Selling Logs, is it worth the effort? How much can you make?

Let’s talk about selling logs as a side income.
Email: [e-mail]
Mailing Address:
261 Little Caney Ridge
Coeburn VA, 24230

[@180Floridalife]

First I have seen a video about a land owner selling logs👍 thanks for sharing!

[@khtractors]

That’s why I did this because I could tell when I’d get the logs most people didn’t understand it wasn’t for just firewood. Then I got to thinking I’ve never seen a video on selling logs. Appreciate you watching!

[@timothyboone5003]

Through the winter months I do quite a bit of tree work. Mostly removal of nuisance trees. If large enough and of grade enough I’ll take the logs to market. Last year I took some White Oak to the stave mill and was shocked at the prices. The highest grade logs bought $3.55 per board ft. All my logs brought over a $100 each. There wasn’t anything all that special about them. I’ve cut much better when I was in the logging business 25 years ago. I’m not sure what Stave prices are now, but at those prices the 5 to 10 acre land owner could be sitting on $25 to $50k in timber.

[@khtractors]

Thanks for sharing!

[@wilsonmccarty7203]

Appreciate you taking the time to do this videos

[@khtractors]

Thank you for watching

[@MP-ef6mc]

I drive a log truck for a larger scale logging operation, I haul about 3 board feet a year. The grade and pallet mills I go to all have guys with pickup trucks and trailer always hauling sometimes some pretty nice logs in. One mill I go to even has a tree service haul in their logs from bigger jobs. Why not, it’s free money like you said.

[@khtractors]

Appreciate this comment and for the view! Take care!

[@bennykennedy1786]

Good information. Even though I help you with the logs, I had never taken time to know how they actually graded the logs and priced them.

[@khtractors]

I would like to know more about the details myself. Thanks Dad!

[@MrCatfishkiller35]

Thank you very much I appreciate it I have probably watched two dozen of these different videos on KZbin trying to actually get prices of what I can get for my logs and you are the first one to actually have real answers that I was looking for thank you

[@khtractors]

That’s great! There are a lot of variables that come into play on selling logs but this at least gives you an idea of what to expect. Thanks for watching!

[@w8stral]

This is probably late, but here you go: TIP for land/tree owners, if the log is not greater than 20 inches at chest height on the uphill side, with at least 16 feet of knotless lumber on the bottom portion of said tree, you will not make ANY money if you pay a logger and you had still better have ~50 trees or more to make ANY money as said tree owner. Any log with a knot over 3 inches in diameter = free log to the mill or pulp prices at best. As this guy just showed.... So, both loads barely paid for the transportation of the logs. Better than paying to get rid of them, but not much. This is why you can easily get free firewood logs and often free woodchips delivered to your door. Trees have NEGATIVE value unless you have a LOT of them whom are at least medium sized(over 20" DBH)straight, and knotless. ANYTHING less than the above and you are doing nothing but paying a logger at best and at worst you will be PAYING to get rid of said trees. Even then you still must clean up all the logging mess. The LOGGER will NOT clean up the tops. You will PAY $$$ to clean that up. Do remember, that if you talk to a mill for prices and they quote you for say a 16ft log, you actually have to cut it 17ft long for trimming of the ends due to tear out, splits, etc. There are exceptions: Cherry, Walnut, hard maple, and sometimes Oak(red/white) if large diameter and ~10-->12ft long and knotless will fetch large prices. Hickory as well. Everything else? Essentially goes for pulp prices no matter how large. Apparently Poplar is being used for trim wood now so... guess there is one more exception... Technically cedar also has value, but you had better have a LOT of it. Remember any knot on a log over 3" automatically = pulp status for the most part. Old knots etc

[@DSURETHING]

@@w8stral very helpful!!! Who do you call to sell your logs if you're having your land cleared for a house?

[@w8stral]

@@DSURETHING Uh, you don't. Whoever does the clearing will deal with the logs. Part of their job. You won't be making any money if that is what you are thinking. Brush clearing clean up, chipping, stump removal will + their time will cost FAAAAAAAARRRR more than the piddly value of the logs unless your trees are gigantic and of the variety a mill wants. Who do you call? Uh... dude this world has 8 billion people in it and I doubt I live near you.

