Buying firewood in log length

[strunk57]

Hello all, I come again in need of advice, haha.

I can buy firewood in log length, oak, hicky, maple, beech, ash.  the cost is $20 a ton. Guy can haul a 10 ton load.

Im figuring that will make 4 cords, if I sell at 50 a rick, I would be making $400 a load minus fuel?

Does this seem right to you guys?

[Autocar]

I use to sell firewood log length for $15.00 a ton but the people I sold to said when they cut it up they could buy it already cut to length  for the same price. Anymore I cut what I burn here at home and thats all  ;).

[strunk57]

A couple family members buy this wood, they say nothing but good things, I have seen the load cut and split, seems to me I can make an extra dollar on it.

The logger says pulp is 25.xx ton, but 2hrs away, I think $20 is fair.

I was just hoping one of you math whiz's could tell me if my estimates are close?

[strunk57]

I use to sell firewood log length for $15.00 a ton but the people I sold to said when they cut it up they could buy it already cut to length  for the same price. Anymore I cut what I burn here at home and thats all  ;).

Did you get a number, I would buy all my yard would hold cut to 16"length for 15 ton, lol

[r.man]

Tourists who come here like to quote the price they can buy something 3 to 4 hrs drive away. I just laugh. The price at another place doesn't matter unless you are across the street from there or shipping is free and you don't need it for a week.

[strunk57]

anybody have a calculator or some kind of formula I could use, I figured several of you guys would know off the top of your head.

[beenthere]

anybody have a calculator or some kind of formula I could use, I figured several of you guys would know off the top of your head.

Seems you had if figured out in the OP. What else in addition to that would you like?

You referred to a "rick". What size stack is that?  Different people have different ideas what that is.
I'm thinking 4' x 8' by whatever the length of the wood is bucked. In other words, a face cord.

[Corley5]

Processing wood by hand to sell at 50.00 a face cord is a lot of work for not much payback especially when you're buying and having the wood delivered in log form.  It's not worth it for me and my processing operation is fully mechanized.

[strunk57]

anybody have a calculator or some kind of formula I could use, I figured several of you guys would know off the top of your head.

Seems you had if figured out in the OP. What else in addition to that would you like?

You referred to a "rick". What size stack is that?  Different people have different ideas what that is.
I'm thinking 4' x 8' by whatever the length of the wood is bucked. In other words, a face cord.

Just to see if my calculations are right is all, and yes, a rick at 4x8.

[strunk57]

Processing wood by hand to sell at 50.00 a face cord is a lot of work for not much payback especially when you're buying and having the wood delivered in log form.  It's not worth it for me and my processing operation is fully mechanized.

If its not worth it to you with your fully mechanized operation, what is worth it to you, or in other words how do you get your wood? or do you only cut for yourself.

[Corley5]

I've got a CTL logging operation and process a portion of the hardwood pulp I produce into firewood.  At one time I thought buying hardwood pulp by the 20 cord train load to turn into firewood to sell would work.  By the time I figured the cost of the wood, processing costs, delivery costs, time etc it's not worth it for me.  I can buy 20 cord train loads for $70.00 a cord.  That's around 100,000 lbs green.  That 20 cords will cut and split to around 50 face cords depending on the quality of the wood.  Sell the 50 FC at 50 bucks each and gross $2,500.00.  Take out $1,400.00 for more wood.  There's $1,100.00 dollars left to cover fuel, delivery if that's what you're doing, maintenance and repairs, and to pay yourself.  Cutting, splitting, stacking, loading, unloading if you don't have a dumping vehicle fifty face cords for a few hundred bucks is a lot of work for not many $$$  It's not worth it for me and I have a firewood processor with a loading elevator, Bobcat for handling logs and a dump trailer as well as a dump truck.  It's not much better at $60.00 bucks a face cord.  Here's a link to wood weights http://multitekinc.com/app/newsletter/view_article/50,1,4,,4.html

[strunk57]

Thanks Corley, I see now. I guess im a hands on type of person but seeing the numbers help.
Thanks for the link.

[Corley5]