Firewood time again!

[woodho]

Jokers,
I have the TW-5 and it's an awesome machine. I love the 500lb log lift and this machine will split just about anything. Yes it's a high price tag but if you're serious about selling firewood you gotta have one. As far as processors, you are correct but keep in mind that the cheapest processor out there is around 16,000 bucks. Thats with no conveyor or live deck. My friend uses the TW-6 and I can tell you these machines are the best. Usually with two guys I can process a full cord in about 30 to 40 min that is with the wood already bucked.

John

 

[jokers]

WoodHo, you`re right about needing the right equipment to do the job profitably. The main problem with the processors, is that I`m not familiar with any that will do the big wood like is shown in that picture, and even if they did you would need a large machine to load the deck.

I have friends who designed, built, and refined a pretty nice processor that I could probably copy. I honestly don`t think it would cost me more than $10k with a live deck and I may look into it when my son is old enough to operate it and is getting close to needing tuition money.

What would suit me best is a way to profitably handle those big stems from residential takedowns, that aren`t popular at the mills due to the potential for embedded metal and other junk.

How much are the conveyors? Is the Timber Wolf the best for the money?

Since noone else has said it, let me say that many more cord of firewood will hit the streets in a professional manner due to the unselfish tutelage of Gypo. He has insights to the business that only someone who has done it for a living would have. I don`t mean to sell anyone else here short, just that Gypo has been the most outspoken on this topic.

Russ

 

[Marky Mark]

Russ,
I paid $4600 for the conveyor and it's worth it if you are trying to make money in the firewood bizz, I am sure you know I am not. My friend and I split 5 cords in about 3 hours. That was with the wood bucked already, Of course we had to have a splif break or two. I just cann't remember.

The whole splitter fits right into the the hopper of the conveyor making it a no brainer if your going to produce that much wood. The next thing I would like to buy is a small mason dump to have the wood drop right into it. Right now people come to my house and pick the wood up, they load it themselves or I fill them up with my bucket. If I wanted to get abused I would deliver but here there is just way to many varailbles. Sued for one, I hear enough bs all week I don't need it on the weekends. Plus for the nominal amount of money per hour and load to me "It's not worth it"

If I did grab a mason dump all I would do is dump it.To me I have more fun cutting logs into cookies than splitting it.

 

[jokers]

Hey Mark, Thanks for the info. Does your tw-5 with the adjustable 6 way wedge split the small stuff into camp wood? I`ve got a potential market for that high dollar stuff, most guys are selling slabwood from the edgers, I could sell a better product. May not be worth the effort though. I am looking for some low visibilty, soft income opportunities if you catch my drift.

Russ

 

[woodho]

Jokers,
I bought a like new used conveyor for 3K. They are a fantastic combo to the splitter and still cheaper than the processor. Regarding small camp wood, Timberwolf has a TW-7 which is designed to do just that. Combine that with a bundler and you've got money in the pocket. Small bundles of firewood are selling in this area for anywhere from 11bucks to 25 dollars in Boston (yuppie wood). That means one cord is now worth anywhere from 670 to 900 dollars. To bad I hate the bundling part of it.

Regarding Timberwolf, if you're serious about wood processing they are absolutely the best. They're equipment is just manufactured the old fashioned way if you get my drift. Nothing but Honda engines and incredible craftsmanship. I've run the conveyors the TW-5, TW-6 and the MX wood processor, they are great.

John

 

[Ax-man]

It's that time again for sure

Hi guys,

Im glad to see that I'm not the only one still playing with the fire wood biz. Personally I would like to get out of it for a number of reasons. It's hard to please people, it's expensive to process the wood, the return on the dollar is nothing more than working unemployment. But for now I'm stuck with it because of the landfill ban and restrictions on burning in our area, and a multitude of other reasons.

Anybody out there using a 6 way non hydraulic wedge on a TW-2, and what their experience has been with it.

I didn't get this option when we bought our TimberWolf, but now we have a elavator to stick in front of the splitter and wondering if a 6-way would speed things up a little.

Just to compare notes, what do you guys split your wood down to?? Standard split for us would be 16-18 in. lengths, 4-6 in. at the widest point and no rounds in the stack. Are we about average or are we splitting the wood to fine and making more work for ourselves than we need to??

 

[Marky Mark]

Here in NJ it's all about size, my customers complain when it's to big. What's small to me is big to them. If I could get an eight-way wedge I would have it. If you read back I am not doing this to make money per say, I charge by the piece which more of you guys should be doing.

