First smoker in transit!!! Stick Size question?

enricocoron · 03-20-2015, 12:11 AM

After several summers of 'meh' outdoor cooking and after seeing the sad imitation models of real offsets at Home Depot I'm stoked to say my Yoder Cheyenne will arrive next Tuesday. I'm planning on starting off with a 4 hour seasoning with peanut oil, and then trying out some Memphis style spare ribs and Jamaican Jerked Chicken. I'll get to the butts and brisket once I can get the temps under control tightly.

In San Diego we don't have a ton of options for quality wood. One of the more reputed places, Olson firewood (family owned for years), offers two types of wood, 6-8 inch 'splits' or the whole logs for you to split. Same price but it seems like the 'splits' are too small for a proper offset like the Yoder Cheyenne. I'm thinking it's worth it to split it myself, lord knows I'll have plenty of time on my hands waiting for the meat to smoke.

Hickory is 45 bucks for 40 lbs....Oak, Cherry, Apple, and Walnut are 40 buck for 40, that's not too bad for San Diego is it? (mostly cactus grows here).

Appreciate any input on the size of the sticks I should burn.

dwfisk · 03-20-2015, 07:40 AM

Try looking for this kind of outfit: http://www.southernfuelwood.com/
OK, you ain't gonna ship cooking wood from Florida to San Deigo

The reason for posting the link is to point out there are likely companies near you that cater specifically to restaurants and supply them with cooking wood in bulk. It might help to visit a couple pizza joints or other restaurants that feature wood fired ovens and ask where they get their wood; they get it somewhere and I doubt they spend $1.13 per pound

PS: my splits are about 16 inches long x 3-4 inch wedge (think about a 6-8 inch diameter tree quartered).

viking72 · 03-20-2015, 07:50 AM

Welcome to the stick side!
All of the wood listed is good for making Q.
Try them all some time.
Length is important if you don't have a saw.
Never bought wood, but would get it split if i was.
You can always make it smaller.
Save the peanut oil, any spray vegetable oil will work.
Do not worry about tight temps.
Relax and make some Q!

Later,
Doug

SteveKing · 03-20-2015, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enricocoron

Hickory is 45 bucks for 40 lbs....Oak, Cherry, Apple, and Walnut are 40 buck for 40, that's not too bad for San Diego is it? (mostly cactus grows here).

That's almost double the price of running to walmart and picking up those $5 bags of Western Chunks (those are almost 10# each). Not to mention, I'd never buy wood by weight unless you can confirm moisture content.

Big George's BBQ · 03-20-2015, 07:57 AM

Congrats and enjoy your new Pit

ButtBurner · 03-20-2015, 08:01 AM

you need to find a better source for wood

at that price you are going to spend some serious money on a cook

Decoy205 · 03-20-2015, 08:03 AM

Those look killer congrats! Post some pron when you get it fired up!

ButtBurner · 03-20-2015, 08:06 AM

Looks like this place could hook you up. I see they have oak

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/for/4918197048.html

palmtreefrb · 03-20-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enricocoron

After several summers of 'meh' outdoor cooking and after seeing the sad imitation models of real offsets at Home Depot I'm stoked to say my Yoder Cheyenne will arrive next Tuesday. I'm planning on starting off with a 4 hour seasoning with peanut oil, and then trying out some Memphis style spare ribs and Jamaican Jerked Chicken. I'll get to the butts and brisket once I can get the temps under control tightly.

In San Diego we don't have a ton of options for quality wood. One of the more reputed places, Olson firewood (family owned for years), offers two types of wood, 6-8 inch 'splits' or the whole logs for you to split. Same price but it seems like the 'splits' are too small for a proper offset like the Yoder Cheyenne. I'm thinking it's worth it to split it myself, lord knows I'll have plenty of time on my hands waiting for the meat to smoke.

Hickory is 45 bucks for 40 lbs....Oak, Cherry, Apple, and Walnut are 40 buck for 40, that's not too bad for San Diego is it? (mostly cactus grows here).

Appreciate any input on the size of the sticks I should burn.

That price is off the charts even for Socal. If you cannot find a better price down in the SD area, drive up to north OC woodshed and stock up.