[@OrangeismyNewGreen]

I was surprised of the price for cherry 😳 wow, thanks for sharing Ben 🙋🏼‍♂️👍🏻

[@khtractors]

Yeah it’s one you think of as being high like walnut! Thanks for watching!

[@HillsideAcres]

I really find this interesting. Like you i see lots of people with back yard mills, but i see that as a small up front financial investment but a huge time investment, which is sometimes more valuable. Based on your numbers it looks like you are almost getting seasoned spilt firewood prices for the straight logs without doing any of the labor or investing the time. You are a very creative thinker, i did not even know saw logs could be sold like this.

[@khtractors]

Yes sir it’s a good income if you have the logs available. I’ve sold logs since about 2007. Thanks for watching!

[@HillsideAcres]

@@khtractors lol I didn’t even have my drivers license in 2007 😂

[@khtractors]

@@HillsideAcres 🤣🤣. It was actually 2005 after thinking about it, that’s when I got my IH.

[@HillsideAcres]

@@khtractors you’ve had that truck quite a while then, looks like you’ve been taking good care of it, still looks great!

[@khtractors]

@@HillsideAcres it was a flat bed dump up until a few years ago.

[@Mark-Marine]

This was a great video. Around here, we have oak, hickory, and maple predominately. I’ve never sold logs myself, just sold the timber off my land. That’s something I’d never do again after watching your videos - I’d do it myself.

[@khtractors]

Yes the land owner doesn’t really come out too good usually. One is much better off doing it themselves if they are able! Appreciate you watching Mark!

[@Mark-Marine]

@@khtractors I don’t know if you can tell who “likes” your videos or not, but I always watch, always like, but seldom comment. 👍🏻

[@khtractors]

@@Mark-Marine no I can’t see who hits the like but I sure appreciate it! Have a great day!

[@tristenweems5734]

Hey mark, how much did you make per tree? Or what percentage cut deal did u make with the people who cut them

[@peterkober6758]

Ben good morning 61 raining learned a lot about logs always though they were worth more God Bless All PaK

[@khtractors]

Most people think that it’s gold when really they aren’t. Appreciate you watching!

[@Lordhumongus]

All mills i know of buy by the ton. Rn Oak brings $65 a ton and cedar pays $120 a ton if you can find a mill that wants it. Cherry, walnut, white oak pay the most for hardwoods. Obviously Veneer quality brings more.

[@khtractors]

Thank you!

[@BillyP55]

Thanks for sharing Ben... very interesting!

[@khtractors]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good morning mon ami 😊 Very nice tractor action and very nice wood logs in deed 👍 Beautiful cloud passing over 👌🧐 very nice back yard pool and clean house back yard too 👌👍😊 Great explanation Sir about selling wood 👌🧐 It pays on the long run to take care of your equipment maintenance and make money from it too 👌😊 Have a blessed week end Sir 🙏😇 Cheers 👍🍻

[@khtractors]

Appreciate you watching Dave! Hope you have a great weekend!

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

@@khtractors 🖖👍🍻

[@philliplamberth4075]

You are right we knew nothing until you showed us.

[@khtractors]

I’m glad you watched and it helped!

[@drakegaudet2738]

Thanks soo much for this video would love to see a video of this with different types of trees very helpful be blessed brother!! God is good all the time!

[@khtractors]

Thank you very much!

[@HomeWithTheBuffingtons]

Interesting. Great information, Ben. Thanks for sharing this.

[@khtractors]

Thanks for watching!

[@loggerjohn01]

Hey Ben, I will have to check the prices up here in Canada. It seems they are up and down here. There is a lot of work in doing firewood. I get between $350-$400 a cubic cord( Full cord) delivered locally. I'm thinking about getting a sawmill one day. There seems to be a good market for lumber around here. Take care

[@khtractors]

When we had our circle sawmill I loved sawing, I think even more then operating tractors. It was fun with the big Detroit Diesel engine and working with a crew, usually all family. The small band mills don’t give that same feeling which is why I’ve never bought one. But they would be handy! Thanks for watching!

