Cord of Wood

[KBCraig]

Almost any business that receives shipments by truck will have lots of pallets laying around that they want to get rid of. Even if they re-use their pallets, they'll have quite a few broken/unserviceable pallets in the mix, free for the taking as long as you ask first.

If you don't have a truck, you can get a small light-duty trailer for cheap:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42709

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42708


If you're burning pallets in the stove, don't worry about breaking them apart with a prybar. The screw nails they use are impossible to pull. Just get a cheap electric chainsaw and cut them up.

If you have any metal fabricators nearby, you'll find they have lots of long hardwood 4x4 dunnage. Sometimes there's actually some decent lumber in the mix, especially if their goods are imported. If you know a woodworker, be on the lookout for any pallet runners that are dark brown, red, or purplish, or which seem unusually dense. Some of the more valuable imported woods in the U.S. are used for bridge timbers and shipping dunnage in South and Central America.

Kevin

[AlanM]

Good advice, Kevin. Lots of wood good for woodstoves gets thrown out every year. Go to construction sites, also. Spruce and pine make good kindling.

[Dreepa]

Pallets.. good idea... I know there are two large trucking companies not to far from here.  Time to take a trip over there.