Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your low-n-slow
smoking of pork, beef,etc? Is it any of the following or something else :

1) Buy it from my local BBQ's Galore
2) Buy it from my local Walmart (or other B&M store)
3) Chop it from my neighbors trees when they're not home
4) Put an ad in Craigslist asking for wood cuttings from certain trees
5) I own my own orchard and cut it down myself & season it
6) I own a tree trimming company and we "use" those trees that are of interest
to us.
7) We go to hurricane afflicted regions looking for fruit trees ripped out of
the ground
8) None of the above (supply your own answer)

Up to now, I've been using #1 since they have the best selection of things other
than Hickory/Mesquite.. I was there the other day and got some small bag of chunk
Oak, Cherry & Maple -- at $8/bag (none available in the big bags). I'm tempted to
put an ad in my local edition of Craigslist asking for people that have fruit trees
and to take their discarded trimmings from these trees for using in my smoker..
The only problem is that I would feel more comfortable if I could identify the wood
by sight to ensure they're not giving me something else that might be nasty for
starters.. Comments?

I was at an Albertson's grocery store the other day and noticed that
they were selling lump.

Nonny

Rick F. wrote:
> Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your low-n-slow
> smoking of pork, beef,etc? Is it any of the following or something else :
>
> 1) Buy it from my local BBQ's Galore
> 2) Buy it from my local Walmart (or other B&M store)
> 3) Chop it from my neighbors trees when they're not home
> 4) Put an ad in Craigslist asking for wood cuttings from certain trees
> 5) I own my own orchard and cut it down myself & season it
> 6) I own a tree trimming company and we "use" those trees that are of interest
> to us.
> 7) We go to hurricane afflicted regions looking for fruit trees ripped out of
> the ground
> 8) None of the above (supply your own answer)
>
> Up to now, I've been using #1 since they have the best selection of things other
> than Hickory/Mesquite.. I was there the other day and got some small bag of chunk
> Oak, Cherry & Maple -- at $8/bag (none available in the big bags). I'm tempted to
> put an ad in my local edition of Craigslist asking for people that have fruit trees
> and to take their discarded trimmings from these trees for using in my smoker..
> The only problem is that I would feel more comfortable if I could identify the wood
> by sight to ensure they're not giving me something else that might be nasty for
> starters.. Comments?
>

--
---Nonnymus---
In the periodic table, as in politics,
the unstable elements tend to hang out on
the far left, with some to the right as well.

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:37:15 GMT, "Rick F." > wrote:

>The only problem is that I would feel more comfortable if I could identify the wood
>by sight to ensure they're not giving me something else that might be nasty for
>starters.. Comments?

Get a field guide to hardwood trees, and forego wood given to you
that's stripped of all identifying leaves, nuts, or fruit.

--
If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace, but we
would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.
--David Boreanaz as Angel in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"

In article >, Kevin S Wilson wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:37:15 GMT, "Rick F." > wrote:
>
>>The only problem is that I would feel more comfortable if I could identify the wood
>>by sight to ensure they're not giving me something else that might be nasty for
>>starters.. Comments?
>
> Get a field guide to hardwood trees, and forego wood given to you
> that's stripped of all identifying leaves, nuts, or fruit.

Are you (or anyone) not able to tell a "log" from an orange tree apart from
an alder tree (for instance) with nothing but the bark to look at? I'm
only asking if this is possible or not.. I guess the only guaranteed way
to do it is if I was the one to trim the tree directly and do it that way..

I've got a rental property with both an Avocado tree (approx. 75 years old)
and a 20-25 year old orange tree.. I'll be keeping the wood products
to use for smoking afterwards next time we do some trimming.. (I gather
that smoking avocado wood is OK, although someone indicated it gave them
cramps or something)

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:18:59 GMT, "Rick F." > wrote:

>Are you (or anyone) not able to tell a "log" from an orange tree apart from
>an alder tree (for instance) with nothing but the bark to look at?

Yes, particularly the two you use as an example, but not always and
not with all wood. Besides, tell him to "look at the bark" didn't seem
to be the level of assistance the original poster was after.