[@DeathrashWhiplash]

Where you at John

[@loggerjohn01]

In eastern Ontario Canada.

[@codybowling3235]

Thank you so much for this video, been looking for one like this for a while

[@khtractors]

Thank you for watching!

[@ABMFARM]

Good video, Good idea for a video with good information for our area. Stay cool and be safe up there

[@khtractors]

Thanks buddy, been out cleaning ponds and digging ditches all day in Clintwood. You be safe!

[@paulcasefarms9933]

Looks like cherry sweeetgum and some oak. I buy logs like that. We buy them by the bdft and on the doyle scale. I am in Northeast Oklahoma. I think it is worth it too down to a point. However I am in the firewood business too and buy them all the way down to 6'' dia. They just dont pay much. My pay scale is different as we only cut pallet lumber so we pay $.40 per bdft straight through. Most of the time it works out the same as other mills in my area. Very seldom do we get many logs that are good enough to sell for higher grades anyway. Thanks for the video!

[@khtractors]

Yes 40 cents is a good average! I sell firewood as well so the small stuff under 9” I keep or the less desirable logs that’s crooked. It was poplar, wild Cherry, black heart or tame cherry and maple. Thanks for sharing your information and for watching!

[@coldspring624]

I love my little mill. I saw the good logs and burn the rest. I just finished out the inside of a horse barn for very little money. I do not do it for money ...I just love sawing.

[@khtractors]

It is handy to have a mill around. Have you seen my old video of our sawmill? It’s called Days Gone Bye one of the last runs of the Circle Mill. Thanks for watching!

[@HighRoad317]

Great topic.. enjoying you’re content!!

[@khtractors]

I’m glad you are liking it! I appreciate the views!

[@Keto-Cheato]

Im new here. Tennessee Between Chattanooga n Knoxville. Little portable sawmill. I charge $60/hr to saw whatever. Not real busy.

[@lita2dapita]

I bn looking for this.. Thx hun❤

[@curtisgarner2144]

Good information. Thanks for sharing.

[@khtractors]

Appreciate you watching!

[@ironmule]

Thanks for this. Very good info!

[@khtractors]

Appreciate you watching!

[@ocean1233]

I'd be happy to have the area cleared.

[@khtractors]

Some people are like that, others think they should get rich while someone else does all the work. Thanks for watching

[@jacobhill4851]

Great video 👍 saw you the other day😂

[@khtractors]

Was it when I was going to the church? Thanks for watching!

[@jacobhill4851]

@@khtractors yep, Thursday morning I think. I was with dad

[@johnsdsl]

I wish posters would say what county or at least what state they live in. Prices and conditions can vary quite a lot by location.

[@khtractors]

If you look at my about page all that information is there. Southwest Virginia and yes location makes a difference. Thanks for watching!

[@FabbedFun]

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if... ah, nevermind. Think of all the awesome furniture/cabinets someone will have because you were willing to bring in those logs... Good video, Ben!

[@khtractors]

It would be nice to know what ends up happening with the lumber from the logs I’ve taken. Appreciate you watching!

[@DSURETHING]

Fabbed Fun, HILARIOUS!!! Ben, Where do you sell the logs? Like if you live in GA, you have land, what should be my first step? I NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE!!!

[@jonathanjackson3649]

Good information Ben

[@khtractors]

Thank you buddy!

[@w8stral]

TIP for land/tree owners, if the log is not greater than 20 inches at chest height on the uphill side, with at least 16 feet of knotless lumber on the bottom portion of said tree, you will not make ANY money if you pay a logger and you had still better have ~50 trees or more to make ANY money as said tree owner. Any log with a knot over 3 inches in diameter = free log to the mill or pulp prices at best. As this guy just showed.... So, both loads barely paid for the transportation of the logs. Better than paying to get rid of them, but not much. This is why you can easily get free firewood logs and often free woodchips delivered to your door. Trees have NEGATIVE value unless you have a LOT of them whom are at least medium sized(over 20" DBH)straight, and knotless. ANYTHING less than the above and you are doing nothing but paying a logger at best and at worst you will be PAYING to get rid of said trees. Even then you still must clean up all the logging mess. The LOGGER will NOT clean up the tops. You will PAY $$$ to clean that up.

