So, I've decided that next year I want to by my first offset stick burner, and I'm in the research process at the moment. Aside from deciding on the smoker itself (which I think I already have... a Kat Smokers 36x20 or 48x20 reverse flow, which is built just down the road from me in Modesto, CA https://katbbqsmokers.com/product/48x20-reverse-flow-smoker/ ), I need to find the wood to fuel it.
It seems that the most economical way to go about buying splits in the quantity I would need for a stick burner, would be buying from the local "firewood" sellers in my area who sell by the cord or fraction of a cord. The problem is, none of them carry my wood of choice, hickory. The options most seem to carry are Oak, Cherry, Almond, and Walnut.
Oak and Cherry seem to be the most appealing out of those options, but I'm really confused about the oak because there seems to be so many different types of oak, and all these suppliers seem to mention on their site is "oak" without specifying what type of oak it is. I've only found one that gives any other info, and they list black oak, white oak, and live oak.
I don't know how to tell what is what, or what type of oak I should even be looking for. The only things I really know about oak as far as smoking is concerned is that they use a lot of red oak down south in Santa Maria, CA, and and they use Post Oak in Central Texas, but I'm not sure either of those are very available up here in Northern California.
So.... sorry for the long winded post, but I'm just wondering if there are any types of oak that should be avoided, and what questions I should be asking to ensure I'm getting the right thing.
It seems that the most economical way to go about buying splits in the quantity I would need for a stick burner, would be buying from the local "firewood" sellers in my area who sell by the cord or fraction of a cord. The problem is, none of them carry my wood of choice, hickory. The options most seem to carry are Oak, Cherry, Almond, and Walnut.
Oak and Cherry seem to be the most appealing out of those options, but I'm really confused about the oak because there seems to be so many different types of oak, and all these suppliers seem to mention on their site is "oak" without specifying what type of oak it is. I've only found one that gives any other info, and they list black oak, white oak, and live oak.
I don't know how to tell what is what, or what type of oak I should even be looking for. The only things I really know about oak as far as smoking is concerned is that they use a lot of red oak down south in Santa Maria, CA, and and they use Post Oak in Central Texas, but I'm not sure either of those are very available up here in Northern California.
So.... sorry for the long winded post, but I'm just wondering if there are any types of oak that should be avoided, and what questions I should be asking to ensure I'm getting the right thing.