Timber vs firewood

[John Thomas]

Been told that firewood is the off cuts of timber as felling a tree for firewood is not economically viable

 

So size wise!

 

1.What size dose a trunk become to small to be sold as timber?

 

2. Dose timber pay more per volume then firewood?

[Peasgood]

I think we are in the nonsensical position where firewood often makes more than timber.

Sad, but there you go.

[Chris Sheppard]

Been told that firewood is the off cuts of timber as felling a tree for firewood is not economically viable

 

So size wise!

 

1.What size dose a trunk become to small to be sold as timber?

 

2. Dose timber pay more per volume then firewood?

 

What you've been told is a load of twaddle.

 

A lot of hardwood is felled for firewood, and quite often commands more money standing than sawlog grade softwood.

 

Some mills will take hardwood down to as small as 6" top diameter from memory, whereas the most saleable firewood is Hardwood thinnings from about 4" diameter up to 14-15", and straight with it. That will sell roadside for as much or more than Softwood sawlogs too.

 

Softwood wise, because of the biomass/firewood market, we only usually bother cutting Sawlogs and chip/firewood (rather than things like pallet/bars/strainers/posts etc too). In hardwood, on the whole it's worth more/less hassle to sell out as firewood, unless it's decent grade (and usually Oak, though sometimes Ash and even Sycamore).

[Big J]

Firewood is a natural byproduct of the whole timber production process. A long time before you even get to the stage of harvesting saw logs, you have umteen thinnings to do, which for the most part will just provide firewood.

[Craobh]

The timber industry over here is so different and from what I've read so far totally screwed up lol

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Like Chris, all we're cutting is Sawlog and chip / firewood - firewood in particular. Larch all goes as firewood now - mills not interested here...

[Chris Sheppard]

The timber industry over here is so different and from what I've read so far totally screwed up lol

 

That's because we only have little trees in small blocks compared to what you'll be used to. Plus, the wood is of low value in comparison to the amount of work involved - if the wood was worth more, perhaps more would be done to manage it better.

 

Like Chris, all we're cutting is Sawlog and chip / firewood - firewood in particular. Larch all goes as firewood now - mills not interested here...

 

That's interesting on the Larch, Jon. Round us we can usually get a bit more per tonne on Larch logs and chip than we do on any other SW (well, we did last time anyway).

Edited April 25, 2013 by Chris Sheppard

[Craobh]

That's because we only have little trees in small blocks compared to what you'll be used to. Plus, the wood is of low value in comparison to the amount of work involved - if the wood was worth more, perhaps more would be done to manage it better.

 

I wasn't having a go .....I was really thinking of you guys as you said working your rears of for not huge return.

 

 

Oh we cut small stands too as well as working gypo for the high end shows.

 

 

Our own place is only 175 acres so it cut in small stands but it is managed that way (that's the wifes job lol I only kill the stuff lol)

[Craobh]

As a guide if we falling contract we around the £300 a day

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

That's interesting on the Larch, Jon. Round us we can usually get a bit more per tonne on Larch logs and chip than we do on any other SW (well, we did last time anyway).

 

Larch log - no way! It's the lowest price for log round here; so much of it due to ramroum doesn't help; spruce, hemlock etc all higher. DF very high!

 

But for firewood it's the opposite way round - larch at almost log prices; others £5/metre less.