Ordering wood, need advice (size, price)

[cayenne]

Hello all,

Well, I find myself in a pickle. I had been getting my wood, mixing hickory and mequite at the local sports place where I got my Bandera...Authority Sports. They had been selling bags of logs...about 2 cu ft. I think each..for $9.99.

Well, I don't see them there anymore..and am guessing it is only a seasonal item with them..yet I want to smoke all year. The grocery stores here only sell wood chips and chunks.

I live in New Orleans...not a place where many people even own a fireplace....but, lucked out in the phone book and found some firewood dealers. About 3 left me messages back that they could get hickory and maybe mesquite.

Can ya'll tell me what size I should tell him I need it cut? Also, what are the sizes of loads? I've heard of ricks and chords...but, don't know what exactly size of measure that is. I'm guessing the size of the logs would be about 12-14" and about 3-5 inches wide...is there an official term for log size?

Also, what kind of price do ya'll pay for wood where you live? I expect to pay a bit more here since it isn't common...but, just wanted to get an idea of what ya'll might pay.

Thanks in advance!!

cayenne :roll:

[BBQchef33]

my standard response here.. MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE TREE MAN!! Whenever you see a tree guy in the neighboorhood, cut a deal for him to give ya all the wood from fruit and nut trees he comes across. You will wind up with loads of wood for real cheap, or in exchange for a few racks of ribs and butts.

But to answer your question, for the bandera logs no bigger than 7-10 inchs would be best and about the width of a beer can. Get yourself a tree stump and hand ax and you can split them further if ya need to.

a full cord is 4 foot wide x 4high x 8long. A face cord is 4high and 8long and one log deep usually 16-20 inches.

[Mark]

Ditto what Phil said. Firewood dealers will be selling standard fireplace-sized logs. They need to be split thin enough so you can chunk them up with a circular saw. Live Oak is native to your area, and assuming you can get out of the urbanized part to get some, works fine for smoking.

[parrothead]

a full cord is 4 foot wide x 4high x 8long. A face cord is 4high and 8long and one log deep usually 16-20 inches


A face is a third of a cord, meaning 16 inch logs. A rick is a fourth of a cord meaning 12 inches long.

John Holmes mod.

As far as prices go, I have been checking into prices lately because of the restaurant. Around here a full cord of cured hickory is $380 Oak about $300

[kcquer]

Oak about $300

It's good to be a MOFO! Cords of oak $160- $180 delivered.

[Trout_man22]

Damn, $300 a cord for oak, here in VA runs about $75 unsplit, $90 split, $110 deliveded and stacked.

Trout

[willkat98]

Oak about $300

It's good to be a MOFO! Cords of oak $160- $180 delivered.

Greg, bring truck with you to St Louis next time

[cayenne]

Hey, thanx for all the great replies.

I've only smoked with hickory and mesquite...never with oak before.

How does oak compare to these woods? I'm guessing a milder smoke? How hot does it burn compared to H and M?

Thanks again guys....what a great forum.

C

[Solidkick]

Oak about $300

It's good to be a MOFO! Cords of oak $160- $180 delivered.

Greg, bring truck with you to St Louis next time

Does he have to come over on this side of the river?

[Solidkick]

http://www.bandera-brethren.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=UpDownload&file=index&req=getit&lid=32

BTU ratings of wood.

[The_Kapn]

Cayenne,
Oak is a good all around wood.
Other woods work great for different meats and impart different flavors, but Oak is "OK" for almost all commom Que meats.

Are you pure "stick burning" or mixing charcoal and wood chunks?
Mixing charcoal and chunks will produce good results and reduce your wood consumption and increase your burn times.
"Different strokes for different folks" here- they both work fine!

Do, you ever get "this way" on I-10?
We are only 6 hrs apart.
If so, give me a "heads up" and I can solve your Oak problem.

TIM

[BBQchef33]

Woods to smoke with

http://www.bandera-brethren.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=FAQ&file=index&myfaq=yes&id_cat=2#1

[cayenne]

Cayenne,
Oak is a good all around wood.
Other woods work great for different meats and impart different flavors, but Oak is "OK" for almost all commom Que meats.

Are you pure "stick burning" or mixing charcoal and wood chunks?
Mixing charcoal and chunks will produce good results and reduce your wood consumption and increase your burn times.
"Different strokes for different folks" here- they both work fine!

Do, you ever get "this way" on I-10?
We are only 6 hrs apart.
If so, give me a "heads up" and I can solve your Oak problem.

