Buying firewood can be confusing at times. Just what is a cord? – What is a face cord? What is stove wood as opposed to fireplace wood? Hardwood, softwood or a mixture? Is it seasoned and how do you know if it is or not?
Dealers usually offer firewood by the cord: a standard stack measures 8′ long by 4′ high by 4′ deep. You must be wary and make sure that you receive full value. For example a face cord, often sold as a standard cord measures 4′ x 8′ x 12′ of 16″ or 20″ logs. Other names you may hear include but are not limited to short cord, stove cord, fireplace cord, running cord, rack and load. It is important for you to know just what you are buying; so ask questions.
If you purchase a cord of logs already cut into fireplace lengths, whether round or split, you have a legitimate complaint if they do not equal a standard cord.
Longer unsplit logs measuring up to 16′, often sell at a lower price per cord than do fireplace lengths of 2′ or less. After all less work for the log smith is less cost to you. However, you will lose a small fraction of each longer log to the chain saw.
The cost of a standard cord varies around the country, and is obviously, lower in rural areas where trees and dealers are plentiful. The earlier in the season that you buy wood the better. A cord purchased late in the season will cost you quite a bit more as demand is much higher – or you could lose out entirely and pay dearly for your procrastination. Typical prices range from $120 to 165 per cord in Eastern urban areas to as low and $80 or less in the rural South and West. Late season purchases can reach as high as $175.
Some dealers sell green or unseasoned firewood. You can identify unseasoned wood by the dull thud they make when you smack them together. High moisture content in the wood causes the thud sound. Seasoned logs, on the other hand, produce a cracking or ringing sound when stuck together. Think of the sound a baseball bat makes when you connect with the ball – there is nothing quite like it. Seasoned logs will have cracks and splits at the ends and be much lighter than unseasoned logs as well.
The amount of logs you will get in a cord depends on whether it comprises of round or split logs. A cord of split wood contains more solid wood than one of round logs. Split wood compacts more – leaving less airspace between the logs and has a small proportion of bark to wood.
In cords of unsplit wood, the larger the diameter of each log the more solid wood your cord will contain. For example, a cord of logs 6″ in diameter contains about 75 pieces, with a total wood content of 59 cubic feet. A cord of 20″ diameter logs, about ten pieces, totals 88 cubic feet of wood.
Remember that crooked or limbed logs create more airspace in a cord of wood and lessen total wood volume.
In the next part of this series I will provide information on selecting wood and burn rates and densities of certain types of woods – what smokes, produces good coals, aroma, and keeps the sparks down.