[@maskcollector6949]

It doesn't cost hundreds of dollars for a couple of loads in a truck with a trailer bed unless you're going hundreds of miles xD. All you did is reinforce the point that doing it yourself is far superior to paying loggers who have the opportunity to scalp prices like car mechanics. The only time you want them to do it is if it's a long haul and a huge project - and you better have a forester with you keeping them honest. It sounds to me like you didn't consult a forester first. Furthermore, the whole idea of trees having negative value is bollucks. Only if you don't set up for it. Mill it yourself, take it to a local mill, or get a forester to write a contract and protect yourself from wet weather foresting if you don't want your lands all messed up. But if you lose money on such a project, you're getting scammed. A team of loggers should be efficient enough to turn a profit and know the value they're getting out of it. Shit happens, like rot and stuff, so it's possible to still lose money - but I think that's where having an expert assess the value of the timber becomes the fulcrum over whether it goes well or not.

[@w8stral]

@@maskcollector6949 You literally just proved you have never done logging. And no, you do not need a forester for anything. Just shows YOU REALLY are IGNORANT! Yes, trees have negative value unless you have a lot of them you can take at one time. Just showing up with the equipment to move said logs costs more than any single tree. Adios. Let the world know when you actually own some land and pretend to log it.

[@nkraemer]

Excellent info. thank you

[@khtractors]

Appreciate you watching!

[@philliplamberth4075]

Thank you much

[@khtractors]

You are very welcome

[@ct8497]

Appreciate you

[@khtractors]

Thank you!

[@mauldin128]

Seems like mills take advantage of sellers. Wouldnt it be better to saw your logs into boards and dry them in a solar kiln for 3 times the profit

[@khtractors]

That’s a big investment and marketing the lumber is a chore.

[@groundpounder24365]

I own a tree service in west Michigan, log buyers and sawmills won't even touch any species of tree if they are "yard tree's". They want nothing to do with them because of homeowners pounding iron into them.

[@khtractors]

Yeah I can understand that to some extent. If you give them a good look over though often times there are signs of metal. But you can always tell. Appreciate you watching!

[@groundpounder24365]

@@khtractors yes you are correct, often times I can spot it but man...you sure would be surprised as to what I have hit in trees. Iv found forks,rocks,eye bolts, nails, staples, fence, Yada yada. It's quite frustrating when I'm stumping out a 60" tree with my 880 and hit a fork 30" in😫😫 😭😭

[@groundpounder24365]

@@khtractors Iv truly been shocked as to what iv found and the locations of which they are found. Leaves me standing there wondering 🤔??? How the hell did that even get there???

[@khtractors]

@@groundpounder24365 it is amazing what ends up inside of a tree!

[@victorhopper6774]

@@groundpounder24365 old buick hubcap in a 70 inch willow

[@rachelgibson1858]

Can someone tell me if this is anywhere near a good deal? Date is May 17th 2022 I live in Northern Ohio and recently was offered and accepted $37,700 for 181 trees, and they say it's about 51,000 BOARD FEET. Which consists of walnut, beech, oak, Maple, hickory and I'm not sure what all else. A distant relative that I didn't know was in the timber business has told me I was robbed. He said without scaling the marked trees, just upon a quick visual overlook of them and knowing of this timber company's reputation, he guesses that 51,000 board feet is on the lite side. He did the math and says that they are paying us at a rate that's equal to 18 inch trees. When most trees are at 20inch and up. Which there is no law against them paying me for an 18 inch tree when it's actually a 20inch. So I'm stuck in this poorly paid contract. I myself not 100% sure we are cheated. But my distant cousin says if we had done it via a private forester and gotten bids, the 181 trees would have fetched 3x what I've accepted.

