Good info on the numbers...surprised that Oak was at 21%, that's dang near ready. I've split Red Oak that was standing dead for 3 years and it was still 42% on the inside...lol. OH and you forgot a few other expenses.....soda, ice, & rum! Hahahahaha 😆🍹👍

My family has been in the firewood business for 30+ years in north ga. Best thing we ever did was get into smoking/cooking wood. Hickory, Pecan, Cherry, etc sell for 50-100% more than regular heating wood.

People call me crazy but I cut and split for recreation. I love the exercise and it’s mind clearing. I’m trying to keep it around 20 cords per season which pays for all my equipment and satisfies my anxiety. Plus, I’ve developed a saw fetish. I took the Forrest Gump approach…..this much wood pays for a saw, this much for the splitter and so on. To me it’s better than fishing. Thanks for the great info.

You need to get a light weight steel table or maybe a wood table, same height as log splitter, set it directly to the left of your splitter and load it up with log blocks.

This is the best video on the subject of splitting and selling firewood presented by a very intelligent person who 'thinks' about all of the costs involved. And make no mistakes about it this is very 'hard work' and also very dangerous. A single mistake can result in tens of thousands in medical bills and disability. And if you don't have a bad back now you will if you do hard physical work like this.

Keeping track of how many times you have to handle the wood is very important.

Great video. Got to know your market and your numbers. You Definitely got the basics figured out for your numbers and like you said there is a lot your not figuring in and It all adds up.

Really like the wood storage setup

Appreciate you making the videos. Keep up the good work.

Great video thanks! One mistake you are making, that many in business for themselves make is you are not counting for depreciation of your equipment. It's more than gas. You are only going to get so many miles on your truck, tires, trailer etc. That has to be factored in. Equipment depreciation is a very real cost that has to be accounted for in business. Trucks, trailers, tires on both are expensive.

Thank you Sir!

When you set up your stand next to the road, probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to set up a trail camera. Unfortunately, people abuse the honor system.

I usually sell a load of two face cords and get $200. Sometimes I charge more for delivery outside of my county. Thanks for sharing all of the data and information my friend!

Really enjoying this channel, very informative

Nice overview of getting into firewood! Good job! Also, I really like your rack setup. You've got me thinking about getting one setup at my place. Happy splittin!

Very, very common sense video, which is refreshing. Some of the other firewood channels spend so much money, on often redundant equipment, and then dont fully utilize it. Im sure if they are making money, its on their channel, not the actual firewood bussiness. Just subscribed

The extra income is great and take in all the hard work but don’t forget what what you enjoy to doing. Great video!

love the way you figure your cost - lot of people can't or won't - been there done that - good luck

Well done 👍

Great video man. It’s a labor of love

My grandpa started me out with firewood when I was around 8 or so and we would work together for hours. I love cutting with my saw and the sound wood makes when splitting. I would love to sell it on the side but I don’t have the land and space to get it done . 😞

Here in NC we call it a brick (about a full size 6 ft bed truck load) and it averages $100 to $125 and that’s good cured hardwood . Great info very appreciated .. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

The answer is YES!!

Lots of things to consider. Thanks for the info. Another good video as usual

I want to say thank you for the great videos and and the info on the wood spliter just picked the same one up today and put around 3 Maybe 4 hrs on it a great spliter and because of your videos and information it made my choice easy thank you keep up the great videos.

I was hoping you’d make a numbers video!! Nice work. Sounds like it’s worth continuing on selling wood. I have a video coming out today, just about to edit it. Weather has been awesome here lately so today I’m going to the wood pile and splitting up some green Douglas fir to start the drying process. I live in BC Canada and I think I will make a video of my costs as well and what a cord of wood goes for around here. Keep up the good videos!!

