Firewood

[Bruno of NH]

I'm in the firewood business now
I'm getting 10 to 15 tri-axle loads of logs from a right of way cut.
I wanted the saw logs and I'm also getting the firewood logs ash , beech and yellow birch
I now need a splitter looking for one that won't break the bank .
Any suggestions ?
What was the kinetic one called that some of you liked ?
Was it made in Mass ?
Thanks Bruno

[DelawhereJoe]

What to you is breaking the bank and what cord per hour splitting capacity are you looking for ?

[Bruno of NH]

I don't need top production numbers but some thing that's well built made in the USA or Canada

[newoodguy78]

Not sure if it's the one you're looking for but I've heard good things about the super split.

[DelawhereJoe]

If I had the cash and was looking at a splitter I would go for a Wood Mizer. They look like they will do the job and do it well for years to come. I'm sure if you purchase it in the US its made in the US, you can't ask for anything better.

[Pclem]

Lots of guys have the super split. [Myself included]. Good splitters. I think around 3-$3500 still?. Those woodmizers look good, but I think you've gotta have larger chunks to make good useable firewood. Those box style splitters make alot of splinters and scrap. Nice thing about a single wedge splitter is quality control of every piece. We've got a powersplit vertical machine too. More expensive, but the best splitter we've owned.

[Bruno of NH]

Super split that's the one I was thinking
The woodmizer is great but more than I want to invest at this point
This is a part time thing with milling and building

[thecfarm]

I saw one of those at a show run by electric. Seem odd to see that split with no engine noise. I liked it. Did I say quiet.  ;D

[DelawhereJoe]

So is da site been hit by some hackers or does everyone just like da sound of "smoked suckers" ?

[DelawhereJoe]

Looks like people playing funny with the site, t h e = da.....

[47sawdust]

I had a Supersplit for about 5 years,never a problem.Only reason I sold it was to get one with a log lifter.I'm now using the Timberdevil I purchased in August.This will be my last splitter.It is made in Quebec.It is fast,fun to use,foot actuated hyd.ram,and pricey.$5845 U.S dollars picked up at the factory.

  

  

 



 

[North River Energy]

I take it the wood is 'free'?

Assuming you'll have the logs on site in one batch, consider hiring out the brute force breakdown to a mobile processor.
Your primary investment at that time actually provides a salable product.


While your inventory is drying, find yourself a suitable elevator/conveyor on Craigslist etc, something long enough to fill your dump trailer. Shop around at that point for a fast splitter to do the necessary resplits. Or have one built to your actual needs. 
No idea what your market is like, but the ability to provide a particular block size en masse can really pay off.
I like to scoop blocks from the 'oversized' pile with a tine bucket, then park the loader next to the re-splitter with the bucket at working height. Big reduction in effort, as you're doing a simple pivot to feed the splitter, rather than a lift and pivot.

Material handling is important, so make sure your machinery investments contribute to product flow, rather than creating accidental bottlenecks.

[porcupine]

I have had a 33 ton hydraulic = slow but works. Then bought a Speeco Speed Pro (an imitation Super Split) It was fast but built poorly. I gave it to my daughter and purchased a Super Split with the Honda engine and the larger work table. Works great, solid unit.

I was in a pinch this fall and rented a DYNA diesel processor. My wife operated it while I feed the rack with the logs. Nice machine....but your still working just not as hard.


If I was to go into a firewood business I would go with the processor. Less manual action and more production.

[Peter Drouin]

I have a Timber wolf, Works well.


But 47sawdust, You have something there, Gave me a bunch  of Ideas, If a man had a conveyor to the right of the splitter you could load a truck too.

[North River Energy]

^
http://powersplit.com/single-vertical-splitter/

[47sawdust]

http://www.timberdevil.com/en/

The original mfg. Still in business.Powersplit pirated the design and jacked up the price.Pay more if you like but I would contact Pierre Marion @ Timberdevil.

Peter for my needs a conveyor isn't needed,if I get jammed up I just pull the splitter ahead.It stays hitched to the 4 wheeler and the split wood gets stacked on 1/3 cord pallets.

[Bruno of NH]

Selling more wood today all ash $300 a cord
47 I like your splitter

[Magicman]

I have less firewood today than I had yesterday but more than I will have tomorrow.   

[Bruno of NH]

I can't cut and split the ash fast enough
I'm not running the mill when it's this cold so the firewood happened at a good time

[Kwill]

I have less firewood today than I had yesterday but more than I will have tomorrow.   

me to

[Kwill]

Selling more wood today all ash $300 a cord
47 I like your splitter

if I could get 300 a cord for fire wood that's all I would do is cut it.

[Bruno of NH]

been selling a lot of ash in 1/3 of a cord loads for $100 delivered in the private community next to my place.
there is many second homes for skiing it's been working out well

  

  

  

 

[overclocking]

Bruno, do you have access to a 3pt tractor?

The timberwolf tw3 or tw6 are unstoppable and will literally lift and split anything you put on them. 4 way wedge makes for a single pass and the table on the end allows for you to run a conveyor later if needed. We back the trailer right up to it and it pushes the wood right into the dump.

[Bruno of NH]

Yes I have a mahindra 3540

[Peter Drouin]

I bet that firewood is out of the snow now after all the rain.
Have 6" of snow left, maybe.

