Making your own wood chunks

GA_Dawgs

First time poster, long time reader. This site has been a great source of knowledge since I got my egg about a month ago, thank you all!

I wanted to see if anyone has any experience making their own wood chunks. I recently had some maples taken down in my yard and I kept some wood and was also able to get some apple wood from my in-laws apple tree that fell during a recent storm.

My thought process is that I can cut some 4 inch thick disks from the branches and let them cure or use them slightly green. Does anyone have any advice or experience doing this? Sorry if this topic has already been broached, I did a search and didn't find anything. Thanks!

centex99

Cut them into whatever size chunks you want, and keep them dry for 6mo-1yr...(unless the trees were dead for a while, then they may be good sooner)... I'd use a bandsaw if you have one, but any means of cutting them should work...

Rolling Egg

 I have friends give me apple and pecan branches all the time. I usually do exactly what you are describing. I cut them into puck size with a jig saw and throw them into a five gallon bucket in my garage. Another guy gets me these square hickory sticks from a friend of his that owns a cabinet shop. I buy about one bag of cherry chips a year. The rest is given to me. Pretty lucky I guess.

brentsee

+1 I go to Wal Mart or a gas station and usually buy a bundle of Maple or Birch, cut it into chunks and use it that way. I like lots of smoke so this works best for me.  A little bag of wood chips doesn't last me very long.

 

stike

you can use them right away if you want. no need to season them. many prefer green wood for smoking.
you may find out you prefer them one way or the other (green or seasoned), but there's no reason to follow someone else's rule

boatbum

Doesn't Myron on BBQ Pitmaster only use Green peach wood?

 

 

James MB

When I cut firewood (Oak) I usually take a few smaller bits and save them for smoke wood - splitting them green is easiest.

If I haven't any when I light my egg I grab a saw and cut some green.

If I can't be bothered I just chuck a bit of branch in (I think I might have smoked my last trout fillet with Rhododendron as the bark had been removed from the branch in the woodpile!).

stike

even bark can be good.  i'd never waste time debarking, personally.  i haven't ever actually bothered with hickory WOOD itself, because i simply use the fallen hickory (shag) bark.  sweetest smoke of any i have tried so far.

GA_Dawgs

Thanks for the replies.  Looks like I should try some green since I have the opportunity.

teddyg

Would 1 year old dry oak bark work OK? I have been using them for fire stove starters.  

stike

i have thrown chunks of oak bark in.  give it a shot.
if it smells good, it'll taste good.