My wife and I bought a house with a built-in fireplace in Middlesex over the summer. After Hurricane Sandy, I went out and grabbed as much firewood that I could (that I was positive wasn't pine) but would still like to have more. We also have a firepit that we used during the summer so some of the wood would be used for that. From what I grabbed after Sandy, I have about 1/2 cord right now. I'd like to get another 1/2 to full cord and am thinking about purchasing it instead of trying to get it for free off of Craigslist.

 

There's a place in Hillsborough that want $275 for 40 cu. ft. whereas Alstede Farms in Chester wants $250 for a full cord.

 

Can anyone recommend a reputable place to buy firewood that isn't a ripoff?

Wood normally sold in cords. A cord is 4 ft X 4 ft X 8 ft or 128 cu ft. This is before the wood is split.

 

Are you looking for fireplace log lengths? Split? Deliver or Pickup? Stacked if delivered?

 

All makes a difference on price.

 

Let me know your wishes and then I can see what is available.

 

I know where there is a lot of ash, oak, and hickory available, but labor is the big cost right now.

I have no problem splitting the wood myself, which is what I did for all the wood I picked up after Sandy. I have a pickup truck with a 6' bed so I can pick up the wood, it would just take multiple trips for a full cord.

Make sure the wood is DRY and aged. If you burn fresh cut wood you will get creasote and risk a chimney fire.

Gosh, man, right after Sandy you couldn't walk around Boonton, Mt. Lakes...without tripping on piles of already cut oak, maple and ash. Right there by the sidewalk, ready for the take.

 

If Alsteade runs their wood business like they run their peach picking business, run as fast as you can.

NICE !

 

Look to log length wood...what * I * do is call my local tree guys....and ask them to drop me logs...OR, I take it from the site....

 

I didn't think about contacting local tree services. I found one that would drop off for free but the logs are 13' in length so I'd have to cut them into more manageable pieces. I also have a friend whose father has a tree service so I may ask her if he'd be willing to drop off some logs every once in a while.

Gosh, man, right after Sandy you couldn't walk around Boonton, Mt. Lakes...without tripping on piles of already cut oak, maple and ash. Right there by the sidewalk, ready for the take.

 

If Alsteade runs their wood business like they run their peach picking business, run as fast as you can.

 

A bunch of my neighbors had wood on the side of the road from fallen trees but I wasn't too sure about the legality of just picking it up so I only grabbed stuff that was on Craigslist. I was also unsure about the kind of wood laying out on the curb, if I didn't see any of the branches with leaves. I was still cautious about the stuff on Craigslist if I saw any pine needles.

^^^

This. Ask, Most people would be glad to see it gone.

 

Pine and related evergreens are very easy to spot. You'll see the resin seeping out and will smell like, well, pine. Also the bark is very distinctive.

 

You'll need a chainsaw to cut up those logs. For very light, occasional use homelite brand from the borg will be fine. But if you're going to process a couple cords/year, I would get a sthil or husqvarn. Both brands make quality machines, it's just a question of which dealer is nearest to you and which color you prefer.

you will NOT heat your home or area with the fireplace...not gonna happen...

 

 

 

You'd be wrong there, friend. During last year's Halloween ice storm (for 5 days) and during Sandy (for 3 days), that is exactly how I heated my family room (with attached bathroom, conveniently), and it worked great.

I don't have a fireplace but always wanted one. Why can't you burn pine?

I don't have a fireplace but always wanted one. Why can't you burn pine?

 

From what I've learned, you can burn pine but it creates a lot of creosote which is highly flammable. If I'm mistaken as to the reason, someone please correct me.

If you're interested in any kiln dried firewood, let me know, I sell it. It's more expensive than buying seasoned firewood (and certainly more than free wood), but it's dryer than any seasoned wood, has much less creosote, higher BTUs, presplit with no bark and bug free (kiln drying kills them).

 

My store is in Oak Ridge (Passaic county) where it can be picked up, delivery is also available but it would get a bit pricey going to Middlesex.

i might as well ask since this seems to be the thread to do so...

 

Eventually i would like to add a wood burning stove to my home, does anyone have any suggestions. We have a firepit outside, and i would love to have a way to heat the home in the winter if the power is out... (aside from running the genny...)

My family garden center sells cords ill get you a price

i might as well ask since this seems to be the thread to do so...

