drying green wood for smoking

AlaskanC

I think I asked this before, but how long do you let freshly cut wood "season" before using?
This is the time of year to cut alder if you want to use it for smoking so I am planning on cutting a bunch. I am going to pre-slice it into approx 3 inch thick rounds and then hack it into chunks. How long should I let it sit (indoors, under my stairs where it's dry and dark) before its useable?

Haggis

AlaskanC,[p]Give it several months if its in a dry location (as seems to be the case.) Were it outdoors you'd want to give it considerably longer.[p]And you're right - its best to cut wood when the sap has withdrawn.

AlaskanC

Haggis,[p]So if I cut it now it should be useable by early summer. Perfect timing for salmon season! Those darn natives had it all figured out! (My sisters mother in law, who is native, gave me the same advice about cutting times).

SMITTYtheSMOKER

AlaskanC,[p]I've been told a few things when it comes to seasoning your smoking woods. But seems that a 4-6 month period of dryness works best for smoking woods, and a year of drying for firewood. If you go ahead a precut your smoking woods it will accelerate the drying time.[p]I working on getting some Alder myself down here, very popular with the Salmon folks.[p]-Smitty

AlaskanC

Smitty - I can get you all you want... that stuff is a borderline nuisance around here! I need to clear my driveway and back yard, so I am going to do some "logging" this week.
Alder & salmon are a match made in heaven...I wouldn't use anything else![p]So I guess I'll let the chunks rest for 4-6 months and we'll see what we end up with.

Haggis

AlaskanC,[p]No different than firewood. Around here (Wash DC) the tree guys start cutting in spring and then sell their wood in autumn for use that winter. Folks then wonder why it doesn't burn so good or gives off too much smoke. Think sap!

Pork Puller

AlaskanC,
Melissa, if you have a woodstove,you can dry it in a few days.I recently dried some for another board member by first cutting into 3 in. lengths,then splitting in half on my chopsaw.I then put it in my veggie basket,sitting on 4-1 inch copper elbows,on top of the woodstove for a couple days.It was almost dry.A couple more days would have dried it totally.About the largest diameter we get around here is 3-4 inches,about the same as Southeast.Microwave also works on those small pieces.[p]Keith

RNLV

AlaskanC,[p]Take a sample, keep track of the weight on a scale I use kitchen scale. When weight stablizes, the moisture will be at it's lowest with out kiln drying.[p]Ron