I crunched the numbers for firewood recently...it doesn't make much sense if you approach it from how much money you making per hour. I think most people view it like this: + They have logs from trees on their property, from storm damage, or from tree service company + They have the equipment to turn into firewood + They have some free time to turn into extra money (instead of watch TV) Free logs turn to money. No ones cares about trees/ logs on the small scale...they just want to make them disappear. The only real downside is the cost of the equipment, however most think they'll can always resell it to make money back. All you really need is a $500 chainsaw and a $1000 log splitter really. You need a truck, but you already got one you drive for other reasons. On a fancier scale, you can have a $1200 chainsaw, a $5000-10000 splitter, and a 5-15k dump trailer. This just makes live easier, but not necessarily are more money (probably less since you gotta pay of that gear). This equipment is cheap when looking at the bigger picture of other businesses. The only way it makes sense from a logical 'how much money I make per hour' is if you got a huge expensive firewood processor, conveyer, stockpile, customer base, and the logs keep coming in. If you're not doing that, you gotta be honest with yourself and call it a side hustle or money making hobby...don't expect to get rich doing it. Sawmilling and selling the wood is the same situation or actually worse than firewood. With a sawmill, you can run a service to earn $100 per hour though (using a 50k machine). The reality of this topic makes me thankful I got a decent paying job.

I know you have mentioned before starting to make smokers at some point. Consider at least partially specializing in wood for smoking. If you have access to any orchards, apple, plum, orange etc you can really charge a premium. Hickory and Oak are of course standards.

We have the same gloves, Tillman. Tough gloves, perfect for this type of work. Finishing up tomorrow my biggest tree to date. Five Silver Maples growing out from a 55" across stump!

Its always about the numbers and its great that you are making the most from your time and effort cool video

you should look at selling at camp grounds, in the small packs

Nice video great job breaking down the numbers. This was the first video of yours that I have watched. I was in my analytics under top videos suggesting your content and this one came up so I headed over. New subscriber also.

I fell into firewood because I like using my pit. It’s just relaxing. And I enjoy the sawing and splitting of the wood. I like to use an axe. But I live in a city. If I could turn this hobby into profit I would. But my neighbors would kill me. Maybe in some future. Until then I’ll enjoy seeing your story unfold

Man a good video. You had me thinking about my numbers. New year and new reviews I have to figure out. Like you said you got to figure out the cost for maintenance. I got to worry about blown tires ,( which is what I have to worry about in the summertime ) oil changes , diesel fuel which I have two huge fuel tanks , if I'm pulling a refrigerated trailer and refrigerator fuel , brakes on the truck and the trailer, lights , man there is so much on the list. And like you said if you get injured like me. I was involved in the real real bad truck accident back in February 2020. Truck and the 53 ft trailer got flipped over and I was asleep at the time and barely came out alive. Who can you trust to run those numbers while you injured in the hospital. Good video man thanks for the reminder. Oh I know you can do it you going to come out on top man.

That live oak sure is some different splitting wood. Sounded like you covered most everything I could think of too. Good job Andrew

🌟👍 Good job. I had your channel on “play all” in the shop today! 😊💪🚜

You checked the inside of a fresh split good man!

Great points. I sold wood for fun at one time. You've really got to up the quantity to make it worth while. But too much is a lot of wear and tear on the body.

A cord is 3.6m3 which is 4.5 ster of 50cm split and stacked wood in very rural sw France. To buy 2m long oak wood costs 48 Euro per m3 delivered locally, ie the quantity costs about 173 Euro and once cut and split to 50cm you can sell it for 360 Euro delivered locally (hardly ever dried for 2 years).

I bought the same splitter this year and have come up with almost the exact same numbers as you. It seems to me the only way to look at it would be for firewood to compliment an existing business or side hustle. Like the farmer said shoveling manure from the barn “do I charge my time to cleaning out the barn or fertilizing the fields?” Just my thoughts. Have a great day! Nice job on the video!

I really enjoy your channel. Good content about different topics, especially firewood. Really like seeing the flow from wood rounds to your stacks. Each person travels different distances if any for their wood, they work at different paces and their splitters run at different spreads. So each persons outcome to your topic will be different. But aim glad you understand where you stand as far as your current business goes. Got a question for ya though. I’ve often wondered why you cut your splits so small? The length is standard but your wood looks like firewood bundle wood that’s split pretty thin. Quality wood no doubt. But wondered why you split so small???