[Bruno of NH]

Yes Peter
Very little snow left on the ground
The rain and ice dam washed the end of my road out again
Still getting 2 loads of wood a day from the right of way cutting
Got some nice saw logs this week lots of oak
Been cutting and splitting lots of firewood to sell

[barbender]

I wish we could get $300 a cord up here. I've been selling mine for $180/cord CS&D, and folks aren't knocking my door down for it. There's too many firewood dealers, and too many uneducated firewood customers, IMO. A lot of folks don't buy their wood ahead of time, so they are looking for dry wood. A lot of local guys will advertise their wood as "seasoned oak, cut last winter and split this fall" well that isn't dry wood and I'm not advertising mine that I split this fall as dry when I know it's not. That's what you have to compete with, though. I've been mulling the idea of some sort of firewood kiln, so that I could advertise mine as dry, and whatever moisture content. That's the only way I can see to seperate myself from the split yesterday dry wood horde around here.

[John Mc]

That "cut last winter and split this fall" scam is common around here as well. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners don't really know what to look for. Some of them think they've got it covered by asking "when was this cut?" To which a seller can reply (sometime honestly reply) "a year ago". Long lengths just don't dry much

[Pclem]

I wish we could get $300 a cord up here. I've been selling mine for $180/cord CS&D, and folks aren't knocking my door down for it. There's too many firewood dealers, and too many uneducated firewood customers, IMO. A lot of folks don't buy their wood ahead of time, so they are looking for dry wood. A lot of local guys will advertise their wood as "seasoned oak, cut last winter and split this fall" well that isn't dry wood and I'm not advertising mine that I split this fall as dry when I know it's not. That's what you have to compete with, though. I've been mulling the idea of some sort of firewood kiln, so that I could advertise mine as dry, and whatever moisture content. That's the only way I can see to seperate myself from the split yesterday dry wood horde around here.

I believe presentation goes a long way with firewood. If a guy wants a premium for firewood, don't just tell the folks on craigslist, show them. [ If it's really worth a premium ]. Not many guys go the extra mile for quality firewood.

[Bruno of NH]

I supply good pictures on my adds for the firewood
I also sell 1/3 of a cord loads they sell ,some folks are on a limited budget .
I do carpentry work in a condo community and 1/3 of a cord loads work because the wood fits in the entry wood shed.

[TKehl]

Around here, a lot of people want the recently cut and split stuff because it "looks nicer".  Bright wood where the bark is still attached.  Not all faded grey like the stuff that is really seasoned.   :D

[John Mc]

Around here, a lot of people want the recently cut and split stuff because it "looks nicer".  Bright wood where the bark is still attached.  Not all faded grey like the stuff that is really seasoned.   :D

Do you have an issue with chimney fires in your area?

[4x4American]

Around here, a lot of people want the recently cut and split stuff because it "looks nicer".  Bright wood where the bark is still attached.  Not all faded grey like the stuff that is really seasoned.   :D

Maybe that's why I can't seem to sell any of my old looking slabwood.  Maybe I'll have to S1S it lol

[TKehl]

Fewer than I might expect.  Though there is usually a mobile home or two that burns each year.  (Really, not trying to be sterotypical.)

Of course, the guy that installed our outdoor furnace told us to throw a cup of diesel in it once a week and we wouldn't have to worry about creosote.   :D 

[4x4American]

throw a cup of diesel in it once a week and we wouldn't have to worry about creosote.   :D

Wonder if that'd work in a woodstove eh?

[thecfarm]

never heard of the diesel trick for creosote.

[petefrom bearswamp]

x2 cfarm
My classic burns hot at each damper opening
I dont even look at the chimney after heating season anymore.
Used to get about 2 cups of stuff when I did.
My wood is all at least 2 years dry.

[Magicman]

It's good to see your firewood niche working out Bruno.   8)

[Bruno of NH]

I found a splitter a Huss Abe Lincoln for $150 that needed a engine a friend had one and got all running for an other $100 it runs good
I'm going to use this for now

[Holmes]

  I have a 1hp electric Super Splitter. I bought it used it is now more than 12 years old. It works great, and it's quiet.

[Bruno of NH]

some more pics
a cord of ash going out in the dump
racks loaded for sale by the road
I'm going to start bagging some as a test I do sell bagged kindling

  

  

  

 

[Kwill]

Do you sell to the stores that have the little bundles for sale?

[Bruno of NH]

I have a kindling stand by the road and folks in the area know I have a good product so they stop over and buy
It's the honor system and I do have some that take and not pay
I have a camera up now I can't wait to see who it is

[Bruno of NH]

I once had a snowplow customer who was a bragging Coco Butter not pay me for 2 years
One year while moving snow with 10 wheelers his yard some how got filled with snow one night

[barbender]

I love those stories of no pay dead beats getting their just deserves👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[Bruno of NH]

He's since taken a wide path around me
I will help anyone out in need and do it
I have a hard time with the Coco Butter's stepping on folks

[Kwill]

A local guy was selling wood and he said the other day he took a load and delivered it and after he got it unloaded they said they didn't have the money to pay. Guess he left it and was promised to get payed. I would have loaded it back up and prolly said some pretty mean things to the people.

[barbender]

I probably would've loaded it up too. If you need the charity, at least be courteous enough to let me know beforehand so I can decide if I'd like to help.

[47sawdust]

Bruno........What is a Coco Butter? ....I want to know who to avoid. say_what say_what

[Bruno of NH]

They wear gold chains and man fume
Spray tans and paint their toe nails

[4x4American]

Lol when I was 15 I worked at a grocery store and the front end manager Tanisha wore coco butter..she used to always have a tube at her station and it did smell nice

[47sawdust]

When your 15 a lot of things smell nice. ;D

[Bruno of NH]

All out of ash at the moment  >:(
Selling green mixed hardwood now for $180 a cord and moving it good 

[Bruno of NH]

Still selling the wood
Have some friends in the concrete business that are slow they have been helping out.

  

  

  

  

 

[realzed]

When your 15 a lot of things smell nice. ;D

AND look a Hell of a lot better than later on too!