treeremovalneed
New Member
Is it incredibly dull of me to think that in slow periods a tree removal service would rather have wood from trees to sell than having workers sitting idle?
Removing Trees/Firewood Question
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gink595
Addicted to ArboristSite
I doubt the firewood retrieved would pay for the labor of a few men or maybe one.
It depends on the scale of the operation and the capital expended for equipment. See the "Firewood Business" threads...
gink595
Addicted to ArboristSite
Thats proably true, I guess I just assumed that it was a few guys cutting some blocks on trees they had cut for jobs. I'm sure if they could move several cords a day with a proceesor than it might pay, but than it starts to classify a full time operation and not just slow period work to pay for the extra expenses to make a few more bucks during that peroid. I don't know, that theory is proably why I mostly work alone.
Turner-N-Burner
ArboristSite Lurker
idle workers don't burn fuel, break equipment or hurt themselves (In$surance headaches)
And the wood is worth very very little relative to the time and expenses involved. A grapple load sells around here for $500-600, and that's higher than most areas. Figure thats a dozen full trees at least. at best, $50 a tree, felled, delimbed, loaded, and delivered? Would you take that job?
I have, and do, take those jobs.... LOL.
We sell some firewood on the side as a means of getting rid of decent logs that the mills won't take due to being "city wood". Selling it for $125 per chord +/- (numbers for example only - your mileage may vary), having the free wood on hand, and having a few guys that want to split for extra $$$ on a Friday / Saturday, it helps to pad the pockets of a few guys that need it. We don't do it on a large scale like some I know of, but it still works well for those doing it.
On the other hand, it is possible to take it up a notch and invest in a processor where one guy can cut and split 10-20 chords a day solo. It's a big investment, but in the right market can make a huge profit. There is one company not far from me that provides the firewood bundles commonly seen in the big box stores. He ships tractor trailer loads daily. Firewood sure seems to pay for him.
It's all in how smart you work with both manpower and finances.
We sell some firewood on the side as a means of getting rid of decent logs that the mills won't take due to being "city wood". Selling it for $125 per chord +/- (numbers for example only - your mileage may vary), having the free wood on hand, and having a few guys that want to split for extra $$$ on a Friday / Saturday, it helps to pad the pockets of a few guys that need it. We don't do it on a large scale like some I know of, but it still works well for those doing it.
On the other hand, it is possible to take it up a notch and invest in a processor where one guy can cut and split 10-20 chords a day solo. It's a big investment, but in the right market can make a huge profit. There is one company not far from me that provides the firewood bundles commonly seen in the big box stores. He ships tractor trailer loads daily. Firewood sure seems to pay for him.
It's all in how smart you work with both manpower and finances.
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