Seasoned Cord Wood

sky_nh · 09-30-2006, 05:51 AM

I am still relatively new up here and have been disappointed in the so called seasoned wood that I've ended up with. Even when I have ordered early, there seems to be too much junk in the delivery.

I realize it is late in the season but I am wondering if anyone here knows of a reputable seller who might still have some quality wood to sell. Thanks in advance for referrals you might make.

Sky

upthesaukee · 09-30-2006, 07:43 AM

the wood dealers (2 or 3) that I have dealt with all measure their wood "uncut", that is they are in 4 foot lengths, stacked 4 ft high, and 8 feet long. they then cut the wood to length, Is there "junk" in there when I get it? Yup. After culling through the "junk", I end up with my old toy box(about 2 ft x 3 ft x 2.5 ft high) filled with kindling and usually a little more.
What's left on the driveway gets swept up, and wheeled off into the woods in a wheelbarrow. Usually only one trip. Being the curious type, I figured out the volume of my wood in my woodshed, and knowing that I ordered 5 cord, it appears that I am right in the neighborhood for getting what I paid for (disparity is usually + / - .04 to .10 of being a full 5 cords in the woodshed. Add the kindling, and I think I got what I paid for.

With all that being said, what side of the lake are you on? Most of these guys don't go far to deliver (cost of gas).

sky_nh · 09-30-2006, 10:50 AM

By junk I mean that wood that either isnt really seasoned, wet, or rotting. I don't mind the stuff that I can use as kindling -- that always comes in handy. Although I have only been in Gilford for about 5 years, I've been in NH about 26 years and remember getting great cord wood when I first moved to Bradford "way back when."

Aside from looking for quality, at this stage I am wondering if anyone is even selling and delivering in my neck of the woods?

-- Sky

mcdude · 09-30-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

in my woodshed

Last time I saw your firewood, upthesaukee, it was in a big pile in your driveway. Does this mean that you finally stacked it?......and NO I don't want to help!

McD
PS - Just ordered a cord from PDK Cottage Maintenance in Alton but it hasn't been delivered yet. 603-875-2172 or 2175

upthesaukee · 09-30-2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdude

Last time I saw your firewood, upthesaukee, it was in a big pile in your driveway. Does this mean that you finally stacked it?......and NO I don't want to help!

McD

No!!!! and I don't blame you.

Another week or so and it's time to get it off the driveway and into stacks.

Sky-- sorry you had bad luck with your wood. Unfortunately, the wood industry is pretty well un-regulated, and much beyond a "legal definition" of what a cord is, there isn't much else. "Seasoned" can mean different things to different folks. McDude alludes to my pile in the driveway. I buy mine green, it sits on the asphalt driveway for 2-4 months, and is almost like kiln dried if the summer is warm enough. then it's a game to see when to stack around wet weather in the fall

. Look around Gilford for folks with piles in their yard or driveway, and ask them who they get theirs from. (My wood guy is pretty well booked up in May or June for the season!)

ACutAbove · 10-04-2006, 09:45 PM

Just out of curiosity what is a cord going for these days????

mcdude · 10-05-2006, 06:02 AM

$225.00

Phantom · 10-05-2006, 06:56 AM

$225 !!!!! Yikes, -- is that for a one or two cord delivery?? I can understand a "small load" uplift in price to cover gas & travel.

I just had a 4 cord load dropped in my driveway here in Central MA (290/495 intersection area) literally this morning and paid $200/cord --Seasoned/split and delivered.

From the looks of it it's a "good load", meaning no birch, good size pieces and fairly dry (there's no such thing as fully seasoned anymore)! Albeit, I've been doing business with this one company now for over 10 years after shopping around prior and getting ripped off by short loads, crummy wood aka Sky_Nh complaint, or wood that looked like it was cut down yesterday.

