How much firewood do you process - M3 ?

[boblog]

Sounds like you are selling it too cheaply - don't undersell the product as firewood production is a poor business model even if you sell the product at the right price.

 

You timber cost price will rise, so raise your prices before it does.

 

Our firewood business is flexible at the moment as we don't really have any costs apart from the wood so able to slow down if demand slows. Bit stuck at the moment as like to get a bigger machine but would mean that tied down for a few years.

 

My biggest issues are finding decent wood, which I have so far, as I have limited time for drying, and supplying more traders as I'm relying on too few people to buy.

[Wood wasp]

I'm all for cutting down handling at every opportunity as firewood margins are far too low. However, there must surely be limited amount of local customers who can take delivery of a grain trailer full of logs?

[arboriculturist]

I'm all for cutting down handling at every opportunity as firewood margins are far too low. However, there must surely be limited amount of local customers who can take delivery of a grain trailer full of logs?

 

At what stage of production do you handle the timber manually?

[Wood wasp]

I didn't say manually.

 

My understanding is that people are suggesting processing at forest into bulk trailers rather than hauling timber back to yard. If you can deliver from forest direct to customer then great you've cut out one stage of handling. If not direct to customer then I don't see any advantage. In fact as a bulk trailer holds less tonnage, has more airspace and is pulled by a slower vehicle (albeit reduced running costs) then it's arguably less efficient way of transporting timber.

[Mortimer Firewood]

I didn't say manually.

 

My understanding is that people are suggesting processing at forest into bulk trailers rather than hauling timber back to yard. If you can deliver from forest direct to customer then great you've cut out one stage of handling. If not direct to customer then I don't see any advantage. In fact as a bulk trailer holds less tonnage, has more airspace and is pulled by a slower vehicle (albeit reduced running costs) then it's arguably less efficient way of transporting timber.

 

To be honest i thought the same rather be making money while lorry is hauling if you get a regular company doing a loads a week they will look after you.

[arboriculturist]

I didn't say manually.

 

 

Apologies for my misinterpretation

 

My understanding is that people are suggesting processing at forest into bulk trailers rather than hauling timber back to yard. If you can deliver from forest direct to customer then great you've cut out one stage of handling. If not direct to customer then I don't see any advantage. In fact as a bulk trailer holds less tonnage, has more airspace and is pulled by a slower vehicle (albeit reduced running costs) then it's arguably less efficient way of transporting timber.

 

Agreed, few of us have front linkage tractors for the Processor, a roof crane plus a 15 tonne trailer and not many customers want 15 tonnes green wood dumped on their drive.

[Wood wasp]

Did you quote me and then edit said quote?

[arboriculturist]

Did you quote me and then edit said quote?

 

I just thought you meant you manually handled timber at some stage of your production process, but in fact you don't - so sorry I assumed you did.

[farmer_ben]

I wasnt suggesting running green wood straight to a customer. Just saying, for me, it would save me money processing from source instead of paying a haulier to deliver to me. Presuming it wasnt to far away.

[arboriculturist]

I wasnt suggesting running green wood straight to a customer. Just saying, for me, it would save me money processing from source instead of paying a haulier to deliver to me. Presuming it wasnt to far away.

 

How do you mechanically handle the 15 tonne pile of loose logs when you tip them your end?