Wood Chunks: Where do you get them from and how do they look like?

[This is not your pork!]

Getting different kinds of wood for smoking is still a mystery to me, because here you pretty much can only buy whole containers with firewood for heating with unknown origin and type, or those small sacks of Weber Wood Chips at a horrible high price.

For getting things started with my new WSM 22.5" I got the following box with apple wood chunks from a neighbor:

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I used a small saw to get some fist sized pieces for my first cook, and left the bark on.

What I would like to know:

• Where do you get your wood from?

• Do you leave the bark on?

• Do you use chunks from the tree stem, or branches as well?

• If using branches as well, how thin/small ones are still acceptable for smoking?

• How do you know that the wood is dry enough for immediate use?

• Getting wood from a freshly cut tree, how long do you have to store it for drying before use?

• Do you soak your wood in water before use, and why would you do that? I thought it has to be dry for being suitable for smoking.

 

[BobM]

I have a fireplace, I buy a cord or two of split wood a year for it. It always has a lot of red oak. I take some of the smaller oak pieces, and cut them into chunks with a saw.

I don't cut pieces with bark on it. If there is any dirt in the bark, it can damage a saw blade.

I do buy bags of chunks at the big box stores. Though expensive, I don't use that much and it is convenient. It also gives me a variety of different woods to use.

I never soak any of my wood chunks.

 

[basuraman]

Even if you do not order from this webiste they have good wood data on their page.

http://www.fruitawoodchunks.com/

 

[capnrob97]

See if you can find a distributor for these guys in your area.

I can buy these here in grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.

http://www.woodinc.com/

 

[snyper77]

• Where do you get your wood from? I check craigslist.org (people post personal ads there and firewood is popular), I create flyers and post them on cork boards in grocery stores, I call local tree trimming companies and ask for wood. In just a few short months, I acquired several cords of pecan, oak, cherry, and hickory - free.

• Do you leave the bark on? Yes.

• Do you use chunks from the tree stem, or branches as well? Wood is wood. Same flavor no matter which part of the tree.

• If using branches as well, how thin/small ones are still acceptable for smoking? It needs to be thick enough to last a while, I'd say 3" diameter.

• How do you know that the wood is dry enough for immediate use? Fresh cut wood isn't dry at all. It's a living plant, saturated with moisture. If you cut fresh wood into chunks, say 3" x 3", I would say they're ready to use in 3-6 months. Larger splits of wood take longer. When it's ready, it'll feel lighter when you pick it up, and have somewhat of a "hollow" sound when you smack two pieces together. Wet wood has a "thud" sound when you hit them together.

• Getting wood from a freshly cut tree, how long do you have to store it for drying before use? Standard splits - about a year.

• Do you soak your wood in water before use, and why would you do that? I thought it has to be dry for being suitable for smoking. DO NOT soak in water. Just add your wood chunks to your charcoal and cook. :becky:

 

[Marrs]

I get wood from all over. Some from the big box stores. Some from family, friends, the yard and the woodpile. Some from on-line. Have used https://www.huckleberryspices.com for post oak and cherry (I really like the size of their large chunks), http://www.charcoalstore.com (wood seems good, but the chunks are small), http://www.pimentowood.com (branches of pimento for jerk). Have not used fruitawoodchunks.com yet but intend to.

I leave the bark on everything but post oak.

I use wood from branches and trunk. I prefer nice big chunks but will make due with smaller pieces if need be (I just pile them together somewhat like chunks as opposed to spreading them out).

Dry enough if when you knock two pieces together and it makes a "crack" sound like a baseball bat hitting a homer.

Fresh cut to use depends on how small the pieces are and how it has been kept. I'm told the general rule is 6 months on split logs for firewood. Should be less for smaller pieces that are kept dry.

I do not soak my wood before smoking.

Hope that helps, j

 

[Ron_L]

Even if you do not order from this webiste they have good wood data on their page.

http://www.fruitawoodchunks.com/

Order from these folks! Bert is a great guy and the wood is great quality.

 

[El Ropo]

Ahem.. The OP is in Austria...

Might talk with someone like phubar. There may be some companies that distribute products over there that he is aware of.

 

[caseydog]

I get Western wood chunks at Academy for $4.49 a bag. They carry oak, hickory, mesquite, apple and pecan chunks at my local store.

I probably get five cooks out of a single bag in my 18.5 WSM, mixed with charcoal using the Minion method. That's about 90 cents a cook.

CD

 

[caseydog]

See if you can find a distributor for these guys in your area.

I can buy these here in grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.

http://www.woodinc.com/

That's the stuff Academy sells for $4.49 a bag.

CD

 

[bigkahunaranch]

To the OP-
Check around to see if there are any woodworker/furniture makers in the area.
Most of them have tons of scrap laying around. I know because i am a guilty party.
My wife says the only reason I bought a smoker is to clean out all the scrap wood I have laying around.
Not sure what shipping would be to Austria, but I could put together a small box of mesquite.

 

[caseydog]

I just realized where you live. :doh:

I Googled, and it looks like 75 percent of the trees in Austria are coniferous, which are not good for smoking.

You do have oaks, although I don't know what kind.

CD

 

[dddouglas]

Tree trimmers might be a good source. Check for local Arborist and make sure you can identify the species and season the wood prior to using

 

[deguerre]

Surely there are some apple (Or other fruit) orchards in Linz you could make a deal with when they thin out and prune their trees?

 

[spider22]

Keep scoring it from your neighbor and you will be all set.

 

[energyzer]

put an ad on Craigslist that you are looking for fruit woods, or what ever kind of wood that you want. I have found since I started smoking that there really is no nead to buy it. Lots of people simply wanting to get rid of their wood. Just last week, I got a boat load of apple and cherry. Could have had Mulberry, but I already had some. I try toget as much bark off as I can and split the pieces with a hatchet. I've heard that it takes a good 6 months after a limb has been cut to dry out. Though, one time, I went in my garage, and found a limb sitting on my shelf that ws budding out. Anyway, 6 months is what I have heard. I've never soaked my chunks, I've always used dry.

 

[grossepellets]

Have you tried Mojobricks? we have a retailer in the UK and you can buy mojobricks from them - if that interests you, you can check out Mojobricks at www.mojobricks.com Also - we will ship you a sample for the price of the stamp -if you vote for us thru missionsmallbusiness.com ( We will ship it to Austria) just log in thru FB and search for MOJOBRICKS and vote for us and then email me at [email protected] and we will set you or anyone up who votes for us. Otherwise - good luck

 

[IamMadMan]

I do not know what is available in the stores in Austria.

I would suggest visiting fruit farms in the late fall and make arrangements to pick up the culled wood in January or February whey they are traditionally trimmed / cut to avoid spreading fungi harmful to the other trees. Many farmers welcome the inquiry as the wood is removed far from their orchards..

Walk through the forest and any hardwoods (Oak, Maple, Aspen, Birch, Beech, and many more) are all good for smoking. Look for large fallen branches or fallen trees.

Other than that I do not know where to direct you. I do recall when I was there in 1975 - 76 the highlands were populated with mostly coniferous trees (pine family) which is not suitable for smoking.

If you have some type of bbq supply store locally or on-line, check there for Chunks, Sticks, or chips..

I hope you can find something locally..

Dry for 1 full season (summer, fall, spring)

Never soak wood

Yes I leave the bark on unless it has fungus on it.

Yes small branches and trunks all work fine

.

 

[muidaq]

Are there wood fired pizza restaurants in the area? They might be willing to share their source.

 

[Hankdad1]

You might check with a cabinet maker to see if they have scraps that they are willing to part with.