Point being - I would have normally assumed that in NH you would have been able to blow my cost outta the water

Not that I'm happy about $200/c -- at this point it's a very close decision as to wether I bother (other than the cosmetic fireplace fire) versus "turn the heat up"

secondcurve · 10-12-2006, 05:56 PM

Phantom:

While the cost of gas has something to do with the rise in price in cord wood, I think the larger factor is demand for the wood. When oil went through the roof last winter, many folks turned to their wood stoves to supplement their oil heat, thus sending demand skyrocketing. With more demand, the wood dealers have been able to rise prices.

mcdude · 10-12-2006, 06:54 PM

....and as you can see it is a very generous cord to which I can attest after having thrown the whole pile down into the yard and then carried it all down a flight of stairs for stacking. Whew!

Resident 2B · 10-13-2006, 09:17 AM

With wood, there is more than one "warming". If you purchase it "cut, split and delivered", you get a "free" warming when you bring it in.

However, if you cut it, load it, haul it, split it, stack it, move it a few times and then bring it in, you get mulitple "warmings", and it cost you much less! However, after you do the whole job a few times, you usually find yourself a reliable wood dealer and pay their price.

McDude, that is some great looking wood!

Let's hope the oil and wood prices are much lower this winter so we can have more gas money for boating next year.

Stay warm!

R2B

Phantom · 10-13-2006, 05:52 PM

Here's one for you all --

Ever get a batch of wood that really isn't seasoned?

You dutifully through it in the fireplace add the starter log or whatever (kindling) and from that moment on your fighting to keep the flame/fire going cuz the wood --hissing and spewing -- really wasn't dry!! Well you obviously can add more kindling, or add drier logs if your lucky enough to have them around -- Another trick I use is to always have the 2 hour Duraflame logs handy!! Light one up, nestle it at the back of the grate and cover it with the garbage wood you dragged in and Voila -- 9 out of 10 times it burns away creating enough hot ash that subsequent additions of logs burn fine.

I make a point to get the 2 hour logs versus the more common 4-hour -- it's a cost per fire thingy (twice as many of 2 hours per box versus 4 hour at the same price -- about $17/ box here in MA)

Gavia immer · 10-13-2006, 07:41 PM

I just got a cord that "needs about six months" of drying. That will work out fine with what I've got stacked already.

I'd estimate about 300 "pieces" like McDude's there, 18" long, and mostly red oak and maple.

A friend said "wood is solar energy".

I guess he's right!

redc5 · 10-14-2006, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sky_nh

I realize it is late in the season but I am wondering if anyone here knows of a reputable seller who might still have some quality wood to sell. Thanks in advance for referrals you might make.

Sky

Getting back to the original question....I'm in Gliford and will be needing a cord of wood also (pretty soon too, it's a little chilly outside this AM). Can anyone recommend somebody?

Thanks

09-30-2006, 05:51 AM	#1
sky_nh Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gilford Posts: 76 Thanks: 4 Thanked 15 Times in 5 Posts	Seasoned Cord Wood I am still relatively new up here and have been disappointed in the so called seasoned wood that I've ended up with. Even when I have ordered early, there seems to be too much junk in the delivery. I realize it is late in the season but I am wondering if anyone here knows of a reputable seller who might still have some quality wood to sell. Thanks in advance for referrals you might make. Sky

09-30-2006, 07:43 AM	#2
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,596 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,449 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	the wood dealers (2 or 3) that I have dealt with all measure their wood "uncut", that is they are in 4 foot lengths, stacked 4 ft high, and 8 feet long. they then cut the wood to length, Is there "junk" in there when I get it? Yup. After culling through the "junk", I end up with my old toy box(about 2 ft x 3 ft x 2.5 ft high) filled with kindling and usually a little more. What's left on the driveway gets swept up, and wheeled off into the woods in a wheelbarrow. Usually only one trip. Being the curious type, I figured out the volume of my wood in my woodshed, and knowing that I ordered 5 cord, it appears that I am right in the neighborhood for getting what I paid for (disparity is usually + / - .04 to .10 of being a full 5 cords in the woodshed. Add the kindling, and I think I got what I paid for. With all that being said, what side of the lake are you on? Most of these guys don't go far to deliver (cost of gas). __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

