Preparing Oak "sticks" For use.

[vance71975]

I used Google I looked through threads, no answer so I am gonna ask. I have an Oak tree in my back yard, and I got to thinking, since I cant afford to by Oak Chips,stave's,spirals etc right now, that I could, In theory anyway Make my own "oaking sticks" By cutting off some branches. Well I got as far as cutting off the Branches and cutting them up small enough to fit in Jars when it dawned on me, that I do not know how exactly to prepare them for use, and I know throwing green sticks in there is not a good idea.

So here is my question, has anyone Used Oak off their Oak tree, If so how did you dry it for use, just let it air dry for years or Low temp in the Oven to dry it out? I would really prefer to dry it as quickly as possible as I don't want to be waiting 2 years to use the sticks I cut off today. Also Do you suggest Oven Toasting or do you suggest using a torch to put a Char on the wood, or both?

I know how to Toast it, that part I did find here, wrap it in tinfoil, in the oven at 450 for 15 mins.

[NcHooch]

So here is my question, has anyone Used Oak off their Oak tree, If so how did you dry it for use, just let it air dry for years or Low temp in the Oven to dry it out? I would really prefer to dry it as quickly as possible as I don't want to be waiting 2 years to use the sticks I cut off today. Also Do you suggest Oven Toasting or do you suggest using a torch to put a Char on the wood, or both?

I know how to Toast it, that part I did find here, wrap it in tinfoil, in the oven at 450 for 15 mins.

Gotta be white oak Vance.
It should be "heart" wood from the trunk of the tree , Sap wood is unacceptable.
Supposed to be air dried for 1 year or so ...
Keep your toasting between 350 and 400
and don't be afraid to char some too.

the Oak I use was cut from a tree on my property 4 years ago , it's been sitting in the wood stack all this time and still makes a fine drink. I don't know whether time or dryness is the critical factor, but if I was in a hurry, I'd split it up green into small sticks and stick it in my car for a month (in the summer) , that ought to dry it out nice, least ways around here it would.
hope that helps,

[Washashore]

theses might help:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6890

http://distillapedia.org/index.php?titl ... ng_whiskey" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us& ... 24&bih=672" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[vance71975]

theses might help:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6890

http://distillapedia.org/index.php?titl ... ng_whiskey" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us& ... 24&bih=672" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Thanks for the links, tho none of them really answer my question lol

[WalkingWolf]

. . . I would really prefer to dry it as quickly as possible as I don't want to be waiting 2 years to use the sticks I cut off today . . .

That's why they have liquor stores.

Time will temper your rush. One day you'll enjoy a high quality cocktail produced through your own efforts and wonder what all the rush was about.

[whiskeytripping]

Vance, the way I do it now is I buy a old jack Daniels barrel from home depot or lowes, cut the bands off with a grinder, disassemble the barrel, cut the staves up (rip them about 3/4") then char them with a propane or MAPP gas torch. I cannot find American white oak where I live, and like NChootch said, needs to be cured correctly, this way works great for me

[vance71975]

Vance, the way I do it now is I buy a old jack Daniels barrel from home depot or lowes, cut the bands off with a grinder, disassemble the barrel, cut the staves up (rip them about 3/4") then char them with a propane or MAPP gas torch. I cannot find American white oak where I live, and like NChootch said, needs to be cured correctly, this way works great for me

Well if i had money i would do that or Order one of these.

http://1000oaksbarrel.com/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=27" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Best prices i have found on New Barrels btw but they are BRAND NEW and will need all proper steps taken before adding a likker to them.

[whiskeytripping]

Well I'm sure you have enough money to buy some jack Daniels smoker chips, research that. A lot of others use that. I would do that before using oak from the yard. I use to use chips myself. The staves are better in my opinion

[vance71975]

Well I'm sure you have enough money to buy some jack Daniels smoker chips, research that. A lot of others use that. I would do that before using oak from the yard. I use to use chips myself. The staves are better in my opinion

Cant get them locally, only wood chips i can get locally are mesquite or Hickory.

[whiskeytripping]

Well I guess your SOL

[Stilly]

Well I'm sure you have enough money to buy some jack Daniels smoker chips, research that. A lot of others use that. I would do that before using oak from the yard. I use to use chips myself. The staves are better in my opinion

Cant get them locally, only wood chips i can get locally are mesquite or Hickory.