[@khtractors]

A common misconception is the value of timber. I hear this all time where the land owner feels cheated. You have to think about who is taking the biggest risk in this situation. How many of those trees maybe potentially hollow inside or of low quality? You don’t know until it’s cut. The logger will value standing timber on the light side because they are taking a big risk buying standing timber. Also if the tree is 20” in diameter one way it may not be across the other direction. Logs are scaled on the small end and measured inside the bark. Also anything that doesn’t have a clear face decreases value such as where a limb is growing. Around here most companies cut the timber and pay 30% of actual value on the timber. But even then the land owner feels cheated. Remember the loggers have a huge investment in equipment, paying outrageous fuel prices, big insurance payments, plus employee wages. They have too make money too. No way to know if you got robbed or not unless you find out what the timber sales for on the market after it’s graded out. Thanks for watching!

[@ginaepe]

@@khtractors IF I AM IN BUSINESS, IT MAKES COMMON SENSE TO PAY THE LEAST I CAN GET AWAY WITH AND SELL IT FOR AS MUCH AS I CAN.........MAKES YOU WONDER WHEN YOU GO INTO LOWES AND BUY LUMBER.......SELL YOUR FIRST BORN TO MAKE A DOG HOUSE !

[@frontporchanarchast]

Where are you selling these? I can't find anyone to buy them except a couple of sawmills buying logs to cut into cross ties at a going rate of $70 per ton.

[@khtractors]

We have a log yard local here that buys by board footage. Finding a place to sell the logs can be difficult in certain areas. On low grade tie logs $70 per ton probably is a fair price. Don’t take any quality timber to them. Chances are they have a place to sell the good grade logs too if any are brought in and come out well above the $70 a ton mark.

[@FabbedFun]

Watching this video again and debating selling logs vs selling firewood. If my poplar log would sell for less than $100, it would be more profitable to make firewood, right?

[@FabbedFun]

I think poplar is going for $50 per face cord locally....

[@khtractors]

Selling logs is less effort, that’s the advantage there. It’s all in what a person wants to do. No one here will buy poplar for firewood, but I burn it myself.

[@FabbedFun]

@@khtractors I've seen more and more people selling "seasoned mix" of firewood. I think that's how I would market it. LOL

[@salvatorelivreri]

Would you say that the difference in price between what you received (I think 450 and 260 for the 2 loads) by doing it yourself versus letting a logging company do it for you....makes a big difference when you have to do all the work (felling, loading and transport costs)? I would have thought that you would make a lot more than that. Honest question.

[@khtractors]

If you have the equipment and knowledge already I’d definitely do it myself unless you have a long haul. But I enjoy doing that type work myself. Thanks for watching

[@ArrBee6]

Cheers

[@khtractors]

Thank you!

[@MannPropertyServices]

So do you have to wait for them to grade it? Or what is the process?

[@khtractors]

Yeah usually wait or go back later for payment.

[@emerybelk2226]

Hey Ben, I am looking forward to selling me some of my logs off my land, I am new to selling logs, I was wondering what would be the best place to sell my logs?

[@khtractors]

You’ll have to find a local log yard or sawmill and talk with them. Most will give spec sheets to help you with cutting up the logs for the best value. Thanks for watching

[@emerybelk2226]

@@khtractorsAwesome! Thanks Ben!

[@user-ur2pg7sk9e]

How bout pine long leaf

[@khtractors]

We have a hard time selling pine here. Thanks for watching

[@SmithForged]

What is your forklift/grapple combo?

[@khtractors]

I built it all, it works great!

[@MrSeadawg123]

Any chance you sell any Magnolia's. I have some good ones. Just wondering if you have gotten a price on one?

[@khtractors]

I personally have not.

[@MrSeadawg123]

@@khtractors Thank you for the reply!! And posting your experiences! Very informative and helpful!!

[@kennywhite1223]

What type of grapple are you using. Thanks

[@khtractors]

I built my forks and grapple both, the grapple just pins onto the fork frame. Works great! Thanks for watching!

[@user-ur2pg7sk9e]

We're do you take them

[@khtractors]

It’s a local log yard.

[@bradphillips1588]

Where do you sell your logs? I live in Pound.

[@khtractors]

H&H Log Yard in Sandlick. Just fyi, If you take any you can’t get paid until after 12:00 usually.

[@bradphillips1588]

@@khtractors Thank you. Love your channel by the way.

[@toucanvanbeak]

Not worth it let em grow maintain the woods

[@khtractors]

These were cut from clearing for a building, so it was let them rot, cut for firewood or sell.