Is there bad oak?

Fishiest1 · 12-15-2010, 03:34 PM

Sorry, I am an admitted newb so this is probably stupid. I just took delivery on a face cord of oak and it seems very light in weight and very easy to break. Most of the wood is approx 3" logs.

If I bought bad wood sobeit and I will learn from it but I just don't want to do it again.

Is there something I need to look for when buying oak or is this okay? Again, pardon my ignorance and thanks in advance for any pointers!

BobBrisket · 12-15-2010, 03:38 PM

Do you have any pics? Oak is a pretty hard wood. It's also very dense, heavy. By break, do you mean split with an axe? Or literally with your hands?

Gore · 12-15-2010, 04:24 PM

Pics please! Very often around here they supplement the oak with lighter poplar which isn't worth anything. I almost always find a few pieces, but once got more than half of that junk. Oak is pretty heavy. When it is dried it will split pretty easily, but it should still be pretty heavy. If it is VERY old, like covered in mushroom old, then it loses its weight.

chromestacks · 12-15-2010, 04:26 PM

If you mean it is easy to split, pretty much any wood that is 3" in diameter is going to be easy to split with an axe. As far as light weight, again with the small diameter it won't seem heavy. Is the wood green (freshly harvested from the tree) or seasoned (been cut a while) this can also play a difference in the weight.

Gore · 12-15-2010, 04:35 PM

That had me confused, but I think it was a typo and 3' was meant. Otherwise instead of "logs" would've used the word "toothpicks."

Fishiest1 · 12-15-2010, 05:51 PM

Feeling pretty stupid here. We atleast my chessies can chew on it..

MrSmoker · 12-15-2010, 06:00 PM

I recall a poison oak when I was growing up in New England,but I think it was a bush.

jaxbbq · 12-15-2010, 06:00 PM

When you split the wood I would venture to guess that there are light and dark streaks. Wood turners call it spalting a fancy way of saying rotting. Here in FL best to get wood in small lots. With the rain and the bugs 3 to 4 months and you have a pile of sawdust.

Fishiest1 · 12-15-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxbbq

When you split the wood I would venture to guess that there are light and dark streaks. Wood turners call it spalting a fancy way of saying rotting. Here in FL best to get wood in small lots. With the rain and the bugs 3 to 4 months and you have a pile of sawdust.

Do you think I should even bother with it or trash it and just move on?

I guess I would rather dump it than waste more money on ruining food if it's no good.

Would it atleast be okay for the fireplace?

Thanks again!

SchauerPower · 12-15-2010, 06:15 PM

From the photo it looks a little punky (or partially rotted).

Kevin · 12-15-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishiest1

Do you think I should even bother with it or trash it and just move on?

I guess I would rather dump it than waste more money on ruining food if it's no good.

Would it atleast be okay for the fireplace?

Thanks again!

That wood looks pretty old from the pic. It should be fine for the fireplace but will burn fast.

big brother smoke · 12-15-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchauerPower

From the photo it looks a little punky (or partially rotted).

This!

Fishiest1 · 12-15-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

That wood looks pretty old from the pic. It should be fine for the fireplace but will burn fast.

10-4, thanks! Im glad I didn't ruin any food!

Blackened · 12-15-2010, 07:26 PM

Looks like the black oak we have around here, albeit a little old and rotted.

I've used black oak on butts, ribs and briskets and it works fine.

Mitch · 12-15-2010, 07:39 PM

Any oak is good. Whatever is local is best except mesquite IMHO. Those old German meat markets in Tejas were stuck with mesquite
:-)

12-15-2010, 03:34 PM	#1
Fishiest1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-28-10 Location: Fort Myers Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Is there bad oak? Sorry, I am an admitted newb so this is probably stupid. I just took delivery on a face cord of oak and it seems very light in weight and very easy to break. Most of the wood is approx 3" logs. If I bought bad wood sobeit and I will learn from it but I just don't want to do it again. Is there something I need to look for when buying oak or is this okay? Again, pardon my ignorance and thanks in advance for any pointers!

12-15-2010, 03:38 PM	#2
BobBrisket Moderator Join Date: 12-11-07 Location: El Paso, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Do you have any pics? Oak is a pretty hard wood. It's also very dense, heavy. By break, do you mean split with an axe? Or literally with your hands? __________________ UDS, Pit Barrel Cooker-Courtesy of Poobah, WSM, 22.5 Weber Kettles-K and DR Stamped, 18.5 Weber Bar-B-Kettle, Weber 18.5 Smokey Joe Platinum, Weber Genesis Silver B, Lil' Chief Smoker, Lodge Sportman Grill, Backyard Fire Pit, Dutch Ovens, Discada Set Up, Turkey Fryer! BobBrisket Jr.-MUDS, WSJ Silver My BEST Compliment......"You're a good cooker, Dad!"--My Son. DAN!

12-15-2010, 04:24 PM	#3
Gore somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-05-08 Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods ... and Nazis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Pics please! Very often around here they supplement the oak with lighter poplar which isn't worth anything. I almost always find a few pieces, but once got more than half of that junk. Oak is pretty heavy. When it is dried it will split pretty easily, but it should still be pretty heavy. If it is VERY old, like covered in mushroom old, then it loses its weight. __________________ Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1"

12-15-2010, 04:26 PM	#4
chromestacks Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-11-10 Location: Guilford, N.Y. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you mean it is easy to split, pretty much any wood that is 3" in diameter is going to be easy to split with an axe. As far as light weight, again with the small diameter it won't seem heavy. Is the wood green (freshly harvested from the tree) or seasoned (been cut a while) this can also play a difference in the weight. __________________ will be a Pit Master someday

12-15-2010, 04:35 PM	#5
Gore somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-05-08 Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods ... and Nazis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That had me confused, but I think it was a typo and 3' was meant. Otherwise instead of "logs" would've used the word "toothpicks." __________________ Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1"

12-15-2010, 05:51 PM	#6
Fishiest1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-28-10 Location: Fort Myers Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Feeling pretty stupid here. We atleast my chessies can chew on it..

12-15-2010, 06:00 PM	#7
MrSmoker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-28-04 Location: Phoenix, AZ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I recall a poison oak when I was growing up in New England,but I think it was a bush. __________________ Mr Smoker BBQ Arizona Chapter BBQ Brethren-----AZBarbeque Hall of Fame, North American Outdoors Grill,Charbroil Red, #7 Custom Red Kamado, Bandera

12-15-2010, 06:00 PM	#8
jaxbbq Got Wood. Join Date: 10-22-10 Location: jacksonville, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	When you split the wood I would venture to guess that there are light and dark streaks. Wood turners call it spalting a fancy way of saying rotting. Here in FL best to get wood in small lots. With the rain and the bugs 3 to 4 months and you have a pile of sawdust.

12-15-2010, 06:15 PM	#10
SchauerPower Found some matches. Join Date: 05-16-10 Location: Stoneboro, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	From the photo it looks a little punky (or partially rotted).

12-15-2010, 07:26 PM	#14
Blackened is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-07-09 Location: Chico, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks like the black oak we have around here, albeit a little old and rotted. I've used black oak on butts, ribs and briskets and it works fine.

12-15-2010, 07:39 PM	#15
Mitch is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-22-07 Location: Lincoln NE Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Any oak is good. Whatever is local is best except mesquite IMHO. Those old German meat markets in Tejas were stuck with mesquite :-)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bad smoker or bad person handling smoker?	Piggy_Tummy	Q-talk	24	06-07-2011 06:32 PM
cooking with live oak or water oak?	rub it smoke it bbq	Q-talk	5	12-28-2010 09:18 PM