For $20 you can get toasted oak cubes, not chips from More Beer.com. They are the real deal, American oak cubes, air dried toasted to a variety of levels. $20 gets you a pound of them, that should do more hooch than you can drink in a year.

Either that or do like NC told ya.

cheers
stilly

[vance71975]

Well I guess your SOL

|

Nah, I put the sticks in the oven last night on 225 for about 3 hours to dry them out, they are currently in the oven on 375 for the next 4 hours to toast them, as i have read around 360-380 maximizes the Vanilla notes. I will give them a try and see how they work in a Pint Jar, if they work well i will use them to oak Everything.

[vance71975]

Well I'm sure you have enough money to buy some jack Daniels smoker chips, research that. A lot of others use that. I would do that before using oak from the yard. I use to use chips myself. The staves are better in my opinion

Cant get them locally, only wood chips i can get locally are mesquite or Hickory.

For $20 you can get toasted oak cubes, not chips from More Beer.com. They are the real deal, American oak cubes, air dried toasted to a variety of levels. $20 gets you a pound of them, that should do more hooch than you can drink in a year.

Either that or do like NC told ya.

cheers
stilly

I know, i can also get Similar on Midwest brewing.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/homebrew ... s/oak.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

The problem is, right now i have 0.00 dollars. I literately have no money at all, so I have to go with what i have access to.

[Coyote]

I just buy half barrel wine planters and take them apart. Once they dry out a bit in the sun
they fall apart. . .Cut to 3/4 x 3/4 and toast or char

One 30 dollar half barrel was more than I could use / needed in 2 years

Coyote

[vance71975]

I just buy half barrel wine planters and take them apart. Once they dry out a bit in the sun
they fall apart. . .Cut to 3/4 x 3/4 and toast or char

One 30 dollar half barrel was more than I could use / needed in 2 years

Coyote

Ok again as stated above, i do not have 30 bucks. I do not have 3 bucks. I am BROKE and I have to use what i can get for FREE. I am sorry if i sound like a jerk here, but i have said more than once, i have no money and people keep suggesting things that cost 20 or 30 bucks. I managed to Scrape together 5 from what a friend owed me to get cracked corn and brown sugar so i can do an actual un-hopped mash instead of just distilling the beer i had on hand in kegs. So i am right back to BROKE. When i say broke, i mean just that broke, as in less than 1 dollar to my name, to be exact i have .25 cents, and i have no job due to health problems so please if you are gonna suggest an option that will cost 20 or 30 bucks don't, i simply do not have the money. What i do have is access to 2 live white oak trees that i can cut branches from but can not cut down, that is what i have to work with. Like i said, i don't mean to sound like an asshole but i have been clear more than once i have no money.

[Dnderhead]

been done that,,
can you git some about the size of fire wood,,if so split into kindling wood size..
leave this where its hot but has air circulation.(like under tin roofing.)it will dry in short order.
then toast/char ,id do this outside in bar BQ /fire pit or similar.

[vance71975]

been done that,,
can you git some about the size of fire wood,,if so split into kindling wood size..
leave this where its hot but has air circulation.(like under tin roofing.)it will dry in short order.
then toast/char ,id do this outside in bar BQ /fire pit or similar.

Cool Cool that i may be able to do!

[frozenthunderbolt]

if you can split the heart out of of some of the branches that might work - look up seasoning wood in a microwave on google - i've do this on wood turning projects- boils the sap out the same as if it had been seasoning for a couple of years, particularly on smaller pieces of wood.
Just be careful to put your micro on it's lowest setting and keep a close eye on it so you dont run the risk of burning the wood.
Open the door periodically to release the steam.
Once well dry you could take a run at toasting it.

[vance71975]

if you can split the heart out of of some of the branches that might work - look up seasoning wood in a microwave on google - i've do this on wood turning projects- boils the sap out the same as if it had been seasoning for a couple of years, particularly on smaller pieces of wood.
Just be careful to put your micro on it's lowest setting and keep a close eye on it so you dont run the risk of burning the wood.
Open the door periodically to release the steam.
Once well dry you could take a run at toasting it.

Thanks ill give that a try!

