You can get free white oak.

[pro65]

If you have a sawmill in your area most of them will give you white oak blocks free. They run the tree through the saw to cut it square and when they cut the lengths there is always a small wooden block left over in sizes of 4x4 and 6x6 and in lengths of 4" to 14". You get good heart wood.

They usually just pile these up in a pile out side and let people get them by the truck load at no cost or very little cost of generally $10 US dollars.

If you are not sure what white oak looks like they will show you what to get.

[smeag]

I've got white oaks growing on my place, hunters know them well for their acorns are favorite for deer. I heat my house with wood so I've taken some white oak logs and split them into inch thick slabs with my log splitter and plan on seasoning them awhile then hoping the splitting instead of cutting gives much more surface area in contact with product.

[pro65]

Hey smeag, I have thought about doing that also but after splitting with splitter, I would still have to take a hand ax and cut it down in small stripes and it just seems like that would be time consuming.

I have even thought about using the small limbs about 2" round , splitting and then doing the small stripes with a small ax, I just don't know how good that would work. And it really don't have much heart in it.

With getting it from the saw mill It is already square cut, and a good amount of heart. All I have to do is figure how thick I want it and set up the table saw and cut it to that thickness.

Plus it would be easy to stack out side to let dry and age. I wonder which would age faster though? Either way it would be better than nothing.

The sawmill way is also away to get good FREE fire wood no splitting stacking at all Just put in a pile and burn when dry.

Hey post up a pick of yours I might try it on my log splitter. Thanks smeag have a good one.

[Barney Fife]

I have even thought about using the small limbs about 2" round , splitting and then doing the small stripes with a small ax,

Bad idea. You'll end up with mostly sapwood, and a bitter, biter taste!

On the other hand, splitting is a good idea, and it will have a ton more surface area.

[smeag]

The reason splitting came to mind was not only the surface area but the laboring my table saw was having cutting though green wood I was trying to cut, wrong blade for one thing. splitting into inch slabs would help with the shorting of seansoning (drying). thanks barney fife for bring to my attention about the sap wood, I'll be sure to use 40 year old trees I've cut for fire wood 14-16 inch. I have some two people can't put thier arms around, but prize them for the mast they create for the wildlife. Expermenting with oak is a little time involved and I need to do more research.

[minime]

I'll be sure to use 40 year old trees I've cut for fire wood 14-16 inch. I have some two people can't put thier arms around, but prize them for the mast they create for the wildlife. Experimenting with oak is a little time involved and I need to do more research.

Ah, but a single block from a single tree, perhaps a windfall? would produce enough shingles to last a few years

[evilpsych]

you also might try your local truss company. My brother called me up the other day and asked if i wanted any pallets for my basement..

Well.. he shows up with 3 of the biggest overbuilt pallets i've ever seen. Solid HEARTWOOD Oak!! I'm talking like.. 2 4"x6"x3' runners, and 3-4 oak planks on these things! No stain, no nothing, Seasoned too! Apparently the truss company gets rolls of sheet metal for making corrugated metal roofing on the things, and just tosses them in a burn pile. Add 4 legs, and they're beefy enough to set heavy fermenters on, etc.

[brewmaker1]

I have to ask. How would you know if the pallets are oak? I have dozens of pallets taking up space in my warehouse and it would be great if I could use them for something.

[evilpsych]

I have to ask. How would you know if the pallets are oak? I have dozens of pallets taking up space in my warehouse and it would be great if I could use them for something.

well.. for one thing. these pallets weighed close to 80-90lbs each.. it also helps knowing the grain patterns from growing up with 3 expert carpenters in the house. Also, working with raw oak as a bbq smoking fanatic.. Oak has a characteristic grain pattern and 'color' to the wood both heart and outer layers. I will try and get some high res pics up for you. Cherry is the same, walnut and hickory too.

I would highly recommend talking to the folks you're getting the wood from - they'll likely know what the tree was if it's still got bark on it when you get it. Most conifers (pine, cedar, etc..) are identifiable by resin, weight, and looseness of grain compared to oak and other hardwoods. if oak doesnt occur naturally in your region, make sure it's not something poisonous like eucalyptus or walnut before you use it. Talking to your local cabinet shop helps too.

This batch I would guess is either red or pin oak.

[brewmaker1]

Thanks evilpsych. I doubt the pallets I have are oak. They're pretty light. It's easier for me to be safe than sorry and just pick up a board at the lumber yard.

[Jetzon]

I Wouldn't use pallets. You Never know whats been on them and Never sure what they've been treated with.
Most Walmarts or stores like that sell Jack Daniels smoking chips. Some of them sell half barrels pretty cheap.
I have More White Oak tree's down then I know what to do with. I only use the heart of the wood and Only get the wood from the stump side. I burn wood in my house so I'm used to cutting it up.
Good luck

Jetzon

[kentuc]

Jetzon you are absolutly CORRECT Do Not use Pallet or Skids as they are called in the Busineses. My Father ran a Pallet Business for years and we use to tear them down if the were broken up to re-use the wood to build Large or small pallets for companies. These things are used by chemical companies, paint, oil, with all sorts of nasty stuff on them and then re-built to be sold to places like Walley World, Sam's, Cosco, with food on them this is a very un-regulated enterprize done buy a lot of unscrupulous people. I know I worked a lot of summers at that damn place and hated it.

DO NOT USE THEM.

[HookLine]

I agree, don't use pallets, etc.

[Dutchmancreek]

The government requires that most pallets used for shipping product under contracts be dipped in a preservative solution. Unless you can read the stamp or stencil on the pallet, you can't tell if the pallet is treated or not. Stay away from pallets.

[bronzdragon]

This is one of those subjects that comes up a lot.

Making a pallet into a table = good.

Using a pallet in your drinks = bad.

That is all.



~bd~

[Mud]

I worked in a pallet factory one summer during college. We just nailed them together from rough lumber and stacked them outside. They were used by the local quarries for stone. Word is, sometimes bums shit on pallets if they're left behind grocery stores. ( to Barney Fife) You want to watch out for that.