Cherry Tree

smokenmirrors

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Original poster

Jun 22, 2009

50

10

Albuquerque, NM

• Jul 2, 2009

• #1

I have a cherry tree trunk in my backyard that I felled about 3 years ago. It's about a foot in diameter and branches into two main limbs about 5-6" inches. The whole piece is about 10 feet long. Last year, I was debating about burning it in my fireplace. Now that I am smoking, I'm looking at it as a very good source of smoke for years to come.

My question is, what is the best way to get it from log form into chunk/chip form?

 

rivet

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Apr 25, 2008

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The "Show Me" state

• Jul 2, 2009

• #2

Three years is a lot of time, especially if you get wet seasons (winter, spring).

If the wood is not soft, get a chainsaw. The main trunk cut into 24 inch pieces can be easily split into sticks with a rental log-splitter.

With only a foot diameter trunk, unfortunately I'm thinking the wood is too far gone for smoking. Got any pics?

If you can stick a screwdriver into it don't bother.

Hope this helps you out.

 

smokenmirrors

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Original poster

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Jun 22, 2009

50

10

Albuquerque, NM

• Jul 2, 2009

• #3

I will check it out tonight. Maybe post a picture too.

 

smokenmirrors

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Jun 22, 2009

50

10

Albuquerque, NM

• Jul 3, 2009

• #4

 

billbo

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Aug 19, 2007

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Upstate NY

• Jul 3, 2009

• #5

I can't tell for sure but that looks pretty weather beaten. You don't want to use the grey part, that's mildew & or mold. Personally, I wouldn't use it. Just MHO. But here is how I did some apple a while back. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=78202

 

gnubee

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Sep 12, 2008

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Penticton BC

• Jul 3, 2009

• #6

Use it in your fire place, it will burn clean and long. Seeing as it sounds like you may be living in Orchard country, go round to the orchards in the fall when they prune, I have never had trouble scrounging ( bumming ) free wood from Orchardists. They think I'm nuts but free wood is free wood.

I put 3 to 4 inch green fruitwood logs in a vise and cut them up in 1 inch wide chunks with a reciprocating saw.
Then I take the round pieces and split them in half with a hatchet. They cure better split in two.
Leave them one season on the back porch and viola! Great smoking wood.

 

rickw

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The Peoples Republic of IL.

• Jul 3, 2009

• #7

I wold cut into it and see how the inside was. If by chance it looks OK and more importantly smells good, nice and sweet, I would use it. Make sure there is no mold or anything else growing on it.

I've use some pretty weathered looking oak (grayish) and it burnt nice and clean.

 

rivet

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Apr 25, 2008

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The "Show Me" state

• Jul 3, 2009

• #8

You have some perfect cherry wood for smoking if that's what you say it is, can't really tell. However, lying over gravel explains why there is no visible rotting and it looks perfectly aged~ that ash grey color is good dry, sun bleached wood. I am willing to bet that if you turn that log over and knock the bark off, it will be just as dry under there too.

Get yourself a chainsaw (rent one of you don't have one) and cut it up into short discs. The tree is small enough that then you can split these discs with an axe. Chop them up into various sizes to suit you.

Don't know what kind of smoker you have but by the looks of the wood you should be able to chop it up easy enough into smaller chunks if that's what you need.

You are lucky to have such well preserved wood lying there after 3 years. Congratulations!