Local gas stataion charges 7.50 for an arm full http://www.bundleofwarmth.com/ here's the big seller around here at the gas stations. I sell wood by the piece and don't deliver. I might grab a truck and start to deliver but once you get into stacking and all I would want $300 a cord.

 

[Sethro]

The wood splitter I use is home built. The briggs went south so,I am runnin it off the Gehls aux hydraulics, lot smoother and lot more galllons per minute,but I have to be careful not bend the I-beam or ram now,cause it can. Seth

 

[DDM]

This looks like an interesting Splitter has anyone tried it? http://www.logmauler.com/
I'd imagine it would work great on the large stuff but the smaller would be impossible.

 

[Ax-man]

Firewood time

Markey Mark.

Your prices for bundled wood are a little higher in N.J. than they are here, but things out on the east coast usually are. Most of the bundled wood sold here is sawn sawmill scrap, not split wood. If you do see split bundled wood it is usually low grade wood like maple, elm, walnut, pine, rarely do you see anything like oak or ash in these bundles.

One of our local guys is playing around in the bundle biz on a small scale, selling to the independent gas stations and campgrounds. I ran into him about a month ago and just had to be nosey about how his bundled firewood business was going. At least he was honest, no movement of wood at the campgrounds to speak of, two out of five gas stations were moving four to five bundles per wk. He supplies the wood for $3 per bundle plus a 2x4 standard face cord rack, that is theft proof and a lock, retailer charges $5 per bundle. After hearing this it is making me glad I didn't pursue this venture, I was seriously considering some thing similar. Just doesn't seem worth the effort to me.

Just what do you charge for a piece of wood that is thin split, but is slightly larger than kindling????

DDM,

I haven't seen this splitter work myself, a freind of mine who is a sawmill operator and is into firewood big time, has another set of freinds who have a processer and skid steer with this Log Mauler attachment. It works great for busting down rounds to big to lift, saves a lot of time ripping with a big saw, not to mention the muscle strain on the back. If we ever get a skid steer you can bet this is one of the first attachments were going to get. I've heard nothing but good things about this splitter from more than a few people ever since it came out on the market.

 

[mryb]

I prefer the new Dr electric splitter so I can split inside on the kitchen table on a rainy day....Rick/Saw Slut

 

[woodho]

Ax-man,
The TW-2 does not have the power nor is it built for a six way wedge. I have seen several of these machines and they are nice for what they are meant to do. I think you might do some damage unless you are splitting rounds no larger than 8 to 10 inches. Take care.
John

 

[buckwheat]

I prefer the new Dr electric splitter so I can split inside on the kitchen table on a rainy day....Rick/Saw Slut

i have a friend who approached a few of us a couple of years ago suggesting that we all go in together and buy one of those.... it was hard to hold back the laughter. that same guy is currently borrowing my Brave.

 

[geofore]

nelsonfrye

I welded a square 8x8"pipe under the I beam, welded the ends shut and put some pipe fittings on to use it for hydro oil storage tank and it stiffened the I beam like a dose of viagra and got rid of that oil tank that was always in the way. Don't see a hydro oil tank on yours.

 

[Sethro]

geofore
The tank is actually the axle. Seth

 

[mryb]

Nice F-350 Ranger... Rick/Saw Slut

 

[Sethro]

Thanks Rick
It's retrofited with Walkerized leaf springs and load levelers.

 

[mryb]

Seth,
Also a nice looking piped 017 Stihl... Rick/Saw Slut

 

[glens]

See that smashed-up truck on the left side of Seth's <a href="http://www.arboristsite.com/attach/7314.jpg">im000262.jpg</a>?&nbsp; It didn't look like that when I drove it up there for a visit recently.&nbsp; Let's just say as a word to the wise that Seth has a temper when he's been drinking and if one of his saws gets beat on his own cant, then you'd better be sure the keys aren't in the skid-loader because he's pretty darn good with one... he had my truck on it's back whimpering in under 20 seconds.

Looks like you got a healthy 1/3 cord on the truck, Seth!&nbsp; Oh, and have you got that 088 fixed yet? (for those who don't know, it took a hankering for the taste of fresh chaw and started to cut down tobacco plants instead of trees -- see it's got it's nose in a can even in the picture)

Glen

 

[Sethro]

Glen
You don't have to blow smoke up their ass,tell them how I am for real. I have not got the 088KD hotsaw running.Jon blew me off,so I paid the Stihl dealer a vist about a new moudle and the warranty issue came up and it got heatted then I was escorted out by RCPD in handcuffs. Seth

HT