Thread: How's this sound to you fellas...?

A fella on CL is selling beech in log form about 12ft lengths for around $275 to $290 a dump truck load. Says it'll yield over 2 cord when all's said and done. I hear beech is an excellent wood to burn...can't say I've ever had any though. Good deal or no? How is it to split with a maul?

It's just under oak on the scale. Splits pretty easy, makes good heat with not a ton of coals. I've beenn burning it all month.......

RD

I guess I'd want to know how much over 2 cords it will yield. That's kinda vague.

We talking 2.1 or 2.7 cords?

Lets say it is just slightly over 2 cords, and you pay $290, then you have to cut and split that doesn't sound like a great deal to me.

As for splitting I have heard different experiences but the limited amount of Beech I have been exposed to was very difficult to split, granted that was before I had hydraulic splitter.

While cutting up logs with a chainsaw is one of the greatest things anyone can do...this to me doesn't sound like a good financial deal. To simplify this...lets say you will yield 2 cords and you will pay $290. That is $145 a cord and all the "hard" work has yet to take place. You got to cut, split, stack, season. I would bet that you could buy a cord of seasoned, split wood in the summer time in your area for $100. If you don't plan to burn this wood this winter, you could spend the same money in the summer and have the wood already cut and split. Have a great Holiday! WCA

You seasoned guys bring up some very good points to consider...

Btw, I love the cuttin' an splittin' part!

Originally Posted by thombat4

I love the cuttin' an splittin' part!

So do I .... you should offer him half his price. He probably won't sell it for what he's asking.

Gotta agree witht he others who say it's not a great deal. Even if it were 3 cords, you are still near $100/ cord ($290/ load). I don't know what the firewood market in Cleveland is like, but I can have a crod cut, split, and delivered here for $125- $150. If wood in your area goes for $300 a cord, then it may be a good deal.

It's hard to ask guys here what is a good deal and what isn't given the variability in pricing across the country. You have to look around and compare what you are getting for your money. Of course, it may be worth it to you to save $20-$30 per cord just because it is what you want to do, is convenient, or saves time. If this might be your only source of wood and the only way you get to use your saws, then go for it. The value of the product is up to you.

Yep, Mike Pa carried my thought to a higher level.
One more advantage to doing your own cutting and splitting - it's all the right SIZE! I can't stand it when somebody else cuts my stuff.

Here in east central Ohio, a cord can be had for $100 delivered. If I had to buy my wood, don't think I'd pay $50 a cord for logs

Probably not the best deal but there are definately worse out there.. depends on your supply and demand... If you think you'll be short on supply for next years wood then it ain't too bad of a deal, and beech is great firewood.

I just shot him an email asking if he'd sell me a load for $200 delivered. We'll see what happens.

I have burned a little beech.

Split like butter. Burned like crud.

Maybe his price is high, because here, they log beech for vaneer I belive.

I wouldn't personally pay that much. I have had offers to haul in ash logs for about 100 a cord. I said no thanks, simply beause I wouldn't be able to make money selling it.

Originally Posted by freemind

I have burned a little beech.

Split like butter. Burned like crud.

.

??
Beech is some of the best burning hardwood there is. I've hand split many cords of 24" long beech. None of it split like butter.

Originally Posted by sesmith

??
Beech is some of the best burning hardwood there is. I've hand split many cords of 24" long beech. None of it split like butter.

Well, the silver beech I split did. Not a tough piece in the log. Everyone I work with claimed it would melt my wood furnace. It didn't. Didn't get as hot as dead elm.

To the beech's credit, it was starting to get punky. I did let it dry out. (It was good and dry). Just didn't get hot enough.

Originally Posted by freemind

Well, the silver beech I split did. Not a tough piece in the log. Everyone I work with claimed it would melt my wood furnace. It didn't. Didn't get as hot as dead elm.

To the beech's credit, it was starting to get punky. I did let it dry out. (It was good and dry). Just didn't get hot enough.

Guess I'm not sure what you're calling silver beech. The only thing I can find on that is this species in New Zealand here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothofagus_menziesii

What I was referring to is American Beech...very common in the Northeast US:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagus_grandifolia

Very common firewood here as most is diseased with beech bark disease. Probably pretty common in Indiana too?