mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
That would be nice to know where they are at. I could barrow a buddies straight truck and buy them all out 
Need Ideas
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mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
No it could not be moddified "well it could, but would be a lot of work" we have two Corn Pro trailers. One is a 10' footer and the other is a 16' trailer. If we get just a cord order the small trailer is used, and if it is 2-3cords the larger trailer does that load. Tried putting more than 3in it, but the DOT officer did not like that and issued a warning not to be caught doing that again!
KiwiBro
Mill 'em, nails be damned.
If the demand is such you can go to 800-1000 cords per year, how much would you need to keep on hand to satisfy peak demand in a week? What happens, if the kiln or processor or tractor or staff break down during peak season? Getting to my point, I don't think a kiln is the answer, at least not yet.
If you can dry 200 cords naturally and customers are happy, then you can stack three high and dry 600 cords naturally, without the added stress of making stock during peak season and without the added cost of a kiln or roof cover. I guess it comes down to the cost of the crates.
If you are doing 800-1000 cords, how much of that is peak season and can you comfortably delver that much during peak season?
Also, just because you could sell 1000 cords a year, is it profitable to do so? It might be the first 200 are the least profitable, the next 500 are the most profitable and then it tapers off again.
Unrelated, but where in MI are you located?
mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
Thank you for that link. I just sent them an email inquiring in their bags. They look pretty neat!
mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
Muskegon
zogger
Tree Freak
The only cheaper option I can think of is stack the wood carefully on a single pallet, say 1/3rd cord, and steel strap it on. Deliver it right with the pallet, cut the steel banding for the customer. Would require some different equipment, namely one of those smaller stand up forklifts you see building supplies delivered with, right on the back of the truck, plus the truck.
And hire a responsible adult and pay him a fair wage, don't try to cheap by with unreliable teenagers, if that is all you have in your area. My boss can't ever keep anyone under around 45 years old to show up and work on the farm here, absolutely zero of them have been reliable or non drug addicts or non drunks/thieves. He winds up having to fire them constantly. A guy in his 50s, his wife, and me (I am 63) are the only employes now and he needs around 3-4 more but just can't find them.
And not to start a war with anyone, but I have been keeping track of the dozens of employees he has had since I have been here, the more tattoos, the less reliable they are and the more likely to start stealing stuff right after they are hired. Don't know why, but what I have noticed. Really, not putting anyone down who has any, just what I have noticed.
And hire a responsible adult and pay him a fair wage, don't try to cheap by with unreliable teenagers, if that is all you have in your area. My boss can't ever keep anyone under around 45 years old to show up and work on the farm here, absolutely zero of them have been reliable or non drug addicts or non drunks/thieves. He winds up having to fire them constantly. A guy in his 50s, his wife, and me (I am 63) are the only employes now and he needs around 3-4 more but just can't find them.
And not to start a war with anyone, but I have been keeping track of the dozens of employees he has had since I have been here, the more tattoos, the less reliable they are and the more likely to start stealing stuff right after they are hired. Don't know why, but what I have noticed. Really, not putting anyone down who has any, just what I have noticed.
KiwiBro
Mill 'em, nails be damned.
Given your volume, if their pricing doesn't stack up, you can buy the bags direct from the manufacturer in China.
Instead of making crates could you just make a round wire bin that sits on the concrete (or gravel for drainage?)that you could drop your wood into from the conveyor? 1/2 to 1 cord size piles. When the wood is seasoned just undo the wire bin and load the wood with your tractor into the trailer. That way you would not have to handle the wood at all.
Wire corn crib? http://cornpickers.activeboard.com/t37597798/corn-crib-manufacturers/
Wire corn crib? http://cornpickers.activeboard.com/t37597798/corn-crib-manufacturers/
mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
I would hope those bags would be good for more than a one time use. Would be nice if they lasted at a year or two.
mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
That is an ingenious idea. They work to keep corn dry so you would think firewood would be the same!