TIM

Well, I think I found about the best deal I can get around here. For first time...gonna just go with half a cord (4x4). I'm getting half hickory (12") and half mesquite (9")...delivered and stacked for $182.50. I had a hard time finding anyone in NOLA for wood, much less a choice in size and variety.

This guy also had cherry and pecan wood too. I've been wanting to try some cherry wood..I hear it is GREAT for fowl, and I'm guessing pecan would be good for fowl as well as maybe seafoods too.

Do ya'll have a preference for wood with a certain type of meat? I definitely prefer mesquite on my briskets...usually a mix of mesquite and hickory....on pork I think I lean more towards hickory.

Well, haven't gotten down to FL in awhile...but, planning on maybe getting on my motorcycle and doing a FL trip next year when the weather starts getting a bit warmer....and the bikini's are making more of an appearance on the beaches....I'll holler if I get down that way....

cayenne :P

[The_Kapn]

Well, haven't gotten down to FL in awhile...but, planning on maybe getting on my motorcycle and doing a FL trip next year when the weather starts getting a bit warmer....and the bikini's are making more of an appearance on the beaches....I'll holler if I get down that way....
Cayenne,

Not to be picky--but we actually North of you :lol: :lol:
Bikinis "be good" at Panama City--for sure.
Wifey keeps me away from there. Drool Mod :lol:
Got a trailer for the scooter? Hard to take Oak home cradled in your arms :lol:
Stop in if you get this way.
You will like that Hickory!
Keep it all dry and clear of bugs!
TIM

[Neil]

I have a friend who's neighbor just bulldozed over 200 black walnut trees to build a house! It would have been a lot cheaper if the guy would have just bought a cornfield to put the house on but I'm glad he didn't. I'll be experimenting with the black walnut wood in about six months after it has seasoned and report on the results.

[kcquer]

I have a friend who's neighbor just bulldozed over 200 black walnut trees

I'd love a big stack of walnut, not for smokin' but for furniture makin'. Few woods look as good as walnut.

[Neil]

I have a friend who's neighbor just bulldozed over 200 black walnut trees

I'd love a big stack of walnut, not for smokin' but for furniture makin'. Few woods look as good as walnut.

Most of the trees are 8-10'' in diameter. If your interested I'll find out if they are free for the taking? I'm about a 5 1/2 drive from St. Louis.

[kcquer]

Most of the trees are 8-10'' in diameter. If your interested I'll find out if they are free for the taking? I'm about a 5 1/2 drive from St. Louis.

Thanks anyway Neil, The 9 hr drive at current gas price would probably push the price into what I would have to pay retail. :(

[BBQchef33]

Well, I think I found about the best deal I can get around here. For first time...gonna just go with half a cord (4x4). I'm getting half hickory (12") and half mesquite (9")...delivered and stacked for $182.50. I had a hard time finding anyone in NOLA for wood, much less a choice in size and variety.

This guy also had cherry and pecan wood too. I've been wanting to try some cherry wood..I hear it is GREAT for fowl, and I'm guessing pecan would be good for fowl as well as maybe seafoods too.

Do ya'll have a preference for wood with a certain type of meat? I definitely prefer mesquite on my briskets...usually a mix of mesquite and Fhickory....on pork I think I lean more towards hickory.


cayenne :P

Cayenne, Cherry is great on ribs too.. i found that going with ALL cherry on ribs is alot of peoples favorites when i serve it.

i do oak and cherry on brisket too. Hickory tastes alot like oak so i use them interchangebly(sp?), oak being a little more mild.

For Chicken I use hickory and apple,pear or peach. No mesquite on poultry for me. To strong.


So if you can get some cherry thrown in there.. do it.. its good stuff.

[Bigdog]

I have a friend who's neighbor just bulldozed over 200 black walnut trees

I'd love a big stack of walnut, not for smokin' but for furniture makin'. Few woods look as good as walnut.

Most of the trees are 8-10'' in diameter. If your interested I'll find out if they are free for the taking? I'm about a 5 1/2 drive from St. Louis.

Neil, I just cut up a bunch of black walnut that I trimmed off some trees that I have in my yard. Perfect size, about 1 beer can. Have yet to smoke with it. Let me know how you like it and I'll do the same.

[sirthames]

I know here in NC when they are buidling new houses and what not, they allow you to go in and cut the wood you want. some people charge like 2.00 and let you cut all you want. I am fortunate to have had an acre of land behind me full of oak, maple, SOME hickory. And my mother has 4 huge walnut trees in her yard that are in need of trimming (thanks for the idea). I have used white oak but I have red oaks on my property. Has anyone ever used those to cue? if so, how good/bad is it? Mostly I used the red oak inthe fire place, and man it gets hot!