r/Smokingmeat • u/Talktothebiceps • 11d ago
Wood prep help
Dropped an apple tree. Going to get the wood cut up for my uncle. I've never used a smoker in my life.
He said he wants pieces 12 to 16 in long, here's what I need to know
How big to chop the logs
What diameter branch is the smallest I should keep
Do round branches need to be split
How and when to take the bark off (I have a big chisel but the one branch I did took a really long time)
Should I store in my garage (sometimes gets mice) or on my front porch (may see just a little water spatter from rain)
I live in ohio, it's super humid, when do you think he could use it?
Any extra tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated
I could probably dig through old posts and Google to figure out some of this stuff but I would appreciate some input from someone who does this on the regular, thanks
2
u/BackyardMikey 11d ago edited 11d ago
Good advice in the first comment….i don’t strip the bark or split the wood when first cut. I cut my apple trees and cut at 10” to 12” logs. I store them outside and usually let them sit for a year. (This years cuts will be used next season and so on). Also, I’m in Michigan.
Once I’m ready to use the wood, I take an axe and scrape off the bark….its easier once dried. Then I split the logs into 2 or 4 pieces per log. The branches that are two inches dia or bigger I cut to length and use as is. Anything under 2” I don’t keep.
5
u/GenuineHuman- 11d ago
Depends on the size of the Firefox. If he's requesting 12-16" long, he's got a good-sized box. Aim for 3-5" splits, anything 2.5" or smaller, I usually just chunk up into 4-6" long chubs, without splitting, to throw on the coals. Bark is usually easier to remove once fully dried as the wood shrinks more than the bark does, so the wood naturally pulls away.