In need of some ideas.

[stumpy]

I'm located in Wisconsin and have an opportunity to get some logs in the Indianapolis area. Here's the deal: The guy has a 1 acre lot that needs to be partialy cleared for a home. On it are about 25 trees. Mostly red and white oak with some hickory. Most are very straight for 40 to 50 feet then crown. Average diameter is 20". My obvious problem is I'm 6 hours away. I can have the logs free, but he want the trees and brush gone. It's not feasable for me to haul equip down there. So here are my area that need ideas
1) I need a source for trucking to haul to Wisconsin
2) is it likely I could find someone in the firewood business that would cut the trees in exchange for some of the wood
3) Is it likely I could find someone down there that would saw in exchange for some of the wood
4) Any other ideas????

[DanG]

Outwardly, that sounds like a great deal, and it would be a  shame to see those logs go to waste.  On the other hand, it sounds a bit like a nightmare job.  That many trees of that size on 1 acre seems like a pretty tight place to work if you're only "partially" clearing.  Will you be able to drop them without a bucket truck?  Assuming you can, there will still be an awful lot of tops and brush to deal with.  If you can't transport your equipment to the job site, you would probably have more invested in the cleanup than the logs are worth.

If you can figure a way to get them out without breaking the bank, you might find a lot where you can store the logs until you can transport them.  Based on the info you have given, I'm afraid I would respectfully decline the offer.  I'd probably have to get a very large mug of beer to cry into, though. :'(

[sigidi]

Free logs is free logs, but like DanG says it may end up being more spensive to do than get any return.

How about looking for a local fella - setting him in touch with th eland owner and taking a percentage. result easy money, easy work??

[Ianab]

Yeah.. I hate missing out on free logs too  ;) :D

Now... assuming you are able to fall and buck the logs and get them stacked up.. and ... I'm assuming there will be a backhoe or excavator available that can clear the site of stumps and stack logs out of the way for you, pile up the rubbish for burning or chipping etc.

Now can you find a local mobile sawyer that will saw your stack of logs on shares?

Then you just have to haul home a big stack of sawn boards.

Dont be afraid to hit the owner up for some time with his machinery that will need to be on site anyway. If you weren't dealing with the logs he would probably have to PAY someone else to do the job, AND pay to haul the logs away. Thats the problem with small amounts of trees, its not worth the bigger operators moving in heavy machinery for 20 trees. I have a couple of similar jobs on the back burner right now, where the trees have to go, but it's going to cost more for machinery hire than the logs are worth.  $3000 to fall and drag out $1500 of logs.  : Still it will reduce the cost of the job if I buy the logs, or saw them on shares. At least the owner gets some saving or something usefull.

Anyway, make some calls and if you can put it all together... good, otherwise you are only out a few phone calls and say "sorry cant do it". If you can get it organised, you get a big stack of wood for few days work.

Good luck

Ian

[sawyerkirk]

Well, ya know the first place to call would be Woodmizer in Indy!! surely the can hook you up with something! Trucking those logs is gonna be costly, I like the idea of having someone saw the lumber for you down there. Even if the can just square them up, then trucking might not be as much of a problem. The going rate for freight is $2 - $2.50/mile.

[Bibbyman]

I'd pass on the deal - but that's just me.

The second option would be to have someone in Indy saw them into lumber and then find a market there,  or haul the lumber back. 

There is probably a couple of thousand WM mills around Indy. John Hicks is running a couple.

[OneWithWood]

I would not take the owners word for how good the trees are.  I occasionally get offers of 'free' trees and the trees are never as good as the owner portrays.  I am not saying people intentionally mislead, they just do not know enough about what makes a quality tree a quality tree or what the costs are of harvesting the trees properly.  Cleaning up 20 stumps and 20 tops is going to take some time and equipment.  If some of the trees are of veneer quality it might be worth doing. 

[stumpy]

First of all, Thanks for the input so far. As usual, Forum people are willing to helpand the combined experience is, as they say in the commercial, "PRICELESS".
I need to clarify some things. We have seen the trees and they are as I stated. Also, we don't have to remove the stumps, just the trees.
I was kinda hoping there might be someone on the forum that either cuts firewood or trucks logs that may be interested.  I have a portable mill, but I'm still wrestling with the idea of hauling it 6 hours and spending enough time down there to make it worth it.

[Bibbyman]

Check with WM, John Hicks, or MM and see if they've got a mill they'll rent you for a weekend.

[GF]

Prior to thinking about the deal I would make sure he showed exactly which trees he wants cut.  Sometimes they want the trees cleared when you are talking to them but when you show up with a saw they change there mind and want to keep the larger trees and let you cut down the small worthless trees. 

[iain]

How much are you going to save the owner by whipping them out?
can you do a deal to help with expence's?


iain (listening to booker t) 8)

[Randy]

Seem's You really want to cut these tree's so I want try to talk you out of it, so why don't you take a vacation from your work/or Long weekend/ whatever it takes/ shoot---pitch a tent, make it fun-----and round up some help----Haul your sawmill to this site, cut/fell all the tree's, saw them like you want, air stack them in the back corner of the lot and let them dry for a few months, then come back with a big trailer/rent a Big U-Haul truck and haul them home, they will be alot lighter and you are only hauling usable lumber, Just My Idea/ it's what I would do if I wanted the tree's, Get everything and your help lined up and Go For It. Randy

[Furby]

Good idea Randy, but the lumber might grow feet! ;)

I like Bibby's idea.

[Randy]

Welllllll---------------It would be very simple to find a honest home owner close by that would let him stack this lumber in their back yard and keep a eye on it for a couple of months!!!!!!!!!!