nebraska is now $15 per hour. So using that number I would have a minimum of $67.50 in just labor. Not to mention fuel, oil, and equipment costs. And then if’n I was gonna sell it, after watching it dry for close to 2 years, I still have to load it again and drive somewhere to unload it again. So even if I was just going 2 miles into town I would have probably another hour invested. there was a little room left so I took 6 rounds off the long straight tree to make a nice load. Forgot to take a picture after loading them.
Sandhillbilly It’s my opinion only way to make $ with wood is like my loggers; A processor. Just too many man hours too produce it and value is what it is. IMO there is similar BTUS in a ton of pellets, cord of fire wood and 100 gallons of heating oil and the prices of all 3 here are about $325 ish
That's a solid face cord plus IMO. I'd sell it for $125-150ish. My half cords are roughly 400 pcs counted from a measured half cord stack. Don't really know what market is here, but chances are the wood is not dry and the volume is less than stated. Been told that numerous times by new customers. If your firewood is better than what is available, don't be afraid to get a premium. Just my .02c
RIGHT!!! I absolutely agree! A processor, some heavy equipment and LOTS of volume is the only way to really make any real money with firewood. And even then you need a market to support it. So basically for myself, (and I’m guessing many others here) it’s basically a little side hustle to an activity that I/we are already doing. I’ve not sold much as far as outright cordage, but I supply bundles for 2 businesses and in the last month have liquidated 8 totes of chunks and uglies. For me, I figure it kinda like the people who make crafty things and sell it around the holidays, or Sentsy dealers or home jewelry makers, etc. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such an individual making their entire living through those efforts. But it’s something we enjoy doing and it puts a little extra jingle in my pocket for play money. During our local downtown Christmas event, a guy asked me about the tote of chunks and uglies in my pickup. I explained what was in it and it was 1/3 cord, and the price for a similar one would be $80. He quickly did the math in his head and exclaimed “$240 FOR A CORD OF FIREWOOD??” I thought he was gonna chit a green squealing worm right there on the sidewalk.
Nice Johnny! It's stuck in my head forever. Like this is... Yeah there were just a few splits mixed in. I musta found a little log of it somewhere. I am always a worry wart as far as load height. If I had a rack like Buzz does no big deal. Always worried about having to emergency stop or whatever. I do do this with my utility trailer to hold the rounds in mo better. There is no Making of any money for me with my firewood. There is a little bit of Earning money though. I find the two as mutually exclusive terms. Feed stock is always gonna be the thorn for a firewood seller. It'd take me two years to gather up enough to hire a processor (to make $ sense). I do feel it is an undervalued commodity. People more or less giving their Labor away. I'm fairly confident unless there is someone selling kiln dried that no one for 25 miles is selling wood as 'nice' as what I am offering. If I advertise, I do tack on a small premium and explain in the ad. Most don't give a crap...wood is wood. It's just a hobby thing for me. Be nice to recoup some funds spend on the incidentals of making firewood. Ideally to take care of the tax bill on a parcel or something. I won't ever become reliant on it (I hope...too old now). A lot of folks including my former self are looking for happiness to come from a pile of money they need to 'make'. I'm working on finding happiness where I am instead of where I think I should be.
I won't crank the splitter for that on a cord... He would his drawers... We don't get Nashvillian prices, but got 5 Benjamins and a cord dumped at a barn about an hour drive from home. Usually about $375-400 local.
Once again it’s best to stay away from the math if you want to feel ok about earning a little walking around money from firewood. I often have the talk with myself that it’s not worth the time invested, especially when folks are demanding, impatient and disloyal. Some people know what they’re getting and are patient and loyal customers. I heard it mentioned on this forum shortly after I joined. You are either giving away your time or your product when selling dry firewood. IMO it is highly devalued and the $200 cord sellers keep the market suppressed. I heard from someone that was getting 2 cords for $280. From what I’ve experienced price point trumps quality for a lot of wood burners that buy their wood. I was hoping to create a high end premium market, but many of those folks are even tighter with their money. They have not made firewood and don’t know what it takes to create a dry product. My problem is I love making firewood and I’d run out of space if I couldn’t make a lot disappear every year. btw I agree that op truckload should fetch at least a Benjamin.