Here in Washington state . A bundle is $5 per bundle and some people sell a cord $300 bucks. I sold a pickup truck load for $276 bucks .

I’d cut bottom row of wood in wood shed and make braces front to back on 45 angle for tip over. Then I’d switch to pallet based firewood and do 1/3 wrapped firewood and can just pickup 1/3 or half chords on pallet… touch it once… machine to fireplace w 2 touches.

Really enjoy the mental processing you're doing for us. I don't sell firewood, but I make my own.... I just enjoy the entrepreneurship spirit you're driving. Keep it up sir.

first time seeing your firewood video, you are Mr Data I love it!

What's great to do is going to a subdivision and get a lot of deliveries. The use of an old fire truck works the best because it has to roll up doors and you can do a quart of wood in each one of the roll-ups.

Good information!

Good information and reminder about the differences in price across the country. Sounds like something you'll make money at. It's not work when you love doing something and get paid for it! What are you thinking of using to hold your small bundles? Enjoyed it, thanks for sharing. Doug

Great video. I have just started doing firewood and have my first five IBC totes filled up. I think next year I’m gonna try to do quite a bit of selling firewood but clearly not trying to make a living from it

I'd grab a marker and put a line on your taller racks where the 1/4 cord mark should be. If your experience is anything like mine, when you start selling, you'll want to stretch your inventory as much as you can.

Most of the wood that you can find for $150 per cord here in Ohio is usually never dry and usually a little short of a cord. There may be sticks in it. Lengths are usually pretty short to pretty long. Some pieces may be really thick and need to be resplit. I sold my first cord, a little over a year ago, for $180. That was too cheap and I was just going to be broke sooner then later. Now I'm up to $400 per cord delivered. That's mixed hardwoods that dry relatively evenly. Oak, Hickory, Locust, Cherry are all stacked on their own. They will get a more premium price, but they're not seasoned yet so I have time to figure out the price.

You need to be making more due to depreciation. Calculate Replacing Truck, trailer, saws, splitter boots gloves, PPE, and files then you're less than minimum wage. Still a decent side hustle. Also factor in the savings of power by heating with wood versus 100% Electric or Gas ect.

As far as bundles wood when I used to use was a old milk

Good job ! that's a pretty nice splitter it pounds through them blocks pretty quick, I make a lot of firewood but don't sell as much as I use to, but the bundling is where I made my money for sure, I'm setting up a little mill so I'll probably start bundling again,

Here in central tx the average is: Live oak/pecan - $300 cord, $150-175 half cord. $75 quarter cord. i even sit out about dozen stacks on the side of the cords--> 36piece for $30 because some people want enough for a few good fires, but not a 1/4 cord. I end up selling more that way surprisingly so it makes me more in the long run and worth my time making the little stacks.

If it’s cut while the sap is up it won’t ever burn right I always get my logs together in the winter while sap is down in the stump

375-400 a cord here in northern California. But the colder it get the higher the price goes. I have sold oak and almond for as much as 575 a cord cut and split at 16 inches long and seasoned for 2 years. And that was them loading up. I always try to charge at least 6% for wear and tear on my equipment.

I am excited. Now I get to watch you split the wood.

This is why I had kids

This is definitely side hustle for a few hours on the weekend.

I used to get whole logs delivered to my house. It was a smaller log truck and the logs equaled on average 5 cords of wood. I paid $500 for the logs. Because of health reasons I now purchase cut and split firewood. I have a 16 foot dump trailer that can hold 2 cords of wood. It is a mixture of oak, cherry, hickory, black walnut, and maple for $350 if I load it myself, and $375 if I have them load it. I live in PA near the panhandle of WV and Ohio. If you travel to the city of Pittsburgh, the price increases quickly. Enjoyed the video, keep them coming.

