Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[aeblank]

'48.
Needs a bit of love...

One day....

https://i.imgur.com/MNLbLel.jpg

 

[BrokenTrack]

I'm just guessing it has to do with the fact that firewood purchases generate the most complaints to the state of any forest related product sold. Too many people would gripe when they bought wood that the seller weighed and converted to cords, then when the buyer stacked it up they found the number of cords did not match what they were told.

I think it was actually professional loggers that drove the change.

For the longest time, that was how the pay was given out by my truckers. Weight from the paper mills would be converted to cords.

The problem was, unless you knew the conversion rates off the top of your head, it was not easy to figure out if you were getting your full amount or not. Most loggers never did the math. I started to, and noticed this one trucker would be off by a few dollars, not a lot, like $12 a load, but back then I was slogging out several loads a week. $12 per load really adds up over time.

But this makes sense. I was told we had to sell wood by the weight or load, and not by the cord, but this was said by the trucker that I found out was skimming money.

I will never sell wood by the cord again though. Weight or by the load is just better.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I think firewood is just dying out as a heating source, as it just cannot compete in the modern world.

I used to sell a lot of firewood, but that is no longer the case. There are just too many things going against it, from the greenies thinking cutting wood is bad, with an agenda that is filtering down to our kids in school, to minisplits providing heat at a cheaper cost.

Then you add in the demise of the American Family, where most families are blended and so weekends often mean shuttling kids to and fro from ex-spouses houses for weekend visits...the demographics who would benefit from cheap heat the most, are too busy to do the work that is firewood.

And work it is, and that is not in vogue today to say the least.

Then there is the cost, my property taxes jumped 40% last year alone, when you calculate in what maintaining a woodlot actually costs, against natural gas, oil, and other fuels, its not exactly cheap. Neither is homeowners insurance who get a higher rate for heating with wood. And forget about wood if you are a foster home or day care center: there is NO WAY you are going to get the place approved by the State Fire Marshall.

And then there is travel. With firewood you are stuck home in the winter, and as a rule today, American's like to travel. They want the set it, and forget lifestyle of other types of heat.

Myself, I have log trailers, skidders, chainsaws, grapple skidders, feller-bunchers and the like...the most forestry equipment I have ever had, and hundreds of acres to gather firewood, and I heat with wood pellets. Yep, I do. I can go out in the woods, cut a load of tree length hardwood pulp, take the money, and buy pellets to heat my home for a year. No bucking, splitting, hauling, stacking, or mess inside the house. In a single day I can fell, limb, twitch and still be warm all winter.

I am not saying firewood is bad type of heat, it just can no longer compete in this modern world. Lifestyles, along with other forms of heat have just crowded it out.

 

[hunt4570]

I think firewood is just dying out as a heating source, as it just cannot compete in the modern world.

I used to sell a lot of firewood, but that is no longer the case. There are just too many things going against it, from the greenies thinking cutting wood is bad, with an agenda that is filtering down to our kids in school, to minisplits providing heat at a cheaper cost.

Then you add in the demise of the American Family, where most families are blended and so weekends often mean shuttling kids to and fro from ex-spouses houses for weekend visits...the demographics who would benefit from cheap heat the most, are too busy to do the work that is firewood.

And work it is, and that is not in vogue today to say the least.

Then there is the cost, my property taxes jumped 40% last year alone, when you calculate in what maintaining a woodlot actually costs, against natural gas, oil, and other fuels, its not exactly cheap. Neither is homeowners insurance who get a higher rate for heating with wood. And forget about wood if you are a foster home or day care center: there is NO WAY you are going to get the place approved by the State Fire Marshall.

And then there is travel. With firewood you are stuck home in the winter, and as a rule today, American's like to travel. They want the set it, and forget lifestyle of other types of heat.

Myself, I have log trailers, skidders, chainsaws, grapple skidders, feller-bunchers and the like...the most forestry equipment I have ever had, and hundreds of acres to gather firewood, and I heat with wood pellets. Yep, I do. I can go out in the woods, cut a load of tree length hardwood pulp, take the money, and buy pellets to heat my home for a year. No bucking, splitting, hauling, stacking, or mess inside the house. In a single day I can fell, limb, twitch and still be warm all winter.

I am not saying firewood is bad type of heat, it just can no longer compete in this modern world. Lifestyles, along with other forms of heat have just crowded it out.

I got into heating with firewood when I was younger, bought a place with trees and a woodstove.. cut ,split, stacked it all the hard way.. no tractors or splitters or anything. slowly adding the peripherals.. first a splitter, then a tractor, then the big jump... a tractor with a FEL..whoohooo!! almost retired my wheelbarrow!!
Now 40 years later still at it, got more equipment so its a bit easier to do. Never tried to sell any, and did my best not to buy any. Rebuilt my house a few years ago and thought the heck with the whole heating with wood thing, turn the thermostat and be done with it. After 2 years we missed the wood heat and propane was killing us so I put a free stander in the house.. YAY
I like my wood heat and it helps keep me in shape.. till I just can no longer do it..

 

[two_bit_score]

I think firewood is just dying out as a heating source, as it just cannot compete in the modern world.

I think BrokenTrack is right about wood as a primary heat source. It’s mainly for aesthetics now. I know a lot of people who have old houses and some had 5 or so fireplaces originally. Almost all have been converted to gas logs. Or they are just not used.

I love wood heat and love the wood stove. But I would never want it to be my primary heat source.


.

 

[hunt4570]

I think BrokenTrack is right about wood as a primary heat source. It’s mainly for aesthetics now. I know a lot of people who have old houses and some had 5 or so fireplaces originally. Almost all have been converted to gas logs. Or they are just not used.

I love wood heat and love the wood stove. But I would never want it to be my primary heat source.


.

I like it and it is 100% my primary heat source.

 

[two_bit_score]

I like it and it is 100% my primary heat source.

I'm glad we all have the right to make those choices. I have an old house built in the 1920's that had multiple wood stoves in it at one time. Very interesting house.

 

[4570Man]

Firewood is alright if you’re cutting it yourself. It’s too expensive to buy. You can heat with other methods for about the same money and a lot less work. Well, I sell a lot of it but I still think it’s a poor choice.

 

[hunt4570]

Firewood is alright if you’re cutting it yourself. It’s too expensive to buy. You can heat with other methods for about the same money and a lot less work. Well, I sell a lot of it but I still think it’s a poor choice.

Yep... I don't buy it and only cut enough for me.. 2-3 cords a year is all.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I MUCH prefer wood heat in my home, as does my wife BUT, propane is cheaper right now, so I'm using both, wood and propane, depending on how lazy I am. lol IF propane goes back up, I'll go all wood again...

Around here, I know lots of folks that heat with all wood...

SR