I'm looking for a Smoke wood "database"?

UncleFred

I recently had the occasion to drive the length of California and because of prolonged drought conditions here I saw a number of dead orange and almond groves along the I-5. It occurred to me that there were a lot of potential smoking chunks/chips there (never let a good crisis go to waste).

Question:
Is there a database of woods that you probably SHOULDN'T use for smoking due to flavor, carcinogens, etc.?

I suspect soft woods don't work well (although they are using pine flavors in craft beers, so who knows...)  And some almonds are highly toxic and produce hydrogen cyanide... but I don't suspect that variety would be found in a commercial grove, would it? 

Does anyone have any experience with almond wood as a smoke?  How about Avocado?

stlcharcoal

Here ya go..........

http://grillinfools.com/blog/2009/04/01/smoke-wood-what-kind-is-best-well-it-depends/

UncleFred

Read and bookmarked.  Thanks!

UncleFred

BTW, for anybody in the area, about 5 mi. south of Santa Nella, Ca on the east side of the I-5 there are at least 40 acres of dead, dry, standing almond trees. A chainsaw, gunny sacks, a pick-up truck, ...and permission and you could probably make some Christmas money!