 

Eventually i would like to add a wood burning stove to my home, does anyone have any suggestions. We have a firepit outside, and i would love to have a way to heat the home in the winter if the power is out... (aside from running the genny...)

 

Don't know for sure being I only have a gas fireplace and never heated with wood, but I hear the pellet low air stove heaters are the most efficient, but others in the know will chime in to give you the best options. I'll be watching also.

 

 

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yeah a house we almost bought used pellets. i would rather a regular wood burning stove so i can chop my own wood and stuff.....

Good to know, thanks for the info Nick.

 

 

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I finally picked one of these up this year: http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Products/Axes-and-Striking-Tools/X27-Splitting-Axe-36 Best money I've spent in a while!

 

Inside burning, stick to hardwood. Outside pit, you can mix & match.

So best bet is to find a local dealer and go from there? with any brand?? I didnt even really know where to start looking...

There are a few places near me that sell 200-250$ cords if your interested...all in the newspaper.

 

I know a few guys that exclusively burn pine. It burns very hot but relatively short compared to other hardwoods. They burn every day during the winter and.clean their flues about once every two weeks. As long as you clean frequently there's usually no issue. They like pine because it's everywhere and they haven't paid for wood in years since everyone gives it away.

I can get you a pallet of wood for 185 plus our local delivery charge or you can pick it up! No taxes. Pm me

thanks nick, ill check it out home. looks like one can be had for around a grand or less. Wondering if i should install or pay someone. This would be installed in a family room that is above a basement (split level), the room as a cathedral ceiling...

This is what we have:

 

http://www.regency-fire.com/Products/Hampton-Wood---Gas/Cast-Iron-Stoves,-Fireplaces---Inserts/HI300.aspx

 

It has transformed our lives. We use the house completely differently than we did before. It's fantastic. I would buy it at a fireplace store and have them install it. While I know some friends who have installed on their own, the steel liner is tricky to install in the chimney correctly. In our case, the interior of the chimney had some 90+ year old concrete that oozed when it originally set. Getting the liner installed correctly is key to fire safety, and they did it at a very reasonable price.

 

We now go through around 1.5 cords of wood a year.

 

-Dave

North west they burn pine all the time. Seasoned and hot fires. And clean the flu atleast once a yr.

 

New school wood stoves have catalytic convertors of 2 types.

 

 

Actually I am not.......re-read your post......and re-read mine....you HEATED a family room....and an adjoining bathroom.... Leave those immediate areas and what was the house temp?????

 

 

I heated an "area" (the word you used in your post)... and an "area" with an attached bathroom at that... for 5 days.

 

You stand corrected.

 

 

Gosh, I wonder how all those pioneers lived thru all those winters with nothing but a fireplace to heat their "area." I'm not saying i'd want to LIVE that way, but it works just fine in a pinch like a power outage.

 

I, for one, wouldn't give up my fireplace for a WBS... generally, the room the WBS is in is so hot as to be almost uninhabitable, unless you're in your underwear. And it's not about saving money for me- I can afford to heat my house with natural gas. Besides- I LIKE my fireplace. There's something to be said for beauty over function once in awhile, especially when it's an UNnecessary thing in the first place.

I really have no reason to argue....however in your universe if this makes sense....then OK !

 

You did note the

Thats why i used my sheldon " in your universe"...LOL

 

ah.... that's a show I don't watch, but I get the reference now...

I've heated primarily with a fireplace insert for 15 years now. I'd go through about 6-7 cords a year. With the addition this year, I've added a furnace. I'll probably still end up burning 3-4 cords. I use the furnace to keep the temp from falling too low but use the fireplace to bring it up to a cozy 72ish.

 

My insert is "The Earth Stove". Bought in 1992, used slightly until 98(house was part time until then) and then full time in the winter every year since then. I've had to replace two fans and the fire bricks once.

 

It is rated at 72,000 btu and we still love it. Don't attempt to install it yourself, whatever you get. It's not easy.

I know a few guys that exclusively burn pine. It burns very hot but relatively short compared to other hardwoods. They burn every day during the winter and.clean their flues about once every two weeks. As long as you clean frequently there's usually no issue. They like pine because it's everywhere and they haven't paid for wood in years since everyone gives it away.

Wood Heat in pottstown, pa has a great showroom. There is also a new store of theirs in flemington NJ. We bought ours there. We ended up getting a Jotul insert a few years ago...very happy with it. If you buy new, Quadra fire and Jotul are both great brands.