--
If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace, but we
would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.
--David Boreanaz as Angel in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"

> I'm tempted to
> put an ad in my local edition of Craigslist asking for people that have fruit trees
> and to take their discarded trimmings from these trees for using in my smoker..
> The only problem is that I would feel more comfortable if I could identify the wood
> by sight to ensure they're not giving me something else that might be nasty for
> starters.. Comments?

Fruitwood smells like fuitwood. With apple that isn't fully seasoned,
scrape into the green of the bark and it should smell like sour green
apples. Tart and sweet cherry are both distinctive as well, but they
don't smell like cherry. I don't recall peach being very aromatic, same
with plums.

Best bet is to go get it yourself.

-John O

"Rick F." > wrote in message
...
> Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your
> low-n-slow
> smoking of pork, beef,etc? Is it any of the following or something else :
>
> 1) Buy it from my local BBQ's Galore
> 3) Chop it from my neighbors trees when they're not home
> 7) We go to hurricane afflicted regions looking for fruit trees ripped
> out of
> the ground


> Up to now, I've been using #1 since they have the best selection of things
> other
> than Hickory/Mesquite..

Damn, #1 is the last place I'd get wood. 3 & 7 are possibilities.

I have some trees I can cut
I burn wood for heat so I get plenty of wood that way, but so do my
neighbors. Over a couple of beers, just ask for a couple of logs and you
are set
Fruit orchards trim trees every year and most will be happy to give you all
you want.
I also do woodworking as a hobby so scraps of oak, maple, cherry are often
around. You probably know someone that does woodworking or there is
probably a cabinet shop that will give you some scraps.
Check out the tree trimmers clearing power lines. They will usually give
you some, especially if you stop with a cold six pack of Pepsi.
Check with the town road crew

There really is no excuse to have to pay good money for wood. There are
many free sources if you make even a little effort.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

In article >, Denny Wheeler wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:37:15 GMT, "Rick F." > wrote:
>
>>Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your low-n-slow
>>smoking of pork, beef,etc? Is it any of the following or something else :
>
>>2) Buy it from my local Walmart (or other B&M store)
> Hickory, mesquite, yes--WM or HD mostly.

Yup.. My mistake- - first time I ever smoked anything was with Mesquite.. That
was the biggest mistake I ever made.. I happened to pick the worst (strongest)
flavored wood for smoking from the get-go and my wife (and kids) didn't like
the results either (nor did I) -- so, the smoker was put out to pasture not too
long after that (this was several years ago).. Too bad they sell Mesquite and
not something a bit more mild.. Does it really get used by that many people to
justify it being *almost* the only smoking wood at most HomeDepots? I've
still got my original bag and put small pieces in my SmokePot when doing my
low-n-slows once in a while.. Ultimately, I'll probably find a good home for it
(hint -- if you're in the So-Cal area, let me know and you can have my bag!)

>>4) Put an ad in Craigslist asking for wood cuttings from certain trees
> That's a thought. Haven't done it, but I might.

I put up an ad today.. We'll see if I get any takers or not.. Oops.. I just
checked my email and got one reply already -- someone wanting to know what I
was going to use it for! I guess I'll have to fill him in on it.. Too bad I
don't live near too many orchards like my parents do (peach,apple, nectarine,etc)
I might have to call one or two of the growers up there (small ma-n-pa places)
to see if they can keep some of the wood for later p/u. Hmm...

I get mine from a hardwood sawmill. I buy a bundle of slabs for $25-30.
The oak is 25, hickory or maple is usually 30. I can get 2-3
bundles on a flat bed truck, but even one bundle would not fit on a
regular bed truck!


--
Greetings from the Hog and Hominy State!

In article >, MonopTN wrote:
> I get mine from a hardwood sawmill. I buy a bundle of slabs for $25-30.
> The oak is 25, hickory or maple is usually 30. I can get 2-3
> bundles on a flat bed truck, but even one bundle would not fit on a
> regular bed truck!

How big is a bundle exactly and what does it consist of? Are these
boards or some unusable end pieces or ??

Sounds like you're getting a bunch of scrap for cheap (which is fine
for this purpose!)