09-30-2006, 10:50 AM	#3
sky_nh Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gilford Posts: 76 Thanks: 4 Thanked 15 Times in 5 Posts	Depends on what the meaning of junk is? By junk I mean that wood that either isnt really seasoned, wet, or rotting. I don't mind the stuff that I can use as kindling -- that always comes in handy. Although I have only been in Gilford for about 5 years, I've been in NH about 26 years and remember getting great cord wood when I first moved to Bradford "way back when." Aside from looking for quality, at this stage I am wondering if anyone is even selling and delivering in my neck of the woods? -- Sky

10-05-2006, 06:02 AM	#7
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	$225.00 __________________

10-05-2006, 06:56 AM	#8
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	$225 !!!!! Yikes, -- is that for a one or two cord delivery?? I can understand a "small load" uplift in price to cover gas & travel. I just had a 4 cord load dropped in my driveway here in Central MA (290/495 intersection area) literally this morning and paid $200/cord --Seasoned/split and delivered. From the looks of it it's a "good load", meaning no birch, good size pieces and fairly dry (there's no such thing as fully seasoned anymore)! Albeit, I've been doing business with this one company now for over 10 years after shopping around prior and getting ripped off by short loads, crummy wood aka Sky_Nh complaint, or wood that looked like it was cut down yesterday. Point being - I would have normally assumed that in NH you would have been able to blow my cost outta the water Not that I'm happy about $200/c -- at this point it's a very close decision as to wether I bother (other than the cosmetic fireplace fire) versus "turn the heat up" __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

10-04-2006, 09:45 PM	#6
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Just out of curiosity what is a cord going for these days????

10-12-2006, 05:56 PM	#9
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,117 Thanks: 1,324 Thanked 559 Times in 288 Posts	Phantom: While the cost of gas has something to do with the rise in price in cord wood, I think the larger factor is demand for the wood. When oil went through the roof last winter, many folks turned to their wood stoves to supplement their oil heat, thus sending demand skyrocketing. With more demand, the wood dealers have been able to rise prices.

10-12-2006, 06:54 PM	#10
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	....and as you can see it is a very generous cord to which I can attest after having thrown the whole pile down into the yard and then carried it all down a flight of stairs for stacking. Whew! Attached Images

10-13-2006, 09:17 AM	#11
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,357 Thanks: 993 Thanked 313 Times in 163 Posts	Wood warms you more than once! With wood, there is more than one "warming". If you purchase it "cut, split and delivered", you get a "free" warming when you bring it in. However, if you cut it, load it, haul it, split it, stack it, move it a few times and then bring it in, you get mulitple "warmings", and it cost you much less! However, after you do the whole job a few times, you usually find yourself a reliable wood dealer and pay their price. McDude, that is some great looking wood! Let's hope the oil and wood prices are much lower this winter so we can have more gas money for boating next year. Stay warm! R2B

10-13-2006, 05:52 PM	#12
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	Here's one for you all -- Ever get a batch of wood that really isn't seasoned? You dutifully through it in the fireplace add the starter log or whatever (kindling) and from that moment on your fighting to keep the flame/fire going cuz the wood --hissing and spewing -- really wasn't dry!! Well you obviously can add more kindling, or add drier logs if your lucky enough to have them around -- Another trick I use is to always have the 2 hour Duraflame logs handy!! Light one up, nestle it at the back of the grate and cover it with the garbage wood you dragged in and Voila -- 9 out of 10 times it burns away creating enough hot ash that subsequent additions of logs burn fine. I make a point to get the 2 hour logs versus the more common 4-hour -- it's a cost per fire thingy (twice as many of 2 hours per box versus 4 hour at the same price -- about $17/ box here in MA) __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

10-13-2006, 07:41 PM	#13
Gavia immer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 193 Thanks: 21 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	$190 Unseasoned I just got a cord that "needs about six months" of drying. That will work out fine with what I've got stacked already. I'd estimate about 300 "pieces" like McDude's there, 18" long, and mostly red oak and maple. A friend said "wood is solar energy". I guess he's right!