Live Oak wood for smoking?

[Scott P.]

Thanks to Hurricane Ike, we have several trees down in the neighborhood. The majority of them are pines and live oaks. I was thinking about snagging a few logs of the live oak trees to split and season for smoke wood. Free wood is a good thing.

Is the Live Oak variety of Oak a good wood for smoking? I few large chunks or logs would be easy to obtain and probably last me a good long time.

 

[JimH TX]

Yes, get all of it you can.

 

[Scott P.]

I grabbed several pieces that I thought I could easily split and cut. My dog rode shotgun, but was disappointed that I didn't get him a stick of his own.

 

[Paul K]

I use live oak all the time. I have a couple of very large live oaks that have yielded about 1/3 cord of wood just from the branches.

Paul

 

[Paul H]

Scott, Live oak or dead oak it's all good for smoking

 

[Scott P.]

My neighbor, who got a WSM a few months ago saw my collection and did some scavenging himself. I might go look for more tomorrow when the dog and I go for our morning walk.

 

[Alan D]

Scott,

You could make your own lump out of it.

All you need is a 55 gal drum, with a lid.

 

[Scott P.]

How long should I let it season?

 

[Alan D]

Scott,

Do you mean in regards to making charcoal? I don't know if it matters, the impurities and gases will be burned off. Google on making charcoal and you'll get plenty of info, from both 'que aficionados as well as blacksmiths.

 

[Scott P.]

No, I won't be making my own charcoal. I was referring to using it as smoke wood.

 

[JimH TX]

six months to a year, depending on size of the pieces.

 

[K Kruger]

If you cut the pieces small at the get-go it will be sufficiently seasoned in just a few weeks.