Rick F. wrote:
> In article >, MonopTN wrote:
>> I get mine from a hardwood sawmill. I buy a bundle of slabs for $25-30.
>> The oak is 25, hickory or maple is usually 30. I can get 2-3
>> bundles on a flat bed truck, but even one bundle would not fit on a
>> regular bed truck!
>
> How big is a bundle exactly and what does it consist of? Are these
> boards or some unusable end pieces or ??
>
> Sounds like you're getting a bunch of scrap for cheap (which is fine
> for this purpose!)
>
>
A logging operations takes a straight log and cuts a core out of the
middle to make furniture, hardwood flooring, etc. The core that they get
is quite large, I would guess 12" x 12". I buy what's left. These
scrap "slabs" consist of planks that are flat on once side, and rounded
on the bark side. I'll build a roaring fire with these outside the pit,
and shovel hardwood coals into the pit from the fire. I do about 3
cookings from one bundle. A bundle will be loaded onto your truck with
a forklift.

If you were just going to use this for smoke, and not the fuel, you
could go to a lumber mill and get one or 2 slabs for free, and it would
last you a long time. The slabs are about 8 feet long and range from 2
inches in width to 2 feet, most being about 1 foot across. Some
probably weigh 60 pounds each. I posted a photo at
http://webpages.charter.net/epeay/slabs.jpg. and the finished product at
http://webpages.charter.net/epeay/pig.jpg

See if there are any hardwood sawmills in your area. The slabs they
can't sell the burn on site usually. In middle Tennessee, there are
many of sawmills to choose from.

MonopTN

--
Greetings from the Hog and Hominy State!

In article >, MonopTN wrote:
>
> See if there are any hardwood sawmills in your area. The slabs they
> can't sell the burn on site usually. In middle Tennessee, there are
> many of sawmills to choose from.

Sawmills in LA.. Haa..hh Sorry.. Now, If you're looking for refineries,
them we gots! However, there are NO trees nearby (LA is basically a desert
of sorts) so there's really no call for any sort of sawmills.. Now, they
do have them in Oregon where my parents live, but I'm not sure about
driving that far with a fully loaded truck full on one kind of wood..

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:37:15 GMT, "Rick F." > wrote:

>Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your low-n-slow
>smoking of pork, beef,etc? Is it any of the following or something else :
>

Some on CBBQA use http://www.lazzari.com/

It looks expensive, so I've never tried it. I live in the San Diego
area and have had some luck acquiring oak from Palomar Mtn. I have 12
cords of black oak waiting to be split now. We use wood for heating
in winter, so it's not all bbq related :-)

There are also lots of old grapefruit groves here, so citrus is not
hard to come by. I still have quite a few trees left on my property.

According to Dave Klose http:/www.bbqpits.com (where I got my
smoker), it's best to use freshly split wood that's been dried for at
least 5 months and less than 2 years.

I have the backyard chef.

Sooo, I bought a wonderful splitter last year.
http://www.splitez.com/log_splitter_wood_splitters.html

I have the 34 ton model. It's amazing how well this thing works. It
goes through huge pieces of oak like it's not there.

Regards,
Larry

Rick F. wrote:
> Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your low-n-slow
> smoking of pork, beef,etc?

I feed my friends. Andy gets me all the Crab Apple I want, Ewen dropped
off a load of Maple 2 weeks ago and my parent's farm has Hickory in the
fence rows. It's a good deal for all involved.

Cam

"Rick F." > wrote in message
...
> Just a quick question.. Where do you all get your wood for doing your
> low-n-slow
> smoking of pork, beef,etc? Is it any of the following or something else :
>
> 1) Buy it from my local BBQ's Galore
In N. Cal I'd guess that to be my only option for Hickory and Mesquite.
Although the local Long's Drugs sometimes has these.

> 2) Buy it from my local Walmart (or other B&M store)
See buybluedotcom

> 3) Chop it from my neighbors trees when they're not home
I live on 10 acres and it's heavily forested with oak.
> 4) Put an ad in Craigslist asking for wood cuttings from certain trees

Hmmm?
> 5) I own my own orchard and cut it down myself & season it.

I live very close to Pear, Apple, Plum, Apricot orchards and right nest door
to 200 acres of grapes. The price of pears is so low many growers are
letting the trees go to rot. Plenty of wood just for the asking.

Michael