Reputable Firewood Lots/Suppliers

[FirewoodCity]

Hey all! I am looking for some help. I own a small (but growing) lawn business and am doing some research on the firewood industry. I have a question...

Can you recommend any reputable, trustworthy, etc, firewood suppliers? It can be anywhere in the U.S.! I am trying to construct a nationwide list of suppliers.

Also as a side question, does anyone know how big the firewood industry is (in terms of dollars)? I cannot seem to find that number, only the wood industry as a whole.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[stumpy75]

I bought some campfire wood at a gas station a few weeks ago in Newberry, Mi., that said it was kiln dried. It was from Michigan Fuelwood Products. They do have a web site. After trying to make a fire with other wood that I bought in the campground(and was probably cut in the spring...), I was looking for anything to get a good campfire for the family.

All I can say is that the presentation of the product and the quality of the wood was outstanding. Small splits that worked well in a campfire, and it really was dry. No hissing, and nice clean burning. Looked like maple and birch, which is fine for a campfire.

I live near GZ for the EAB, so I have not been able to move firewood for a number of years. Buying wood while camping is the only way for me. Nice to see what appeared to me to be a nice product that actually was what is was advertised to be!

 

[FirewoodCity]

Thank for the reply. I should have stated I was looking for bulk firewood businesses/lots. What is GZ and EAB?

 

[FirewoodCity]

Thank for the reply. I should have stated I was looking for bulk firewood businesses/lots. What is GZ and EAB?

 

[stumpy75]

GZ = Ground Zero
EAB = Emerald Ash Borer

Actually, this place does do a lot of their work as a bulk firewood business. Their website says they buy from local loggers and sell to people for home heating. They do the campfire wood too, as that seems to be a high profit area...

I happened to drive past the operation, and they do have a large area dedicated to bulk firewood.

 

[olympyk_999]

Also as a side question, does anyone know how big the firewood industry is (in terms of dollars)? I cannot seem to find that number

and you never will...firewood is likely more than 50% cash deals from small sellers...usually only big sellers will run it as a business...

 

[olympyk_999]

Thank for the reply. I should have stated I was looking for bulk firewood businesses/lots. What is GZ and EAB?

you talking semi loads or just someone that sells say over 100 cord a year?
lots?

 

[rarefish383]

Firewood is a funny business. I grew up in the Tree Business. The only wood we kept was Oak, any thing else we had a wholesaler we sold to by the dump truck load. Now I'm 60 and split about 8-10 cord a year. Five for me and five for friends. At 200 a cord, by the time I cut the tree down, bring it home, split and stack, reload and deliver, push the button on the dump trailer, I make a couple bucks an hour. Hard work for little return. I do it because I like the work, smell of cut wood, and playing with my 100+ cc saws. That gives me a small wad of cash no one knows I have. If you buy bulk tractor trailer loads of split wood, you still have to measure it, load it, deliver it. The last tractor trailer load I asked about I was told they got $1200 for 10 cord. That's a good deal if you are using it yourself. If you are reselling at 200-220 per cord that leaves you $80 to $100 dollars profit for several hours work and expenses. If you repack in bundles and get 5-6 hundred per cord that sounds better. But, you need bundling equipment, help, and pre committed customers. Not saying you shouldn't do it, just saying it's hard work for little return. In the Tree Business firewood was a necessary evil. We made a lot of money in the Tree Business, put me through private schools, and I never wanted for anything. The firewood end made for little bundles of cash to hide away for special occasions. That's just how I feel, your mileage may vary, Joe.

 

[Swamp Yankee]

and you never will...firewood is likely more than 50% cash deals from small sellers...usually only big sellers will run it as a business...

+1

If anything, based on the local market, I would tend to believe the 50% to be on the low side.

An alternative to consider would be to get numbers from loggers, trucking companies, and saw mills to find out how many loads of treelength they sell a year. Most firewood retailers doing a decent volume will be bring in loads of treelength for efficiency in processing.

Take Care

 

[FirewoodCity]

GZ = Ground Zero
EAB = Emerald Ash Borer

Actually, this place does do a lot of their work as a bulk firewood business. Their website says they buy from local loggers and sell to people for home heating. They do the campfire wood too, as that seems to be a high profit area...

I happened to drive past the operation, and they do have a large area dedicated to bulk firewood.

Yes I apologize, I misread the initial reply. Thanks so much for the info.