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Firewood - smoking


 
P

Pat McCreight

TVWBB Pro
I'm looking for a consistent source of wood for smoking and I don't want to pay shipping charges.

The other day I drove out of town and passed a couple of huge firewood outlets, and they had piles of what appeared to be different types of wood. I didn't have time to stop and ask my dumb questions, so I thought I would ask them here instead!

If you were to pick up, say, 10 logs of oak and 10 logs of cherry, how would you go about cutting them up into chunks? I tried splitting a log against the grain once with my axe and found it to be very difficult, if not impossible. I have a table saw that could be put to use - would that work? I don't have a chainsaw and don't plan on getting one due to the maintenance issues.

Would I be better off asking the firewood guys to chunk them for me?
 
Originally posted by Pat McCreight:
I'm looking for a consistent source of wood for smoking and I don't want to pay shipping charges.

The other day I drove out of town and passed a couple of huge firewood outlets, and they had piles of what appeared to be different types of wood. I didn't have time to stop and ask my dumb questions, so I thought I would ask them here instead!

If you were to pick up, say, 10 logs of oak and 10 logs of cherry, how would you go about cutting them up into chunks? I tried splitting a log against the grain once with my axe and found it to be very difficult, if not impossible. I have a table saw that could be put to use - would that work? I don't have a chainsaw and don't plan on getting one due to the maintenance issues.

Would I be better off asking the firewood guys to chunk them for me?
Click to expand...

You would need to split the logs lengthwise and then chunk them. Ask the wood guys to split the logs into quarters, if they are large logs possibly into 8ths. Then chunk them at home on your table saw, I cut hockey puck size pieces of apple on my table saw with no problems.
 
Pat,
you need to like Larry said split the log. Then you need to get out there with a chain saw to chunk, or I have used a radial arm saw but be careful.
How far are you from the New Cabelas in Hoffman Estates? You can order wood online from them and pick up for free at the store. An electric log splitter is gonna cost you around 200-250 that about 25 bags of wood from Cabelas.
 
One more thing check the sportsmans warehouse I think you have a couple up that way. And what about the Gander Mtn in Kenosha? I think they have the huge bags for like 5-10 bucks that would last me all year.
 
Originally posted by Rick Soliman:
Pat,
you need to like Larry said split the log. Then you need to get out there with a chain saw to chunk, or I have used a radial arm saw but be careful.
How far are you from the New Cabelas in Hoffman Estates? You can order wood online from them and pick up for free at the store. An electric log splitter is gonna cost you around 200-250 that about 25 bags of wood from Cabelas.
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Hoffman estates isn't too far - that's a good option I had not considered. I have not been to Gander Mountain - do they sell more than just the usual hickory and mesquite? I'm trying to track down oak and apple, primarily. I can get hickory at Menard's or Home Depot pretty cheap.
 
What they say above. I have done my own splitting even splitting quarters down to "sticks" for the horizontal using a splitting mall and a wedge. I typically only needed small amounts and basically was splitting down quarters of oak that were purchased for fireplace use.

I'd cross cut with a hand saw, radial saw, chain saw or what ever is handy. You only need a few pucks for a single cook anyway.

Another source I've used in a pinch is the bags of wood at the local supermarket. They sell hardwood splits that are 16" or so long for the fireplace. I have used them for making sticks for the horizontal with good result. You could also use these to create the pucks for the WSM.

Last trip to the supermarket they were also selling birch in bags along with the oak.

Other alternative is if there are any orchards near you - stop in to see if they have any cuttings.
 
Pat the ganders by us have Apple and Cherry as well. I never see oak anywhere. I have a ton of Apple if you want some I will be in Delavan WI this weekend if you want to pick up. You wil have to split it.
 
as your pushing buttons and figuring pricing etc. etc. keep in mind maybe that a chain saw is pretty handy and Wal-Mart basicly gives them away. I own a Poulon as a backup for wood cutting and it gives me no problems at all if you know/read how to just take care of it. Maintainance isn't horrible but im a country boy out here in the sticks. My job involves way worse mess, etc. You could even rent it to the neighbors to pay it off, like I said I felt wal=mart gave em away. I have cut lots of different wood, in nice neat piles all the same size using a chain saw and a small hand held axe. My only concern was bar oil splashing onto the wood, but it wasn't enough to concern me at all, no biggie.
 
Since you have the table saw, I'd use that. Splitting with the grain is a breeze. I picked up a small electric chain saw at Sears a couple of years ago, and it has needed zero maintenance (other than oil). I've cut through 10" limbs (oak) with it. Mainly I use it to trim my red and live oaks; the smaller branches are perfect for the smoker.
 
UPS just delivered 30#s of smoke wood, 20# apple, 10# cherry chunks from Cabelas. Looks like good stuff.
Can't find apple or cherry to purchase around here (in stores that is). Shipping was only $7.95.
 
I tried a miter saw to cut chunks once and will never do that again. Had piece of wood go flying in two directions with far more velocity than I would have preferred at the time. Added a whole new meaning to 'staining the drawers'.

Now I just use a Sawzall...works great
 
Originally posted by Jerry Pollard:
UPS just delivered 30#s of smoke wood, 20# apple, 10# cherry chunks from Cabelas. Looks like good stuff.
Can't find apple or cherry to purchase around here (in stores that is). Shipping was only $7.95.
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I think that's not a bad deal Jerry.
 
Yep, I just got 20# delivered yesterday from Cablelas (10 apple/10 cherry) for shipping of $4.95. Looks good and I can't find either of those locally.

Don
 
Originally posted by KevinK:
I tried a miter saw to cut chunks once and will never do that again. Had piece of wood go flying in two directions with far more velocity than I would have preferred at the time. Added a whole new meaning to 'staining the drawers'.

Now I just use a Sawzall...works great
Click to expand...

Exactly, had that happen. Now I use a bow saw to further cut up firewood sized pieces.


The firewood processors probably cut wood to exact length so it stacks evenly, therefore they end up with an odd sized piece from every log they cut. You might find that they have a pile of short pieces that don't need further cutting.
 
Originally posted by Mike C.:
Harbor Freight sells this splitter pretty cheap when it's on sale:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42696

They also have this version:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39981
Click to expand...

yikes... harbor freight
icon_smile.gif
 
yikes... harbor freight
icon_smile.gif
Click to expand...

I'm a woodworker and you get that at the woodworking forums ALL the time from people who don't actually own and use HF tools OR those who bought the wrong tools and were turned off. Don't get me wrong Harbor Freight DOES sell stuff that's junk. They sell a VERY odd mix of products. And some things aren't necessarily a great deal. You just have to look at what you're buying.

I've got a LONG list of HF tools in my shop that have worked just fine for years right alongside expensive/overpriced name brand tools. I saved a LOT of money on the HF stuff over the name branded tools. Some of my favorite and most used tools are my cordless drill, angle grinders, and my variable speed metal cutting portable bandsaw (I also do welding). That bandsaw in particular cost a fraction of what a Milwaukee sells for and I've worked it hard. Those splitters if you look at them are pretty beefy and sturdy and of simple construction. There's not a whole lot that can go wrong.

Something people don't realize is you can find some of the EXACT same tools you find at HF under brand name or hardware store labels for MUCH more money. If it's made in Taiwan or China it most likely sells under more than one label. The reason HF tools are so much cheaper is their distribution model is different. They import in huge quantities and sell direct. The name brand tools they sell cost just about the same as you find them for in big box stores. I don't know why HF uses those cheesy looking advertisements. But they've been doing that forever. I first saw their catalogs back in the 80s. It seems to work for them just fine. I almost always have to wait in line to make a purchase.
 
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