Nice video sir. Glad you made the point that it depends on where you are. Too many people forget that part when doing any type of side business. I would suggest you make, or get made, a 4-way slip on wedge for your splitter for when you are splitting clean wood with no knots. It will greatly improve your production, and you can remove it when you are dealing with the stubborn pieces. Also, a lightweight, yet stable tray/pan to hold more raw and more split wood, so you move less between splitting and stacking wood. If you invest about 1 cord's worth of money into these improvements, you personally will make your life tremendously better off in this side business.

I like your rack design. Nice video Thanks.

We pay 250-300 a cord of almond in california

I’m just in high school and I have a good bit of wood I’ve just been cutting dead trees down as of now I hope to begin selling it in the summer time to campers in the area. I’m thinking of just bundling the wood because I don’t think I will have enough to sell by the cord. I’m generally thinking of purchasing a small chainsaw as of right now I just use an axe and a handsaw.

Nice job. I subscribed and will be watching your progress.

I like that you look at real numbers to verify your cost. Guess the only number you forgot is Tiffany’s list of what she gets to buy to keep up with you. Just saying Nephew. God Bless be safe and Keep on rollin. Uncle Tim in Texas

very good video!

People buying bundled wood probably have a good job and just want an occasional fire, like not having all the bark and bugs, less mess. I need a splitter with a log lift, so I know it will just be an investment in being independent because I probably won't be trying to pay off my machine as a side business when I am looking at $5-7,000.

I think most of us homesteaders like burning wood because its fun or we enjoy the heat better than gas or electric. We also like that self sustaining feel! I cut wood on state land in Michigan and its a lot of work so i love the exercise. . Some Hunters like to cut wood for their cabins while scouting for deer. its also great for the forest management and helping trees grow.

A cord of wood is 4 ft by 4 ft by 8 ft/ a face cord of wood is 16 inches by 4 ft by 8 ft/ if you add 16 + 16 + 16 equals 48 or 4 ft

Your a sound man Andrew, hope all goes well.

I think wood sources will be the Main factor as to whether starting a firewood business will be successful and profitable. That being followed by equipment overhead.if someone has the ability to get “free” wood and an unlimited supply it’s a win win. Otherwise if you don’t just love doing it and are physically able to work long days I all kinds of weather, you best just stick to enjoying a great hobby that can make some spending money on the side and not control your day and life. IMHO Great video.....telling it like it is......🪵🪓🔥👍👏

hi there i scale a lot of wood just for fun . just finished a red oak batch started 600 finished at 345 1/10 cord took around 18 months hasn't lost a pound in a year , just put a hickory batch on the scale 1/10 cord 686 as i recall . most the wood dryer 75% in the first 3 months . got a video coming up in a day or 2 you are doing a real nice job john

Well thought out. San Francisco Bay Area here. I can get almond wood delivered for $300 a cord if I buy two or more.

I have a splitter similar to yours. I got a slip on 4 way wedge for it and it really speeds up splitting time especially when making smaller splits.

I have a friend that makes a killing selling bundled firewood to campgrounds in our area!

In Iowa for me I sell a little bit of extra wood I have. Sold half a 6.5’ truck load for $75. Did deliver but it was about 2 miles away from where I work

Classify your fire wooding as your exercise program instead of paying for a health club membership. You wouldn't expense a treadmill or a set of barbells! or the chainsaws and splitter! Gas expense to go to the gym and back! No! When have you ever expensed a vacation (how much will you earn while in Cancun?) You are staying active and healthy unlike most others! Keep it up!

I live in South Carolina and I am thinking about getting into selling firewood bundles. This was extremely helpful in calculating my time, effort and wear and tear on my appointment. Keep up the good work and I would love to find out if it is profitable to you or not. What part of the country do you live in??

