Firewood Crazy Part 2

[Big 'Ammer]

Firewood has always been a nice, stessless little extra down here and the arguing about volumes - not interested, life's too short. Frankly I can fit nearly 3 builders bags of split logs in the tipper trailer; yes that includes air space but so flippin what. That's the system people are used to in my experience and it doesn't need to be any more complicated. I think the bed area in an indespension is bigger than the ifor, although both are classed as 8x5s. When people phone up and ask for a load, I've never had anyone remark that it was less than they were expecting. Bloke had 12 loads off me this morning and quickly realised it was a lot more than he'd anticipated. Hey-ho.

 

My observations were not directed at anyone specifically, they were just general observations.

 

If your only doing firewood as a bit extra, then what the hell?

 

I don't do firewood. If I did go into it, I would look very closely at volumes, weights, cost of production, cost of premises, storage, drying time, local market competition, etc. etc. etc....

 

If I want a 'bit extra', I do some more tree work.

[skyhuck]

If I want a 'bit extra'' date=' I do some more tree work.[/quote']

 

 

[Marko]

I don't do firewood. If I did go into it' date=' I would look very closely at volumes, weights, cost of production, cost of premises, storage, drying time, local market competition, etc. etc. etc....[/quote']

 

About a year ago and after an increase in attention from Trading Standards we did a good bit of work on here about defining 'seasoned' and 'volumes' with a view to establishing Firewood Buyers & Sellers Guides.

 

Buying Firewood: A buyers guide to buying logs and firewood

Firewood Selling Guide - suggested best practice for the firewood industry

 

With the amount of new logburners installed this year there will no doubt be another batch of new customers who are not familiar or tollerant of vague statements that some firewood sellers still make.

Perhaps it doesn't matter and they will just have to sort the good guys from the bad the hard way.... or perhaps Trading Standards will be pushed into doing something about it.

 

Lets hope all Arbtalk members are ahead of the game!

[Rob D]

I am getting more into doing firewood/milling and less treework and so do want to try and 'up my game' in the firewood stakes...

 

Next year I want to use slightly larger strip vented bags to dry wood quicker as well as having a standard size to sell...

[gensetsteve]

Marko I would not worry too much about anyone coming round to measure and count your logs. The civil servants have better things to do putting the country back together and covering up their expences to persecute small businesses.

 

If I delivered to a customer and got a 20 minute interigation and found they had a moisture meter I would mark them in my mind as odd.

 

Firewood is low profit and hard work lets be thankful there is enough people prepared to meet the demand.

 

Is that guide for real or is it a spoof you found online

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Marko I would not worry too much about anyone coming round to measure and count your logs. The civil servants have better things to do putting the country back together and covering up their expences to persecute small businesses.

 

If I delivered to a customer and got a 20 minute interigation and found they had a moisture meter I would mark them in my mind as odd.

 

Firewood is low profit and hard work lets be thankful there is enough people prepared to meet the demand.

 

Is that guide for real or is it a spoof you found online

 

 

Re the guide I fear it's for real. More red tape to stuff this country. I wonder, do prostitutes do risk assessments for each client? Wouldn't flippin surprise me. I might start doing them for post-bureucrat-trauma tho.

[Marko]

No - it is for real. It was aimed at helping newbie customers (who were the biggest source of complaints).

 

The biggest debate we had here was what constituted "seasoned" and I don't think we ever really resolved it. The bottom line was that moisture content was the only real way of getting a handle on it.

 

Quantities was more of a no brainer - most agreed that acuratley describing quantities not particularly hard to do but was a bit of an issue in the trade. There are still plenty of ads for a ton bag of logs (google "ton bag of logs" and see for yourself) - I know what they mean - you know what they mean - but first time fuel wood buyers Mr & Mrs Literal are quickly on the phone if a ton of logs doesn't turn up.

 

As I say it is open for ammendment so if you or anyone else has any suggestions....

[skyhuck]

Marko I would not worry too much about anyone coming round to measure and count your logs. The civil servants have better things to do putting the country back together and covering up their expences to persecute small businesses.

 

If I delivered to a customer and got a 20 minute interigation and found they had a moisture meter I would mark them in my mind as odd.

 

Firewood is low profit and hard work lets be thankful there is enough people prepared to meet the demand.

 

Is that guide for real or is it a spoof you found online

 

I would not be so sure.

 

I know someone who thought their coal merchant was ripping them of. They called trading standards.

 

They came round, swept out the coal bunker, got a the customer to order some coal. After it was delivered the re-bagged and weighed the coal. Sure enough under weight.

 

The coal merchant was prosecuted.

[davetaz]

Dictionary definition of season :-

"to mature; to bring in to suitable condition (eg wood by drying it out)"

 

To me that means seasoning is the process of reducing moisture content to an acceptable level. So they are much the same thing.

[Joy Yeomans]

I would not be so sure.

 

I know someone who thought their coal merchant was ripping them of. They called trading standards.

 

They came round, swept out the coal bunker, got a the customer to order some coal. After it was delivered the re-bagged and weighed the coal. Sure enough under weight.

 

The coal merchant was prosecuted.

 

 

Yes, we have had a new customer with similar problems - wanted us to cut a longer length of wood than we normally do, so we did, processed it straight into back of tipper, delivered on our normal size tipper which we quote as holding approx 2 cubic metres (an ldv tipper 3.5 tonner), we had nt realised that the longer lengths had more spaces between and didnt sit well in the truck and when the customer then stacked it they complained that he was a prof. and measured 1.8 cubic metres or something to that ilk - wanted to keep the load - didnt want money back, but only wanted to pay for half of load due to "not as supplied quanitity and threatend us with trading standards"

 

needless to say, we wont be selling any more to them - but everybody, just be aware there are jobs worths out threre - and we are not in any habit of ripping people off - always offer full refund if not satisified - but some people I think cause trouble cause they enjoy it!