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User Guidelines and Instructions => Basics for a Beginner => Topic started by: polarlys on July 31, 2017, 01:59:17 PM

Title: Wood sourcing for smoking meat
Post by: polarlys on July 31, 2017, 01:59:17 PM

Hi all,   Roger here from sunny & warm New Jersey

I'm on the edge and seriously considering the purchase of an electric smoker and like what I see with the
SI models.   Leaning towards the 3d model but haven't taken the plunge just yet.    I've been smoking meat and fish for years with a homemade rig and just think it's time to enter the 20th century.   My current rig uses sawdust and is pretty simple and works well.   I also do some woodworking and have lots of scrap hardwoods, oak, maple, walnut, cherry etc. and am wondering how successful I would be using excess lumber cut into pieces small enough to use in the SI smoke box ???  I also have a lot of cherry sawdust and would like to experiment on using that also.

Thanks all,   Happy SMOKIN
Roger from NJ

Title: Re: Wood sourcing for smoking meat
Post by: stout on July 31, 2017, 02:29:16 PM

i couldn't say much about saw dust.. worth a try for very low temp smokes i guess but i have no experience with trying it

but the other wood you have, if you know it's not treated in any way and i am guessing you know it's not of course. it would work.. cut in to 1 by 2 inch pieces or so

there is also a favorite of forum members smokinlicious http://smokinlicious.com/index.php?home they provide good wood in good sizes to boot.

i have store bought chunks that i also mix in sometimes

Title: Re: Wood sourcing for smoking meat
Post by: polarlys on July 31, 2017, 02:49:12 PM

ThanX Stout.   With my current rig I do both cold and hot smoke with no problem.   With something like the
SI I  think I would work towards using the fine chips or sawdust for cold smoking.  If it doesn't work well enough then I have a lot of cherry sawdust to dispose of.   But if the scrap wood works I'm good for a loooooong time of good smokin.

ThanX,
Roger from NJ

Title: Re: Wood sourcing for smoking meat
Post by: SconnieQ on July 31, 2017, 07:11:32 PM

If you want to use scrapwood, then you should probably purchase a moisture meter. They are not terribly expensive on Amazon. Around $20 I think. Some of your scrapwood might be too dry, which will not give you a pleasant flavor if it combusts and burns up too quickly.

Title: Re: Wood sourcing for smoking meat
Post by: SuperDave on July 31, 2017, 07:33:29 PM

I don't see the need for a moisture meter.  Most hardwoods have been kiln dried and won't measure up to those that think the moisture is necessary to good smoking.  I commonly smoke with bone dry wood and have learned how to control the combustion.  The big factor would be insuring that the wood wasn't chemically treated. 

Title: Re: Wood sourcing for smoking meat
Post by: polarlys on August 01, 2017, 09:34:56 AM

ThanX all for the input.   Just something to mull over since I have the wood around.   

I hope I'll be joining the SI family soon.   

Roger from NJ