Scrap Pile.

Bogue Chitto · February 16, 2012, 04:38:21 PM

I am always having people come by wanting my scraps from my saw mill. I try to keep some out of the burn pile to give away, but some want to go into the burn pile. I always say no because it is stacked high and I don't want them to get hurt or me to get sued :(. Do any of you have this problem?

metalspinner · February 16, 2012, 05:18:51 PM

If someone wants your "scraps" that bad, they must have value. Maybe you're missing an opportunity to make some extra $$?

redbeard · February 16, 2012, 05:28:06 PM

I will firewood the bigger stuff, I made a firewood cutting deck with 6x6 and layed them out on two beams so when I run the chainsaw between the 6x6 they are 16" long. Throw them in pile and let people load there pickups for extra cash. The trimmings I run threw the chipper there is some money in that also. Burnning in my area is not agood option.

Bogue Chitto · February 16, 2012, 05:35:55 PM

Quote from: metalspinner on February 16, 2012, 05:18:51 PM
If someone wants your "scraps" that bad, they must have value. Maybe you're missing an opportunity to make some extra $$?

That is what I don't understand. Why do they want this? Am I missing something? It all under one inch slabs or edges off boards.

Taylortractornut · February 16, 2012, 06:06:42 PM

Alot of hunting clubs use them for camp fire piles. Id I get my mill soon Im building a pto cordwood saw. I burn wood in the green house and the house. But alot of campsites are buying it for 5 to 10 bucks a pick up load. The mill I was about to buy he give the pine away just to move it but sells the hardwood.

metalspinner · February 16, 2012, 08:53:50 PM

What kinds of woods do you normally saw?

Cedar and cypress scraps can keep a guy busy building birdhouse for quiet a while.

Hardwood's are great for fires like Taylor mentioned.

Do these "customers" ever buy some of the good stuff from you? Maybe next time you can mention that pile is for your customers to use as an extra benefit from you.

Instead of throwing a match on it, maybe you can donate it to a worthy cause and use it as a tax deduction? Scouts and churches are always on the look out for that sort of service.

WDH · February 16, 2012, 10:27:44 PM

Sometimes I give the slabs to a church group that donates them to needy people. Sometimes I sell them on Craigslist for about $10.00 - $15.00 a pick-up load. Usually on the first day that the ad runs, they get bought. it is a hassle for me to fool with them, so I want to see them gone. Mine are 95% hardwood, so they make great firewood.

Bogue Chitto · February 17, 2012, 08:58:32 AM

Hard to sell fire wood this year down in south Louisiana. Its hot this winter 8).

millwright · February 17, 2012, 08:36:01 PM

In my area we have people waiting in line for the slabs for firewood, it is a good sideline income.

WDH · February 17, 2012, 09:51:33 PM

Quote from: Bogue Chitto on February 17, 2012, 08:58:32 AM
Hard to sell fire wood this year down in south Louisiana. Its hot this winter 8).

Market the slabs as "Bonfire wood". Country folks, maybe even Cajuns, like to have fires :D.

Bogue Chitto · February 17, 2012, 10:48:27 PM

Good idea WDH. There are many bonfires on the Mississippi river around Christmas time. ;) Thanks.

Magicman · February 18, 2012, 08:57:46 AM

When I have an excess slab problem, I just cut most of them into 4' lengths and stack them beside of the road.

I prop my "FREE WOOD" sign up and they do not last very long.

This guy is loading his truck.

Every scrap is gone. One fellow who was obviously "needy" walked up the hill and with tears in his eyes, thanked me for the wood. I did too after he left.

Bogue Chitto · February 18, 2012, 10:35:11 AM

Good idea MM. I will try that.

Silver_Eagle · February 18, 2012, 12:16:21 PM

That's awesome MM. Gave some gentleman wood heat that was probably desperately needed for his family.

Magicman · February 18, 2012, 01:33:31 PM

I will never forget that guy and I will also never pass up an opportunity to help someone in like manner. It just is not always about the money.

Clark · February 18, 2012, 01:43:44 PM

Quote from: Bogue Chitto on February 16, 2012, 05:35:55 PMThat is what I don't understand. Why do they want this? Am I missing something? It all under one inch slabs or edges off boards.

I've been reading about the new gassification wood stoves out there. Not only will their popularity increase but they may be the only legal option in many areas in the future. From what I've read they burn best using smaller pieces of wood, not the whole log, fill it up procedure that many with OWB are used to. Could this put more value on the smaller pieces of wood in the future? I'm really not sure but if I lived in area where gassifiers were mandated I would certainly test the market with smaller pieces.

Magicman - The more I read your posts the more I think "DanG, I wish he was my neighbor."

Clark

PC-Urban-Sawyer · February 18, 2012, 04:29:51 PM

Quote from: Clark on February 18, 2012, 01:43:44 PM
...
Magicman - The more I read your posts the more I think "DanG, I wish he was my neighbor."

Clark

Makes me realize we should all be that kind of neighbor to those around us...

Herb

MotorSeven · February 19, 2012, 03:44:36 PM

I think I am going to do what Majic does once i have enough cut up for my wood shed.

Clark are you talking about "Cat" stoves". They have been around a while and I have also been reading about them. Wood for them has to be 2 years air dried or it clogs the Cat. Yes, smaller fires or you can over fire them. The Cats are made out of either ceramic or SS, and depending on size can be expensive to replace.

They are supposed to use a lot less wood, but it sure sounds like a hassle to me. I can stuff 8 big 24" splits(cut 6 months ago) into my vintage Hearthstone H1 and get a ton of heat out of it all night long. Not sure If I want to play with a Cat....., maybe a Cougar though :D

SPIKER · February 19, 2012, 05:02:12 PM

Quote from: MotorSeven Not sure If I want to play with a Cat....., maybe a Cougar though :D
/quote]

yep those sound fun, got me a cougar in the other room fired her up a bit ago and getting a nice cold shoulder now hahaha yep gotta watch out for them COUGARS! :D ;D

Mark

Bibbyman · February 19, 2012, 06:01:27 PM

Years back we couldn't give slabs away. We cut up and burned some for our own use but burned probably 90%. Then we started charging $10/PU load – customer loads himself. A few started getting them, then more, then more until now we get rid of most all we make as soon as we make them. And we're sawing at least twice what we were sawing some 10 years ago.

For a few years we stockpiled slabs and had a mountain of them by late fall when the customers started showing up. But we would soon run out. Some customers got to where they were brining trailers and leaving them and we'd dump right onto their trailer from the mill. We'd charge $10 for a smaller utility trailer and $15 for larger and $20 for a big gooseneck load. The money was more for the interruption cost than the value of the wood. We were glad to get rid of the slabs and not have to burn them. We've had up to five trailers on our lot waiting for slabs. We have two now.

Last spring I had a cleanup burn but have not had to burn since. Customers with trailers have been hauling all summer and fall. This winter has been exceptionally mild but we've still had disappointed slab customers that had to come back later.