Firewood facts, 1976

              Cooperative
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Firewood Facts
Wood was man's first fuel source. Its popularity
waned as more convenient sources were developed.
However, recent price rises in gas, L. P. fuels, and
electricity have generated a renewed interest in wood
as an energy source in home heating.
This fact sheet answers some of the most frequently
asked questions about wood.
Question:   How is it sold?
Answer: Wood has historically been sold by a unit
known as a cord. The cord is actually a
measure of the volume of a stack of wood.
It represents a volume (length x width x
height) of 1 28 cubic feet. Since most firewood is cut in two-foot pieces to accommodate stoves and fireplace today, a cord
is usually thought of as a rectangular stack
of 2-foot pieces, 4 feet high in a 16-foot
long stack yielding (2 x 4 x 16 = 128)
128 cubic feet.
Around large towns where apartment
dwellers might have a fireplace, but practically no place to store a cord of wood, it
can be purchased on a weight basis for a
few pieces at a time. This is usually for
the convenience of the buyer, and the price
per pound is usually slightly higher than
if it had been bought as a cord.
Question:   Where do I get wood9
Answer: Wood is generally obtained two ways.
Wood brokers are the most common
source. They are people who seasonally
advertise in the newspapers just before
cold weather starts in an area. Normally
they quote a price for wood cut into two-
foot lengths and delivered to your house.
They may quote an additional S10 to SI 5
per cord if they are expected to stack the
wood, since this is more time-consuming
than dumping a load of wood in your
driveway. A word of caution is in order
here. If you choose the cheaper route of
having the wood delivered but not stacked,
you have no immediate way of knowing if
you have received a full cord. Be sure you
know how to get in touch with your supplier at a later date in case you did not
get a full cord. This is rarely a problem
with resident brokers, but it does happen
in some transient operations.
Another way to obtain wood in many
areas of New Mexico is to cut your own
wood in nearby national forests. The
actual cost to you may be significantly less
if you choose this method. Most of the
cost of a cord of wood is the labor involved and the hauling expense. There may
be considerable savings in using your own
resources to obtain wood. Forest offices,
ranger stations, etc. designate certain cutting areas for "do-it-yourselfers" and issue
permits to harvest firewood for minimal
fees. They require that you use certain
equipment such as spark arresters on
power saws, and they must approve your
equipment before you are allowed to cut
in the national forest areas. Depending
upon your proximity to these areas, you
may save as much as $40 a cord by being
your own supplier.
New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity employer. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race,
color, or national origin. New Mexico State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.