thanks for the links clan. i knew this discussion had taken place a few times. i will skim through these probably going back and forth like a tennis ball on what i want to do. my thought/situation is this:

wood: does not burn as intense consistantly and btu's vary depending on type of wood.
isn't exactly free when considering gas/oil for chain saw, transport from woods to sugar house and for me construction of an area to keep the wood dry.
with thinning and management of woods it is provided, but is it adequately provided?

oil: burns at higher btu's and archs can be increased in efficiency with money spent.
cost more, but how much more? delivery, product, oil burner.
storage tanks can be purchased used for little compared to wood storage.
can be refined from your own back yard if your name is JED.

for me i think oil works out better. i will be tapping trees on land that is not mine so wood supply is not an option from that source, however, storms create tree damage and many people would be willing to give up the wood if i removed it. i do not have an area to keep wood dry. i would have the time to cut wood though. i am not for or against either and that is why i am asking opinions here, so i can weigh the options and make a good choice. i know that a wood fired arch can be converted to oil but not vice versa, but i question the efficiency of those compared to an arch that is designed for oil from the start.