Minimum size (specifically diameter) of wood for smoking

[JBW450]

Just been pruning an ornamental plum in my yard.

Is there a minimum diameter people recommend for smoking wood?

I assume once de-barked as long as there is solid wood then it would be OK.

Im working of minimum, 1inch diameter. Am I over-thinking it?

 

[Straw_Sticks_Bricks]

I pretty much use it all. My general guideline is that if it is less than 1" think I cut it into 6" long pieces and throw it on the grill for a bit of extra flavor on the steak, burgers, etc. If the branch is thicker than 1" I use it in the smoker. But it is really a question of what type of smoker you have and how you use it. So YMMV on minimum thickness.

 

[JBW450]

I pretty much use it all. My general guideline is that if it is less than 1" think I cut it into 6" long pieces and throw it on the grill for a bit of extra flavor on the steak, burgers, etc. If the branch is thicker than 1" I use it in the smoker. But it is really a question of what type of smoker you have and how you use it. So YMMV on minimum thickness.

OK, thanks.

Using it in an offset smoker.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

I use it all and I don't remove the bark. The only thing about the small stuff is it burns up fast...

 

[JBW450]

I use it all and I don't remove the bark. The only thing about the small stuff is it burns up fast...

Awesome thanks.

I found on my first cook with some well seasoned plum wood that I was getting black smoke when adding the pre-heated plum wood.

I put it down to the bark (though I wasn't sure).

The last 2-3 cooks have been with de-barked plum wood and haven't had any black smoke that I've noticed.

 

[realdocBBQ]

I use it all and I don't remove the bark. The only thing about the small stuff is it burns up fast...

^^^^This. No problems.

 

[indaswamp]

There are more flavor compounds in the small limbs up to about 3" in diameter......from what I have read anyways. This is what you want for flavor wood. For heat, trunk wood is best.

 

[DougE]

I generally use limb wood, that when split in fourths, will give me pie shaped splits that are about 2 or 3 inches any side you measure. I also leave the bark on.

 

[jcam222]

Debarking is completely unnecessary. I split mine down to Coke can circumference usually , sometimes twice that when a good coal be us established. I'd use those 1" pieces early to build coal.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I actually use the smaller (2" and less) to cut pucks/chunks a couple inches long to use on my webers mixed in with the charcoal... I don't debark ... Also I use 100% Pecan ...