Will Work For Firewood: Good Idea Or AM I A Dumbass?

[chad101]

I’m paying $300 a cord for firewood. I’m constantly getting ripped off and the #### is so green I can’t keep it lit in my wood stove!!

I’m not an arborist and I’ve only felled two trees in my entire lifetime (under perfect conditions with minimum liability – i.e. edge of a corn field). But I’m young, healthy, and have one hell of a strong back. I can put in a good 6/8 hours; I was a brick laborer for 4 years.

Do you think a tree service company would let me work as a general laborer on the weekends for free? Yes, for free... I’ll work my ass off and not collect a dime. If I could scrounge up a cord each weekend I’m saving $300 off the rip.

I would take the bucked rounds as payment. So, am I off my rocker?? Scrounging firewood off Craigslist is also manual labor...

 

[teatersroad]

You're in the cranky pro's forum. I don't even post here...but. You are off your rocker. A good 6-8 hours is not a boast, offering to work for free speaks poorly, and dregs of the work is typically green wood. I suggest you shop more wisely, and be more specific with your location so someone could offer appropriate advice. -respectfully

 

[dingeryote]

Kid,

Ya got gumption. You may find yourself with a job ya didn't want.

Not a bad way to learn a trade I guess.

Get over to the firewood and stove page if ya need ideas for scrounging wood.
Let 'em know where you're at, and there is likely someone nearby willing to help you out.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[sawinredneck]

Most tree services will laugh at what you want to do, they need steady reliable help from start to finish of a job. Be it three hours or sixteen hours, it has to get done! I assure you, you will be working harder on the weekends than you will on your normal job! The work is that tough!
I'd suggest you call some local tree companies and the line clearance companies and see if they are looking for places to dump wood. If you have enough land and can pull it off, a lot of these places are happy to drop it off when they are working in your area! Some are not, but all you are out is a few phone calls to find out! I think you will have a better outcome this way than with the original plan though!

 

[ducaticorse]

No offense. You're a horrid business man for even thinking about doing this. Even to take trees for the wood alone, you still need comp and liability which doesn't come any cheaper because you're not taking any payment. You still should have a payroll, because you're gonna need more than just you. If you can hack it out with HO's that don't care about being protected, you can probably get by, but you'll die a broken man with a mortgage in the end. Also, wood is like gold, it's only worth money when the oil is high. That, and once the real tree services in your area catch wind of what you're doing, you'll never show up to work with a full tire and no sand in your gas tanks. So think of something else to do.

 

[sgreanbeans]

You're in the cranky pro's forum. I don't even post here...but. You are off your rocker.

BAHAHAHAHA. now that was funny

Buddy, if you wanna work that hard for wood, stop on by, Ill hook ya right up!

Really tho, if ya want wood that bad, call the locals and tell them, they may bring it to you. I have several wood junkies around town that have areas that I can dump in. Saves me fuel for running it to the main site and if it helps heat a home, I am good with that. Just be careful, some guys will dump whatever when givin a chance, you may find a mountain of chips and pine logs!

 

[troythetreeman]

you asked the question.... im gunna go with dumb ass...

 

[fatjoe]

I’m paying $300 a cord for firewood. I’m constantly getting ripped off and the #### is so green I can’t keep it lit in my wood stove!!

I’m not an arborist and I’ve only felled two trees in my entire lifetime (under perfect conditions with minimum liability – i.e. edge of a corn field). But I’m young, healthy, and have one hell of a strong back. I can put in a good 6/8 hours; I was a brick laborer for 4 years.

Do you think a tree service company would let me work as a general laborer on the weekends for free? Yes, for free... I’ll work my ass off and not collect a dime. If I could scrounge up a cord each weekend I’m saving $300 off the rip.

I would take the bucked rounds as payment. So, am I off my rocker?? Scrounging firewood off Craigslist is also manual labor...

Go around to some of the smaller companies and talk to the owners.When I was young, there were tree guys that were always willing to put me to work on weekends under the table for cash at the end of the day.Many times the owner would let guys bring their pickups to the job and take the wood home.Be honest, but don`t offer to work for free.You`ll find someone who will put you to work.At the very least, you`ll get your wood at a discount and get some cash.Of course I`m talking about small tree service companies.I would also check out logging jobs, they too might need help on the weekends cleaning up the landings of chunks, or simply buying wood on the landing.You need to talk to small business owners.The guys who are not only the owners, but are working in the field also.Good luck.

 

[chad101]

And the end result is: Dumbass

Just an idea that will never suffice. Wood is money to me; especially when you're paying $300 a chord every 3 or 4 weeks during the full blown heating season.

I have no intention of stealing work from anyone else... I was asking to work under a contractor part time (groundsmen) and save some money on fuel for heating my house. And maybe learn the trade in the process.

I have an acre of land, and I like the idea of providing a dump site. I'll have to be very specific though (i.e. no chips, pine, or willow).

