Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[zogger]

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/content/wet-weather-leaves-wood-supply-whittled

I'm sorry but I'll never pay more than propane for the privilege of burning wood.

The guy quoted has a pretty good racket going as my coworker pays $150 a cord for mixed hardwood delivered to western Minneapolis so $600 is not the standard rate. If it was I'd change careers lol.

You never know man. Last winter, you couldn't get propane here for two weeks, and after that, it was in limited supply, no tank fill ups. My boss couldn't get any and he fills 3-20,000 gallon tanks, you can say he is a good customer. Dry firewood ran out, none available, I think I was the last guy with dry willing to let go of some. I could have sold every stick I had, dry or green, but I ain't dumb and not hitting my personal heat stash.

Could be people know their propane tank won't get them through a harsh winter, and maybe not be able to get any like last winter, so are willing to stockpile high priced wood as insurance, just in case.

My friend in town is switching propane companies, I told him to double the size of his tank and get it filled now, he agreed that was a good idea.

 

[spike60]

This shortage issue is definitelty adding some members to our scrounging fraternity. Have two stories just from today with guys picking up chains, saws and supplies. Both need a cord or 2 more to get through the season, and they're usual suppliers have no seasoned stuff left. I think the real impact of this has yet to be felt. And around here at least, prices haven't gone up yet. I think the people who are really going to be screwed are the people who buy it a cord at a time throughout the winter. Some are just nitwits, but many can't come up with the money to buy the entire winters wood all at once.

!st Guy has some blowdowns in a not easily accessable part of his property so they've been sitting there for 2 years. But he yanked the deck off his lawn tractor and he's gonna work his way back there and harvest that wood.

2nd guy came in to pick up his 51 that we serviced and said that in addition to a couple of standing dead's he's been dragging out all the limbs that they would normally burn in the fire pit, but this year he'll need it for the stove.

On the bright side is that this is a heavily wooded area and pretty much a scrounger's paradise. I can't imagine it being any better really. Anyone with any property at all can harvest a decent amount of wood.

Not real unusual for this time of year, but the store was really buzzing the last few days. LOTS of oil sales. People are way more diligent in picking up saws and chains that are done. Some come over as soon as you call them. People generally want things done "by the weekend" and we're pretty good at accomodating them. We actually got every saw and chain done this week. (not always the case )

 

[dave_dj1]

I received a call this week from my buddy who is having his land logged again. Not only is the logging going on but he is clearing for a large garage. He has a bunch of locust trees and a large maple knocked down ready for me to cut up and process. I am waiting for the loggers to get done so we can get into the landing, it's kind of a tight spot. We are going to bring in a buddy with an excavator with a thumb on it to stack the wood for us, he is going to take some too. I'm hoping my body holds up, I'm going to have to learn to take things easier.
dave

 

[zogger]

This shortage issue is definitelty adding some members to our scrounging fraternity. Have two stories just from today with guys picking up chains, saws and supplies. Both need a cord or 2 more to get through the season, and they're usual suppliers have no seasoned stuff left. I think the real impact of this has yet to be felt. And around here at least, prices haven't gone up yet. I think the people who are really going to be screwed are the people who buy it a cord at a time throughout the winter. Some are just nitwits, but many can't come up with the money to buy the entire winters wood all at once.

!st Guy has some blowdowns in a not easily accessable part of his property so they've been sitting there for 2 years. But he yanked the deck off his lawn tractor and he's gonna work his way back there and harvest that wood.

2nd guy came in to pick up his 51 that we serviced and said that in addition to a couple of standing dead's he's been dragging out all the limbs that they would normally burn in the fire pit, but this year he'll need it for the stove.

On the bright side is that this is a heavily wooded area and pretty much a scrounger's paradise. I can't imagine it being any better really. Anyone with any property at all can harvest a decent amount of wood.

Not real unusual for this time of year, but the store was really buzzing the last few days. LOTS of oil sales. People are way more diligent in picking up saws and chains that are done. Some come over as soon as you call them. People generally want things done "by the weekend" and we're pretty good at accomodating them. We actually got every saw and chain done this week. (not always the case )

Glad to hear that people are getting hip to stacking smalls.

I just can't believe the mountains of wood I still see in the summers around here that get bulldozed up and burnt as "waste".

Couple more polar vortex winters and maybe people down here will get hip like they are up north. That, and using pine. You can scrounge pine all day long down here, as much as you can haul, smaller stuff and branches anyway. the loggers just want those real straight ones that stack on their trailers nice, I guess for maximum load, anything the least bit crookedy just gets piled up and burnt.

Where they are clearing back from all the powerlines along the roadsides, all of it is getting chipped and mulched onsite, but I have noticed they leave a ton loose at night along the road. No idea if folks are scarfing it or not, I imagine some is getting loaded and hauled off.

If there was some way to transport bulk firewood up north cheaper, man....

