I moved to Maine and this is my third season buying wood to help heat my house in the winter. Last year a guy sold me a “cord” which he said was the equalivalent of two pickup loads, but when I stacked it it didn’t look like a full chord. The guy that called me today said I was picky and it depended on how you stack it. He is also of the two pickup loads persuasion. I told him all I knew was that when it was stacked, it should be 3X3X8 but he said if you stack it “tight” it might not be that big. I told him several times I just stack it the normal way, just laying it all horizontal going the same direction. He kept saying something about stacking it criss-cross. WELL, of course it would be bigger. Half of it would be air space. I am now very suspicious of these wood people. Does anyone buy their wood by the pickup load and do you find that it is generally equalivalent to one half cord per load?
Yup… My sleazebag detector is going off. Up here, at least, a cord is 4X4X8. I live in Bath. If you are close enough, perhaps I can give you a local connection.
I’ve purchased firewood before, and the cord that is not quite a cord seems to be standard.
A cord is 4 x 4 x 8 stacked so that a mouse can get through the stack, but the cat that’s chasing it can’t.
In Michigan, the Dept. of Agriculture declares that a cord is 4X4X8, so lots of sellers sell “face cords” (if you ask them) that are 2X4X8. If you don’t ask, they simply call them “cords” and let you buy their half cord.
There are honest folk selling firewood, but they have to be sought out. I prefer to go to places where they have it stacked and pick out my own cord so I can see how big it was when they put a price tag on it.
Thanks Hammer, but I’m up by Calais, about 235 miles from your area.
So, is anyone of the opinion that two pickup loads are equivalent to a cord?
Full sized pickup?
Long bed or short bed?
Level or mounded?
Uhaul’s pick ups offer 64 ft[sup]3[/sup]. 8’1" x 5’0" x 1’7" (LxWxH)
4x4x8 = 128 ft[sup]3[/sup].
So yes, 2 pickup truck loads could well equal a cord. Just depends.
“Two pickup loads” is so vague as to be worthless as a definition. As has been said, a cord is defined as 4’x 4’x 8’ (128 cu ft). That’s the only way to measure it. Stack the wood and measure it or buy it after seeing it stacked and measured. Anything else is worthless.
The best way to buy firewood would be by weight because by volume some woods have much more heating power than others but by weight they are all pretty much the same.
I think I get what you are saying here Sailor.
Until recently, I heated with wood (propane stove now). Just wood, and I live in the Colorado Rockies. Did it for 10 years. At first I cut my own, then I started buying it. 5 cords a year.
If you can get it, hard wood is worth the extra cost IMHO. The guy I bought it from had it trucked in from the east. Less wood, less screwing around with the stove, less mess.
Twice the cost, but you only need half the wood.
" He is also of the two pickup loads persuasion."
So measure the bed of the truck & find the volume of it…
Why not just buy from another person?
IME, if I’m having “funny feelings” about doing business w/ someone, it usually turns out that I’m getting scammed.
Unless there’re other reasons for buying wood from this guy, I’d switch. Even if you’re not getting scammed, it might be good for your peace of mind.
Don’t burn your bridges, though. Be nice about if you end up in a position to have to explain to the guy. It may turn out that he’s the best supplier in the area.
A cord of wood is definitely 4x4x8 regardless of type, weight or whatever. A couple of large pickup loads should be able to haul a cord of wood. Because most people are unable to burn 2’ long pieces of wood in their fireplaces, most wood is cut to around 20" rather than 24". This may seem like you are getting ripped off because when the wood is stacked, many folks will get a stack that is 16’ long and one stick of wood wide (20") and usually right at 4’ tall. Which is a pretty standard cord in these parts. Yes it is a bit short, but unless you specifically order 24" wood that is often what you will receive.
When I used to sell firewood, I had a trailer that was 4’wide and 4’ high and 8’ long, in which I stacked my wood tight…never had a problem w/ my customers. 
BTW…how much is a cord of wood going for these days. I used to get $50 delivered (12-15 yrs ago) It’s twice that now, here in East Texas anyway.
YMMV of course
P.S. I never even heard of anyone selling anything but hardwood. Soft woods (ie:pine) will choke/clog up your chimney and contain turpentine and such…many a house has burned because of pine.
that (ie:pine)
should’ve been (ie. pine) 
In Colorado, pine is what you get. Sometimes mixed in with Aspen:eek: .
And it does play hard on your chimney, but as long as I cleaned it once a year, I did o.k.
That’s why I switched over to hard wood. Oak was going for about $150 a chord the last time I bought it.
Most buyers don’t know what a cord is, so a “face” cord is what they get. Just as important is the type of wood - Oak, Hickory, Elm, is far superior to Willow, Silver Maple, or Cottonwood. Learn to identify hardwoods by sight when split as there really is no comparison. Many sellers might sell what they call “mixed” hardwoods, but shop around and find out what sellers have, you might pay a bit more but like in most things in life, you get what you pay for.
Also consider that hardwoods need seasoning for a couple years before burning, well dried wood will have checks and splits on the cut ends.
Have you ever tried to split Elm? Damn tough…the fibers in the wood grain are twisted, making it nearly impossible to split. It tears or breaks but rarely splits well. It’s definitely hot burning though and lasts a long time if you ever get it started.
Red Oak is best IMHO fairly easy to split, burns hot and long. I try to always have enough left over each year to start fires with and will use green wood once I have a good fire going. It’s hotter and burns longer than dry. BUT is almost impossible to start a fire with.
As far as pine goes, I suppose it’d do if you had a heater or a glass screen on your fireplace. There’s usually a lot of popping ash and spark when burning softer woods. AND if they are thoroughly dried they’ll burn too fast. Damned near impossible to get a good bed of coals with dry pine.
Anyway, suezeekay hope you got the info. you needed, good luck.
You could report the guy to the Maine Better Business Bureau, or are these guys off the radar?
The wood has to be dry too…I think that ash is the only one that doesn’t need to be dry first?
Anyway, pine is $125.00 a cord & $70 a half cord here.
$125.00 for pine? youch… My brother was selling wood last winter. He cut, split and delivered 90 cords (all hardwood) in three months at $100.00 per cord.
Damn, I live in a pine thicket…I bet I burn a dozen cord (brushpiles) a year just thinning trees. Not big enough for lumber 
We need to figure something out on this one.