Buying firewood

[cattb]

Del I just remembered another great source of firewood. Call any local sawmills, alot of them still sell slab wood and it is usually (around here anyway) 1/2 the price of chunk wood. Though this is usually something you do during the summer months so it has plenty of time to dry out you can use it right away if your in a pinch. I have done this many times since my uncle owns the sawmill I usually purchase from, I get priority over others  .

The only drawbacks are you might get larger pieces one time and smaller ones the next, you just need to plan out what you burn when (smaller pieces during the day and bigger ones at night. You also will need to stack it yourself because most of the time the dump it off the back of a truck into a huge pile. The plus side is none of it ever has to be split, you won't need to search for/split off kindling (lots of small pieces already present), and there is usually nice flat sides that you can stack together when putting in the stove (helping to make it burn longer.

don't forget cull logs from any logging company or anyone logging

[dkff49]

don't forget cull logs from any logging company or anyone logging

i didn't think of that. mostly because there are several paper mills close to here that take most of that up.

either way if he is looking for wood that he won't have to work, slab wood is a great source. cheap price and way less work that cutting it yourself.

[Flench]

logging company's will not let you go in and cut the top's because I was told if I got hert there insurance would not cover me . Now that's just what they told me ..

[dkff49]

logging company's will not let you go in and cut the top's because I was told if I got hert there insurance would not cover me . Now that's just what they told me ..

I'm not sure if you are just trying to let del know that you already tried that or reponding to something already mentioned here, but I didn't see anywhere mentioned to ask logging companies for permission to cut up tops. However many times if you see them cutting on someone's private property, you can go ask the property owner and many times they will let you cut the tops (less for them to clean up). I did this once before and the guy charged me $10 a truck load. I heated my house for $150 for the whole year, I was really desperate that year since I ran out of places to cut.

BTW in case anyone doesn't know slab wood is the outside pieces that sawmills cut off when they saw logs into lumber and cull logs are logs that are too small and/or crooked to be cut into lumber.

[Flench]

I cut wood for a living a few year's ago and was trying to find a place to cut some wood . That's how I know .
I have a sawmill by my house and they use all there pieces to make press board . No free wood there ..just saying ..mite be different where you guy's are at ..

[bj229r]

Great place is construction sites where they have to clear tons of land...they usually just push the trees over and pile em up....but these sorts of things have to be done in spring/early summer, that they might be ready for winter. Any tree that has been laying sideways for any amount of time is worthless, even after splitting, for months. We burn 5-6 cords each winter (depends on whether wife is working or not, as she reFUSES to wear stuff like socks or sweaters--- ), and my annual hunt starts in May. I suppose it would cost a couple grand to just BUY all this wood...I'm weighing pros and cons....

[crazierthanu]

Just try not to throw anything big in the fire (cardboard etc) My chimney and part of my house caught fire last year on CHRISTMAS EVE because of it.

[bj229r]

logging company's will not let you go in and cut the top's because I was told if I got hert there insurance would not cover me . Now that's just what they told me ..

I just got back from an abandoned site with a truckload, going back out for another--it's at that stage in between logging, and burning the individual piles of stuff that isn't suitable for the sawmill or commercial firewood. Just paid $523 to fill propane tanks..REALLY don't wanna do THAT again before the fall

[Flench]

Hey WTG on the wood... It never hurts to ask ...Yeah ,  A lot of people are trying to get away from that gas . Why I will cutting some extra wood this week . It will pay for my Track-IR5 ..plus
BTW: On the Oak . The reason I like Red Oak over White Oak is , it's easier to bust and when it's froze it will bust in one good swing .You will not do that with any other Oak .Plus the Red Oak sell good , looks good busted ..

[Ripsnort]

Now I just pity you for living nowhere near any forests or trees.  Not saying one should just go out into the woods and cut down some firewood illegaly, but there is plenty of wood out there in the woods already cut down and essentialy there for the taking.  Also as others have posted here, when ya live in/near the woods, need some firewood, and have the right tools on hand, people often are more than thrilled for you to come over to their land, use your tools to cleanup some trees that have fallen over and then help yourself to the spoils.

Why do you think I live nowhere near forests or trees?
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/21802801/378949772.jpg
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/21802801/378949773.jpg
I have an Elk preserve federally protected in my backyard.

Around here, wood is at a premium. You can harvest the slash piles on forest roads just 15 minutes from here, but you're competing with hundreds of others as well.  I did it for 2 years as a method to heat a double wide I used to live in when I was 20 years old.  It was very time consuming.

People who clear their acreage in these parts get HUGE sums of money for the existing trees on their property.  A typical cord of wood costs $175 for good seasoned wood. You can get unseasoned crappy wood (poplar) for as little as $125/cord

[Masherbrum]

Why do you think I live nowhere near forests or trees?
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/21802801/378949772.jpg
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/21802801/378949773.jpg
I have an Elk preserve federally protected in my backyard.

Around here, wood is at a premium. You can harvest the slash piles on forest roads just 15 minutes from here, but you're competing with hundreds of others as well.  I did it for 2 years as a method to heat a double wide I used to live in when I was 20 years old.  It was very time consuming.

People who clear their acreage in these parts get HUGE sums of money for the existing trees on their property.  A typical cord of wood costs $175 for good seasoned wood. You can get unseasoned crappy wood (poplar) for as little as $125/cord

Those Sitka Spruces have been photoshopped!!!   Next you'll tell us you live near a Lake in Washington!!!!!   

[Ripsnort]

Those Sitka Spruces have been photoshopped!!!   Next you'll tell us you live near a Lake in Washington!!!!!   

Who me? 
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/22567437/381028581.jpg

[Reschke]

Got some great deals down here on firewood one winter. This guy was selling slab and cull wood from his sawmill for $25 a truck/small trailer load; I borrowed the company truck (Chevrolet full size with a long bed) and our 8 foot company trailer. I paid the guy $50 a day for 1 week and ended up with enough wood for 2 years down here. Heck when we sold our house I sold the remaining wood to the new buyer for $500 and he was happy. I probably left 4 cords there when we moved.

[Masherbrum]

Who me? 
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/22567437/381028581.jpg

 

[Shuffler]

Thanks for all the help, gentleman. Except Shuffler, may he eat yellow snow.