this guy sees i have a log splitter and he asks me if i would split about four face cords for him. he says he will pay me $20 per face cord and i don't have to stack the wood. i haven't seen the wood yet, so i have no idea how big it is or what type, but, he lives in a heavy suburban area, so i'm presuming he must have acquired some free wood some place.
my splitter has a single wedge and is capable of splitting any thing any size, but, i just don't want to be lifting huge rounds for 20 bucks.
i read the old thread on this subject and it seems the prices were all over the board. i'll just be splitting, but i felt that 20 bucks per face cord was a bit low.
ya think?
Look before you leap
Go look at the job before you say anything. It's not just the big stuff you need to worry about, but other factors as well.
How is the access? Will you be able to get your splitter to the pile or end up bringing the pile to the splitter? If the latter, how far do you have to move the wood?
Length is an issue. I have one customer that takes 2 cord of 12 to 13 inch wood every year. I know from experience it takes a lot longer to split her order than the normal 17 to 18 inch stuff I put up for the majority of the customers. Along the same lines if it's wood from a take down you may find anything from 10 inches to 4 ft.
What kind of wood? Red oak or ash is much easier than something stringy like black birch or shagbark.
What's the travel time? I've found customers seem to think the time behind the wheel getting to and from is free. I don't buy into that theory as it's my time and vehicle expense.
How well do you know the guy? There are some whiners that no amount of money makes worth dealing with. No matter what you do to accommodate, because you're a "firewood guy" they think you're out to rip them off and will never be satisfied.
All that said, on the splitting jobs I've taken on, I quote $35/hour for man and machine, minimum 2 hour charge, and $1.00 per mile getting there, ($.50 per mile round trip). Set trip odometer at 0 and whatever it reads upon arrival is multiplied by $1.00).
As you mentioned in your post, this type of work and what to charge is a YMMV situation with the eventual the decision falling on you and how much or how little you want the job. Just trying to point out some of the things I've run into in the past that may, or may not, be useful.
Take Care
