Newbie. Help Identify this wood

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Newbie2017

Newbie
Original poster
Nov 13, 2017
3
0
Theres a place that is giving away this wood. Anyone know what kind of wood this is?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20171113_120654.jpg
    IMG_20171113_120654.jpg
    146.1 KB · Views: 51
  • IMG_20171113_120707.jpg
    IMG_20171113_120707.jpg
    181.7 KB · Views: 50
You could just get wood somewhere else that knows what it is. Millions of trees cut all over. And welcome..
giphy (2).gif


Call and ask the property owner . Ask who cut it down. No leaves left behind?
 
Last edited:
Thank you. Well, since im fairly new to smoking i dont want to spend money on wood since i seem to go through it fast. But i might just have to stop being cheap and buying some. There are no leaves but ive been looking around the neighborhood for similar trees and i think its some sort of tree with needles.
 
Thank you. Well, since im fairly new to smoking i dont want to spend money on wood since i seem to go through it fast. But i might just have to stop being cheap and buying some. There are no leaves but ive been looking around the neighborhood for similar trees and i think its some sort of tree with needles.
You don't need wood to create a good smoked flavor, but it does bring it up a notch. I've smoked many meals on nothing but charcoal on my cylindrical brinkman back in the day. Charcoal after all, is wood. Over the years, I started adding chips of mesquite or hickory, and now I only use charcoal to help get the wood going and occasionally throw some in to keep the ember base. I get all the wood I need for free, you can too! Contact local tree services, they'll probably even deliver. You may need to buy a chainsaw and/or a log splitter, but talk to them as they may offer that cut-to-length/split for a small fee. Most of them have to pay to dispose of logs, so it saves them $$ to give it away or work with you. I have to buy mesquite as it doesn't grow in NJ, all other wood is NP for me, but then I fix chainsaws etc. at my "other" job.
 
Oh okay great. I thought i was doing something wrong. I was mostly using wood at the begining of the cook then just using charcoal towards the end because i read that during the start of the cook is when the meat will get the most smoke flavor. I wasnt sure if finishing was charcoal was hurting the cook. Funny you mention contacting a tree service to get wood. I just found out I know someone that owns a tree triming company so I just found my new best friend. Thanks for the help. Btw.. The darker tree turned out to be a type pine tree. Glad i didnt lug it home.
 
Pine is ok depending on where you're from. I stay away from it. I choose hard woods or fruit-bearing tree woods, which are the status-quo here in the northern US. Hickory, Beech, Apple, Cherry, Peach, Mesquite, Oak, Sugar Maple and others (this is my list) are the norm. I'm sure others have a broader list, but I'm limited by my geographic location and experience.
 
Last edited:
the first pic looks like oak to me but i could be wrong. Never use pine or any soft woods (no matter where you are). stick to hard woods something with a nut or fruit. (fruits trees give sweeter flavor). I use all wood fire in my rev flow. and my faves are pecan and cherry. If you are getting free wood and its a hard wood that is great. when i use my WSM i use charcoal and some wood chunks and/or pellets depending on if I'm cold smoking or hot smoking.

Experiment with different woods and find out which you like flavor wise and heat management wise.

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)
 
Do not use Pine to smoke unless you enjoy a bitter turpentine Flavor. Use hard woods and Fruit woods.
I've been smoking for over 50 years, trust me you don't want pine.
Start out with some charcoal and add splits as needed to maintain your temp.

Gary
 
Second pic maybe beech.
I mostly use apple to smoke and I just go to an orchard and ask if I can take their downed limbs and there is usually a place there where their pruners dump them. They have never said "no" and I have all the apple I can use.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Hot Threads

Clicky