There are guys that use firewood bags on this site. I dont know any by name but have read some stuff on them. You need to use the search tool on the site and look up someone who uses them. They could help you determine if they are re-usable are just consumable. Im thinking its the later. Plus, you now have an additional cost to your product, can you or your customers afford to absorb that?
mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
I seen that pic with the peacocks "or whatever they are" on there. Lol
Bunch of great ideas coming from you guys. Guess it's time to sit down with my buddy and see where they go.
Personaly I love the corn crib idea. That site said around $8k for one. Not that bad considering the price of some of the alternatives!
nathon918
Addicted to ArboristSite
your operation sounds crazy to me... you want to do 800-1000 cord a year but don't want to spend the money on essential equipment???
stacking or crating that much wood is just insane, and a big waste of time which = money... if you were drying in a kiln that would be different ... buy a conveyor, pile the wood with it, then get a loader (not a tractor) with a grapple to turn the piles for drying and loading the truck...then just buy a real dump truck instead of hauling with a pickup and dump trailer!
used big equipment is cheap...20-30K with get you a pretty good sized loader, and the same with a dump truck...its a 1 time expense, that will save you time and money, not like the everyday expense of time and money you have now...
this is how most volume sellers around here handle it...they wouldn't even consider stacking
stacking or crating that much wood is just insane, and a big waste of time which = money... if you were drying in a kiln that would be different ... buy a conveyor, pile the wood with it, then get a loader (not a tractor) with a grapple to turn the piles for drying and loading the truck...then just buy a real dump truck instead of hauling with a pickup and dump trailer!
used big equipment is cheap...20-30K with get you a pretty good sized loader, and the same with a dump truck...its a 1 time expense, that will save you time and money, not like the everyday expense of time and money you have now...
this is how most volume sellers around here handle it...they wouldn't even consider stacking
USMC615
Wood's Tougher Than Woodpecker Lips...
Didn't have to read but the first sentence and 'liked' that one...kinda like cuttin a 5 acre yard...with a push mower. As Nathon said, gotta pony up some green to get to that 800-1000 cord plateau.
nathon918
Addicted to ArboristSite
worked for a place that had this idea..."we can mow our own lawn cheaper than paying the landscapers"...so they bought a 54" scag zero turn rider, and a 21" push mower...for near 30 acre of lawn between two buildings, took me and the other "maintenance" guy which is an electrician 2 1/2 days to do it...which is the same as paying 1 person full time to mow the lawn+ equipment and fuel costs... it cost them more than triple what the landscapers charged, and none of the work for our "real" job was getting done...yeah that was a GREAT idea...only lasted 1 season until they figured out they ****ed up!
USMC615
Wood's Tougher Than Woodpecker Lips...
worked for a place that had this idea..."we can mow our own lawn cheaper than paying the landscapers"...so they bought a 54" scag zero turn rider, and a 21" push mower...for near 30 acre of lawn between two buildings, took me and the other "maintenance" guy which is an electrician 2 1/2 days to do it...which is the same as paying 1 person full time to mow the lawn+ equipment and fuel costs... it cost them more than triple what the landscapers charged, and none of the work for our "real" job was getting done...yeah that was a GREAT idea...only lasted 1 season until they figured out they ****ed up!
I agree with ya there...sometimes ya just wanna say 'Hello...anybody in there?' Just foolish.
nathon918
Addicted to ArboristSite
to the OP this is one of the larger operations in my area http://www.centralmasstree.com/firewood.htm they have some pictures just to give you an idea...
mijdirtyjeep
ArboristSite Operative
It's not that we don't want to spend the money, we just want to do it right this time. We started out small, more for fun and something to do. The equipment we bought at the time was more than adequate to do the job back then. When you say don't want to spend the money it made me LOL a little. Very short list of the bigger things we have and they were well over $250k. Here is just a couple pieces we have already.
Multitek 2040.
2014 Chevy 2500hd duramax
Kubota l4740 full cab.
Wacker Neuson WL37 with highflo
2-corn pro trailers
20' elevator for the processor
Supper Split HD
Bundle wood wrapper
The Silverado is forsale now along with the Wacker. If we are going to grow, they are not going to fit the new plans, and would free up some cash.
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