 

[jefflovstrom]

Tired of paying for fire wood, huh?
Maybe volunteer at the grocery store for free food and volunteer at the gas station for free gas. Yup, stupid.
Jeff

 

[MarquisTree]

No offense. You're a horrid business man for even thinking about doing this. Even to take trees for the wood alone, you still need comp and liability which doesn't come any cheaper because you're not taking any payment. You still should have a payroll, because you're gonna need more than just you. If you can hack it out with HO's that don't care about being protected, you can probably get by, but you'll die a broken man with a mortgage in the end. Also, wood is like gold, it's only worth money when the oil is high. That, and once the real tree services in your area catch wind of what you're doing, you'll never show up to work with a full tire and no sand in your gas tanks. So think of something else to do.

You need to read someones post before you dump on it. He is offering his labor (to a tree service) in trade for wood, a couple days here and there. Doesn't sound like a bad idea, especially if he enjoys the work. I think the tree service is getting a better deal then he is but if he really wants the wood, good for him. The issue for any ligit company would be workmen's comp, It would be hard to put a guy on comp you pay with wood

 

[climberjones]

Most tree services will laugh at what you want to do, they need steady reliable help from start to finish of a job. Be it three hours or sixteen hours, it has to get done! I assure you, you will be working harder on the weekends than you will on your normal job! The work is that tough!
I'd suggest you call some local tree companies and the line clearance companies and see if they are looking for places to dump wood. If you have enough land and can pull it off, a lot of these places are happy to drop it off when they are working in your area! Some are not, but all you are out is a few phone calls to find out! I think you will have a better outcome this way than with the original plan though!

What??? if the kid was a brick laborer before he can do this stuff standing on his head !Been there done that brick labors work there ###es off!!!!!!

 

[sawinredneck]

What??? if the kid was a brick laborer before he can do this stuff standing on his head !Been there done that brick labors work there ###es off!!!!!!

"Was" being the key word here! I've done both, concrete flatwork was the only thing I found harder than tree work! Handling bricks all day sucks, shagging brush from the back yard to the chipper in the front, without tearing anything up, for a ten or twelve hour day is a lot tougher!

 

[teatersroad]

Skilled or not, it's a PITA business arrangement. Not worth it. But the feller could probably glean firewood some other way, I'll repeat the suggestion that he bump over to the firewood forum for answers.

 

[dingeryote]

And the end result is: Dumbass

Just an idea that will never suffice. Wood is money to me; especially when you're paying $300 a chord every 3 or 4 weeks during the full blown heating season.

I have no intention of stealing work from anyone else... I was asking to work under a contractor part time (groundsmen) and save some money on fuel for heating my house. And maybe learn the trade in the process.

I have an acre of land, and I like the idea of providing a dump site. I'll have to be very specific though (i.e. no chips, pine, or willow).

LOL!!!!!
So I see you're in that corner of the state! Get over to the firewood forums.

There's a couple gents from you area that can give ya some pointers, and if ya don't mind making a haul, point ya towards all the free wood you can cut.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[chad101]

Tired of paying for fire wood, huh?
Maybe volunteer at the grocery store for free food and volunteer at the gas station for free gas. Yup, stupid.
Jeff

I'll accept the "stupid" part. But that analogy is a bit over the top.

 

[chad101]

LOL!!!!!
So I see you're in that corner of the state! Get over to the firewood forums.

There's a couple gents from you area that can give ya some pointers, and if ya don't mind making a haul, point ya towards all the free wood you can cut.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

How far of a haul are we talking? Anything within 45min is OK.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I'll accept the "stupid" part. But that analogy is a bit over the top.

Over the top of the bs and right on target.

You're not stupid, you've come to the right place for answers, but the analogy is sound. Don't sell yourself short, chad. You want to do this kinda work, that's ok, we love it too, but don't do it for free or for wood. Life is too short not to put a premium on your time, especially on the weekends. Whatever route you go, get paid and get wood. If you go at it on your own, get the proper training, get insurance, and be honest with people.

I don't think $300 for a cord of premium wood is a bad deal. Alot of work and equipment goes into the production and delivery of said cord, greenish or not. Stock up and season it yourself, sounds like that's going to happen no matter how you split it. You’re sure to figure all this out in the end, one way or the other.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Over the top of the bs and right on target.

You're not stupid, you've come to the right place for answers, but the analogy is sound. Don't sell yourself short, chad. You want to do this kinda work, that's ok, we love it too, but don't do it for free or for wood. Life is too short not to put a premium on your time, especially on the weekends. Whatever route you go, get paid and get wood. If you go at it on your own, get the proper training, get insurance, and be honest with people.

I don't think $300 for a cord of premium wood is a bad deal. Alot of work and equipment goes into the production and delivery of said cord, greenish or not. Stock up and season it yourself, sounds like that's going to happen no matter how you split it. You’re sure to figure all this out in the end, one way or the other.

Good post,Biggie! Shucks, if you lived out here, I could give you all the euc and alder you could ever want for free. Just let me dump it at your place and if there is a little trash in it, I am sorry. Anyway, I think you would find this common anywhere and I bet there are guy's looking to dump some wood free. We had a truck load of euc that cost $600.00 to dump.
Jeff

 

[jefflovstrom]

You're in the cranky pro's forum. I don't even post here..

Oop's! That can not be true! Is it?
Jeff