1015 N. Batavia St . Orange

http://www.thewoodshedoc.com/

Rick

SteveKing · 03-20-2015, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palmtreefrb

That price is off the charts even for Socal. If you cannot find a better price down in the SD area, drive up to north OC woodshed and stock up.

Mind your state regulations for transporting firewood so you don't spread diseases and pests. I'm sure a state like CA likely has a 50 mile max

dwfisk · 03-20-2015, 08:48 AM

FYI, I just did the math, the kiln dried hickory & pecan I buy works out to $0.10-$0.13 per pound 1/10 of what you were quoted and cheaper than Kingsford.

ssv3 · 03-20-2015, 10:39 AM

CL is your friend. Plenty of cooking wood for areasonable price. You can also talk to or call with your local tree service guys and they usual have seasoned wood on hand. I got a guy off of CL who has his own tree service and can deliver seasoned oak any time I want. I saved his number. $100 for 1/4 cord of oak delivered to my driveway.

palmtreefrb · 03-20-2015, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveKing84

Mind your state regulations for transporting firewood so you don't spread diseases and pests. I'm sure a state like CA likely has a 50 mile max

In California most if not all of our wood is from northern California which is more than 350 miles from southern California.

Oak-n-hickory · 03-20-2015, 12:41 PM

For small amounts of firewood, I like the way Bear Bottom Farms in Richmond does it - polypropylene bags of a generous 2cf (weighing 60 lbs. or so) for $20. It's not anywhere near as good as cord prices (which they also offer), but it does keep the car or truck clean, and it's easy to handle. Unfortunately, for hickory in splits, I have to order it elsewhere, and pay through the nose.

revkab · 03-20-2015, 10:24 PM

You asked about size. Some of that may depend on the size of your firebox. Mine is 20x20x20, so I like to cut my wood at 16" and split it to about 3" - 4" pieces.

03-20-2015, 12:11 AM	#1
enricocoron Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 02-10-15 Location: San Diego, CA	First smoker in transit!!! Stick Size question? After several summers of 'meh' outdoor cooking and after seeing the sad imitation models of real offsets at Home Depot I'm stoked to say my Yoder Cheyenne will arrive next Tuesday. I'm planning on starting off with a 4 hour seasoning with peanut oil, and then trying out some Memphis style spare ribs and Jamaican Jerked Chicken. I'll get to the butts and brisket once I can get the temps under control tightly. In San Diego we don't have a ton of options for quality wood. One of the more reputed places, Olson firewood (family owned for years), offers two types of wood, 6-8 inch 'splits' or the whole logs for you to split. Same price but it seems like the 'splits' are too small for a proper offset like the Yoder Cheyenne. I'm thinking it's worth it to split it myself, lord knows I'll have plenty of time on my hands waiting for the meat to smoke. Hickory is 45 bucks for 40 lbs....Oak, Cherry, Apple, and Walnut are 40 buck for 40, that's not too bad for San Diego is it? (mostly cactus grows here). Appreciate any input on the size of the sticks I should burn.

03-20-2015, 07:40 AM	#2
dwfisk Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-01-12 Location: Fairfield, Florida Name/Nickname : Dave	Try looking for this kind of outfit: http://www.southernfuelwood.com/ OK, you ain't gonna ship cooking wood from Florida to San Deigo The reason for posting the link is to point out there are likely companies near you that cater specifically to restaurants and supply them with cooking wood in bulk. It might help to visit a couple pizza joints or other restaurants that feature wood fired ovens and ask where they get their wood; they get it somewhere and I doubt they spend $1.13 per pound PS: my splits are about 16 inches long x 3-4 inch wedge (think about a 6-8 inch diameter tree quartered). __________________ I'm Dave Got a bunch of cooking toys and a custom metal fabrication shop where I spend my time building all sorts of smokers & outdoor cooking gear.

