Harvesting and Storage Equipment Costs People who intend to purchase wood already cut and split will not need many harvesting tools. A storage area, axe and wood carrier are all that may be needed. People who intend to harvest, transport and store their wood will need a lot more equipment. Commonly needed items are a chain saw, a wood splitting device, personal protective equipment, and a trailer or pickup. Many of these items can be borrowed or rented, then purchased later.
People frequently team up, pool their equipment, and share harvested wood to reduce equipment costs.
Variable Costs Variable costs include the value of the time and labor you wish to devote to wood harvesting and heating. Those who burn a lot of wood will change their time priorities. Some activities may have to be given up in order to harvest and burn wood. Travel can add considerable cost to a cord of wood if the wood lot is located a long distance away. Try to find a wood supply close to home to reduce these costs.