Furniture wood cutoffs OK?


 
G

Gene D

New member
Hi all,

A friend of mine who builds furniture gave me a bag of scrap (cutoff) pieces of Cherry wood from a project he built. Are these OK to use in the smoker? They're 3/4" thick pieces about 2X4" or so, and are furniture-grade cherry wood.

Thanks in advance!
 
As long as they weren't finished (stained and/or varnished) they should be fine. I have seen the opinion expressed that wood that has been kiln-dried might have lost some of its "flavor" in the process.
 
I also use wood from furniture cut-offs. My dad has a large supply of it. Hickory, alder, and cherry. I find that it works great. Gives off that nice blue smoke that is so very coveted.
 
Thanks! I guess the kiln-drying process could take away some of the flavor...I'll just use a little extra. I'd rather use it for cooking than just tossing it in the fireplace!
 
I dry lumber for my job, let me tell you never use cut off maples, beach, ash, poplar. In comercial dry kiln operations some companys put a really nasty chemical on those woods when they are dryed. Not every kiln uses it, I do not, but not safe if its there. The oaks and cherrys hickorys should be ok, as far as I know its not on them. If the lumber is dryed at somebodys home it is safe. Smoke wood is really cheep to buy in the bags, use it and be safe.
 
Does anyone have anymore info on this subject? I have a good amount of Cherry that was used on a stair case and also some oak from a cabinet maker. None of the wood has any stain varnish or anything on it. When it’s burnt it smells fine. I just assumed it was safe being kiln dried.

Some people might be using maple, beach, ash, poplar that’s been kiln dried
 
I use scrap from a cabinet manufacturing company, and it works fine. Good flavor with normal amounts of wood used. Be care not to use plywood or particle board though. Unfinished hardwood scraps seem fine so far. At least my dog hasn't peed on my box of scraps like he has my stack of "natural" wood!
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And also don't use built up or finger-jointed scrap. Very common in cab and stair shops
Tim
 
Anybody that wants to use furniture cut off Goggle Lumber Dip Tanks. Lumber manufacturers do not process wood for cookers. Some companys use chemicals. Another search to interest you would be Conditioning Hardwood Lumber, Last step in Kiln drying lumber is to inject raw steam back into the lumber to take out the stress. This raw steam comes out of a large boiler with treatment chemicals in the steam. I kiln dry lumber for a living and I would never use cutoffs.
 
As a side note somebody mentioned Cherry, I would feel safe using cherry from any scource. It will not stain so no company would ever dip cherry. I would never use Maple cut offs.
 
Dang.. There seems to be a good amount of conflicting information…..
Here I thought I was set for smoke wood for a while
 
well... not to get in the middle but as a guitarist, im confident in saying MAPLE wont take stain. thats all im saying though dont hit me.
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perhaps im reading it as al maybe got it backwards but meant the right thing, or im an idiot... could be.

LMAO (see below)...i love it.
 
Sorry for the confusion, When lumber is wet or green it will mold and turn black or dark. In hardwood lumber buisness this is called stain. The white woods, will turn black the fastest. Thats why some companys dip them before they are dried, this dip keeps the wood bright as its dried. Cherry will not turn black when its green so nobody dips it before drying.
 
Ok what I gather so far is some companies will dip certain woods (not including cherry) in chemicals before its kiln dried. Additionally some companies add chemicals to the steam AS its being dried. ( for all woods including cherry.)

Do I have this correct? If so no cutoffs or ANY kiln dried wood is safe including cherry.

Unless the chemicals in question are completely safe.

I wonder is there is some way to tell of the wood is treated or not ?
 
The chemicals is the steam are much safer than the chemicals in the dip. These boiler treatments are all EPA approved for use in factories that produce food. Most people would say they are OK in smoke wood. I try to stay away from any thing I can. If you want to learn more and decide for yourself Google "Boiler Condensate Treatment". Most people treat there boilers with one of three "Amines". Thats the chemical that is of concern for me. Would be very small amounts of this but I do not want any. I have to say I am a little picky with chemical exposer. I know I am not giving a real clear answer here but I just do not know, maybe a chemist will ring in and let us know if its safe.
 
I get my smoke wood from downed tree limbs, if its a hardwood tree its good smokewood. Cut a piece off put it in the microwave on low for a few min to dry it out its ready to cook. One small limb will make a lot of cooks. If you neighbor has a firewood pile ask for one or two logs cut them in small pieces microwave them you are set for the summer. Remember I microwave only on low, any other setting and the wood will start to smoke, wife gets mad!
 
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