 

[mainewoods]

There seems to be a steady stream of pickup trucks going by my house lately, loaded with wood. I think more than a few people have procrastinated too long this year. You would think after over 120 inches of snow and countless days of sub -20 degrees last winter, they would have learned. Hopefully they are just laying in extra wood and not caught short again. Every one and their brother seems to be selling firewood this year, but most of the seasoned is pretty much gone. It has been an absolutely perfect summer for scrounging, with long dry spells and cool temps. I hope everyone has taken advantage of it.

 

[svk]

I just can't believe the mountains of wood I still see in the summers around here that get bulldozed up and burnt as "waste".

Around here they don't even burn it just leave it to rot. And if there isn't a full semi load for the last trip they leave that too. Great for scroungers but only if its a summer cut where vehicles can get in and out. Beautiful maple and birch logs.

 

[mainewoods]

Must make you shake your head, doesn't it Spike. Everyone wants their saw done yesterday, and it's late Sept. I know people are working their butts off to make ends meet, but heating their homes is a pretty big expense, and certainly worthy of a little extra consideration.

 

[zogger]

Around here they don't even burn it just leave it to rot. And if there isn't a full semi load for the last trip they leave that too. Great for scroungers but only if its a summer cut where vehicles can get in and out. Beautiful maple and birch logs.

Ain't that sumthin'', and they all want firewood later.

Eventually, necessity cures laziness and wastefulness.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

And while you guys are doing all this talking, I'm out there plugging along,

scrounging all I can, pine, aspen or anything else that will burn! Running it all through my splitter,

SR

 

[spike60]

I agree with everything you said Clint. There's so many people out there who just live their whole life at the last minute. And they're the type who don't think about firewood until it starts to get cold out. Lot of them are clueless about what we are talking about cause they haven't run into it yet themselves and don't realize dry wood isn't going to be a simple phone call away this year. As far as the saws go, not a big deal for us to turn them around pretty quick. Some have been sitting, and some just break or have fuel issues and simply need a good tune up. And the ever common "I lent it out" problems. One guy today learned he needed a new carb on his 550XP because of what his buddy poured into the fuel tank. He's lucky the gas was so bad the saw didn't run for long or he'd be buying more than a carb.

One guy I know has small wood business, say 50 cords a year. He custom cuts in different sizes for his customers. Consequently, he ends up having a lot of seriously fussy people to deal with. One guy wants 17" wood, one guy 14". Someone will order two and a HALF cords??? Not Three! Half an hour of talking to him and nobody would ever want to be in the wood business.LOL He was almost out and had a guy ask him for a cord of 20" wood. He overestimated it as he was cutting and ended up with an extra 1/2 cord. Offered it to the guy for $75 and he wouldn't take it cause he "calculated" he had just the right amount. (and this guy has no money issue)

He had another long time customer bail on him last year because someone who was clearing some property beat Jimmys price by, get ready...........$10 a cord! Well the lot is cleared and that "seller" is no longer in the wood business. Calls 3 weeks ago looking for 4 cords of seasoned wood. Jimmy had to tell him he's got nothing left to sell, and nothing coming in. Guy asks, "what am I gonna do now?"

So, the shortage is real, and it's going to get even more real as we go. But some people are their own worst enemies.

Geez, my posts are pretty long winded tonight.

 

[mainewoods]

A lot of wisdom in that post Spike, thanks for sharing it. I couldn't agree with you more. Talk is cheap- life lessons are priceless.

 

[Philbert]

Geez, my posts are pretty long winded tonight.

Especially if you post them three times!

Philbert

 

[MustangMike]

Non Chainsaw Pics ... Went hiking this morning with my wife and the 2 dogs in Fahnestock St Park and took some pics of this old broken down truck that is a few miles in on one of the paths. Some of you motorheads may appreciate it as much as I did.

No timing chain, just gears, and gears to power the horn. Conversely, the generator is chain driven. The rear axle has leave springs with coil spring "stops", and big drum breaks.

If anyone can identify what it is, or when it was made, I'm all ears. It obviously had an in line 6. Enjoy.

 

[dancan]

First fire today to take the chill off , splitting trash and a couple of end chunks .
Lit the fire with a match out of the box of matches that started last year burning season ... I hope I have to buy more matches and not finish this years burn season with this box .

 

[spike60]

Especially if you post them three times!

Philbert

Odd things happen at home on dial up. LOL

Sorry men!

 

[snoozeys]

I go to the reserve and look for downed trees and make sure its at least 200 metres from a house or main road

 

[dancan]

Why the 200 m ?

 

[Dirtboy]

Guy down the road just got a truck load delivered after waiting 2 1/2 months. Most of it is 8" or less in diameter. Usually he gets them large as he has an OWB. Guess there is high demand.

 

[spike60]

Guy down the road just got a truck load delivered after waiting 2 1/2 months. Most of it is 8" or less in diameter. Usually he gets them large as he has an OWB. Guess there is high demand.

That's happening here too. Guys that are lucky enough to get a load are getting smaller wood. Hey, less splitting and you can buzz up the whole load with a small saw.

 

[Philbert]

Odd things happen at home on dial up. LOL

I read it all 3 times, just because I have so much respect for your opinion!

Philbert