Yes bundles are the way to go especially when you have a firewood bundler at your disposal. A cord of 1 cu ft bundle will fetch upwards of $600/cord in a perfect scenario. I've sold well over 1000 since the beginning of the year. I can make about 50-60 bundles an hour with the bundler I have. Smaller the amount the more money it comes out to and my facecords are $165 sell out ever year no problem, premium wood=premium prices

I'm a self employed carpenter. I make $60/hr on an average day. I'd rather work my job and pay somebody else to cut and split wood for me. I do cut some wood and split it when I can get it for free close to my house but if I'm busy with my regular job I won't even bother doing that. I just recently got some free fire wood from a customer that has tons of wooded property just from fallen trees. The wood was already cut and split, alls I had to do was go get it. He even helped me load it on my truck. I enjoy watching you guys splitting wood on KZfaq and I've often contemplated doing it with some good equipment but no matter how you slice it and how much equipment you have, it's a lot of work. It ain't a free lunch ...at all!

First off I myself do not use a pin Moisture Meter, but I also do not sell Fire wood, Pin reader are only good for as far as you can push them in, live oak is so hard that you can at best push 1/4'' in, About 3 years ago I went and rented a Splitter for $65 a day, me and my friends had a Splitting Party in about 8 hours we split about 4 Cords of Live Oak, it takes about 1 1/2 to 2 years to dry to around 18%, and i still have 2 cords of that wood to use, I do know of people who sell Totes full of wood to a locate guy who sell firewood, and you are right they are not making any money, but these people just need some money, most i have every paid for a cord of wood here is $130, I got a cord delivered and stacked for $125 a few years back, again they needed the money, the wood was great for the fireplace 16" to 20" long and 3 to 4" wide, Mostly Live Oak with some Water Oak mixed in. I also see the road side stands up along the river camp roads that sell for $5 to $20 a bundle. There are so many people selling firewood around here, i have seen the tree service guys just burn it up I asked why and the answer was cost too much to pay someone to cut it up, I go look at there logs all the time for the saw logs. It is all about where you live, how cold it is, the cost of Electric, or gas to heat your home, and how long its cold. Need to know your Market for area you live in is the key to making money.

I’ve been trying to split live oak with a Fiskars axe . Having a hell of a time 😂

I watched this last night and thought it was a new video!

Phoenix Arizona I was paying $500-$550 from the top dealer out here. If I got it from just some unreliable guy and a truck, sure it would be less, but from a real business it’s EXPENSIVE

Great video!! Subbed

I'm with Back 40, that Oak should have been way higher in moisture. I dont know how far you were pushing your pins into the wood, but when i got mine i was told to push them as far into the wood as you can. I couldn't tell, maybe you were. Anyways a great video.

I was going to advertise wood splitter for hire.35.00 per hr to 50.00 .depends on what I have to do.

Thanks for the info. If I was you, I wouldn't do a bag stand. Do a loose stacked stand where you divide up 1/3 of a cord into four sections. At $20 a section it will bring you back to around $400 a cord. Look at Hometown Acres site. He goes over this. I currently just run and open stacked area from my front yard and I sell more wood to the backyard burners then people heating their homes. Just something to think about Thank You

maybe you can invest in machinery that makes the splitting process faster. A 4 sided splitting attachment perhaps? Or a multi functional machine.

I live in Ohio and get $240 a cord all day long and could probably get more if I wanted you did bring up some good points about your time and cost I have a job and do it as a side business to pay for toys like a dump trailer and a new wolf ridge splitter mainly I do it because I love running my STIHL chainsaws

I am going to have to stop by for a lesson. I have the same splitter but it doesn't work near as fast as yours.

VERY GOOD INFO. YOU MUST BE AN ACCOUNTANT

It's 300/cord plus delivery here in SE MI

Couple questions… if you had a tree service bring you the wood is their a fee from the tree service? Next how do you plan to bundle it? Is there additional cost to bundle it such as a shrink wrap machine?

Here in PA, everyone and their brother has small bundled wood for sale by the road....And it sits and sits.....Hardwood cords can be had for $110 ( you pick it up)..Personally I burn nothing except Red Oak, I let a lot of Maple and Sassafras lay

Get an accountant and they will give you business costs including depreciation on equipment

Firewood here in Indiana is 45-65 a face cord. So much competition selling it the price is way low. I wish people talking about this national minimum wage listen to you, same principle as firewood.

70 bucks for that stack yea definitely take it but I have my axe and enjoy splitting so even Unsplit I’ll take it