03-20-2015, 07:50 AM	#3
viking72 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-14-14 Location: Lancaster, Virginia	Welcome to the stick side! All of the wood listed is good for making Q. Try them all some time. Length is important if you don't have a saw. Never bought wood, but would get it split if i was. You can always make it smaller. Save the peanut oil, any spray vegetable oil will work. Do not worry about tight temps. Relax and make some Q! Later, Doug __________________ Anderson BBQ Company

03-20-2015, 07:57 AM	#5
Big George's BBQ somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-07-08 Location: Framingham, MA Name/Nickname : George	Congrats and enjoy your new Pit __________________ Large BIG Green EGG- Hatched 8/17/09 Backwoods Extented Party- sold Weber Genesis Gasser Mid Atlantic BBQ Association KCBS Back Porch BBQ Competition BBQ Team Proud Member of the Zero Club When all else fails ask yourself WWGALD

03-20-2015, 08:01 AM	#6
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	you need to find a better source for wood at that price you are going to spend some serious money on a cook __________________ Michigan Custom 'Que "Serving Those Who Have Served US" Shirley Fabrication Custom Smoker Member Great Lakes BBQ Assn ServSafe Food Handler Certified [URL]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Custom-Que/327994370697180?sk=timeline[/URL]

03-20-2015, 08:03 AM	#7
Decoy205 Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-16-14 Location: Central, NJ Name/Nickname : John	Those look killer congrats! Post some pron when you get it fired up!

03-20-2015, 08:06 AM	#8
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	Looks like this place could hook you up. I see they have oak http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/for/4918197048.html __________________ Michigan Custom 'Que "Serving Those Who Have Served US" Shirley Fabrication Custom Smoker Member Great Lakes BBQ Assn ServSafe Food Handler Certified [URL]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Custom-Que/327994370697180?sk=timeline[/URL]

03-20-2015, 08:48 AM	#11
dwfisk Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-01-12 Location: Fairfield, Florida Name/Nickname : Dave	FYI, I just did the math, the kiln dried hickory & pecan I buy works out to $0.10-$0.13 per pound 1/10 of what you were quoted and cheaper than Kingsford. __________________ I'm Dave Got a bunch of cooking toys and a custom metal fabrication shop where I spend my time building all sorts of smokers & outdoor cooking gear.

03-20-2015, 10:39 AM	#12
ssv3 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Los Angeles Name/Nickname : Sako	CL is your friend. Plenty of cooking wood for areasonable price. You can also talk to or call with your local tree service guys and they usual have seasoned wood on hand. I got a guy off of CL who has his own tree service and can deliver seasoned oak any time I want. I saved his number. $100 for 1/4 cord of oak delivered to my driveway. __________________ LSG 24x30 V/O Yoder YS640 DCS 36 Gasser Blackstone Griddle Retrofit Blackstone Pizza Oven WSJ(K) WGA(P) WJJ(CU) W22(BI) W26(CL) Pit Barrer Junior Kingsford Oval (resto mod)

03-20-2015, 12:41 PM	#14
Oak-n-hickory On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-26-14 Location: Novato, CA	For small amounts of firewood, I like the way Bear Bottom Farms in Richmond does it - polypropylene bags of a generous 2cf (weighing 60 lbs. or so) for $20. It's not anywhere near as good as cord prices (which they also offer), but it does keep the car or truck clean, and it's easy to handle. Unfortunately, for hickory in splits, I have to order it elsewhere, and pay through the nose. __________________ Smokin-It #3 & cart; 24X36 reverse flow by All Metals Fabrication Inc., American Canyon, CA; vintage Hondo, Brinkmann, Little Chief, etc.; even a Weber MasterTouch for grilling burgers and such

03-20-2015, 10:24 PM	#15
revkab is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-17-14 Location: Eureka, KS	You asked about size. Some of that may depend on the size of your firebox. Mine is 20x20x20, so I like to cut my wood at 16" and split it to about 3" - 4" pieces. __________________ [COLOR=blue][B][SIZE=3]That Smokin' Preacher. Ribs and :mad2:[COLOR=red]Hot Peppers[/COLOR]:mad2:[/SIZE][/B][/COLOR][LIST][][B]WKG (Weber Kettle Grill)[/B][][B][COLOR=navy]Brinkman heavy duty Cimarron offset[/COLOR][/B][][B][COLOR=red]Custom built 72" x 40" Offset logburner[/COLOR][/B][][B][COLOR=navy]One Butt Ugly Drum Smoker[/COLOR][/B][][B][COLOR=black]One big tow-behind Wood-fired grill [/COLOR][/B][][B][COLOR=#ff0000][COLOR=gray]and one itty bitty gasser[/COLOR] :doh:[/COLOR][/B][/LIST]