[Washashore]

theses might help:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6890

http://distillapedia.org/index.php?titl ... ng_whiskey" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us& ... 24&bih=672" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Thanks for the links, tho none of them really answer my question lol

This was on page 2 of the last link. I'm surprised you read through those links and didn't find it.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =7&t=18979

[vance71975]

theses might help:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6890

http://distillapedia.org/index.php?titl ... ng_whiskey" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us& ... 24&bih=672" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Thanks for the links, tho none of them really answer my question lol

This was on page 2 of the last link. I'm surprised you read through those links and didn't find it.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =7&t=18979

Wow i totally missed that one! dang

[rad14701]

Ok again as stated above, i do not have 30 bucks. I do not have 3 bucks. I am BROKE and I have to use what i can get for FREE. I am sorry if i sound like a jerk here, but i have said more than once, i have no money and people keep suggesting things that cost 20 or 30 bucks. I managed to Scrape together 5 from what a friend owed me to get cracked corn and brown sugar so i can do an actual un-hopped mash instead of just distilling the beer i had on hand in kegs. So i am right back to BROKE. When i say broke, i mean just that broke, as in less than 1 dollar to my name, to be exact i have .25 cents, and i have no job due to health problems so please if you are gonna suggest an option that will cost 20 or 30 bucks don't, i simply do not have the money. What i do have is access to 2 live white oak trees that i can cut branches from but can not cut down, that is what i have to work with. Like i said, i don't mean to sound like an asshole but i have been clear more than once i have no money.

From a realistic standpoint, if you are that destitute then perhaps you need to rethink your priorities... Your efforts might be better spent on activities other than drinking... Just as we expect people to practice this hobby responsibly we also expect them to not jeopardize their families economic stability, or lack thereof, in their quest for inexpensive alcohol... And while we have had members step up and make contributions to fellow members going through tough times I would hope that they have first taken into consideration whether they are helping or hindering the big picture... I'd hate to think that their contributing was helping to keep the recipient too drunk to financially support their family...

If I was that poor, and I have been there and close to there more than once, the last thing on my mind would be making my own booze...

[vance71975]

Ok again as stated above, i do not have 30 bucks. I do not have 3 bucks. I am BROKE and I have to use what i can get for FREE. I am sorry if i sound like a jerk here, but i have said more than once, i have no money and people keep suggesting things that cost 20 or 30 bucks. I managed to Scrape together 5 from what a friend owed me to get cracked corn and brown sugar so i can do an actual un-hopped mash instead of just distilling the beer i had on hand in kegs. So i am right back to BROKE. When i say broke, i mean just that broke, as in less than 1 dollar to my name, to be exact i have .25 cents, and i have no job due to health problems so please if you are gonna suggest an option that will cost 20 or 30 bucks don't, i simply do not have the money. What i do have is access to 2 live white oak trees that i can cut branches from but can not cut down, that is what i have to work with. Like i said, i don't mean to sound like an asshole but i have been clear more than once i have no money.

From a realistic standpoint, if you are that destitute then perhaps you need to rethink your priorities... Your efforts might be better spent on activities other than drinking... Just as we expect people to practice this hobby responsibly we also expect them to not jeopardize their families economic stability, or lack thereof, in their quest for inexpensive alcohol... And while we have had members step up and make contributions to fellow members going through tough times I would hope that they have first taken into consideration whether they are helping or hindering the big picture... I'd hate to think that their contributing was helping to keep the recipient too drunk to financially support their family...

If I was that poor, and I have been there and close to there more than once, the last thing on my mind would be making my own booze...

Well, when i say i am poor and broke, its because the money i do get is spent on feeding my kids and their care first, so no worries man i do take care of whats important FIRST. All of what i have distilled thus far has been beer i had in kegs or old wine i already had.

[vance71975]

Well the Sticks Worked just fine. It actually tastes like whiskey now. I cut them green, peeled off the bark, dried them in the oven for 4 hours at 250 then toasted them at 375 for 4 hours, I then took some and quick charred them over my propane burner. The end product after only a couple days taste Like cheap Whiskey, now granted it don't taste like no high dollar single malt, but it is quite drinkable and would work fine for a "jack and coke" style drink. Now to Refine the Process.

[thecroweater]

Hi ya Vance listen if ya want to save money walking through the forest that's great and can be done , drinking it now . listen I select as close t heart wood and simply burn it a bit with a butane torch (would be concerned using wood other then oak maybe chestnut to do it otherwise) . I heat the ethanol (normally rum in my case) to say 40'cent. and add the oak straight away , smoldering not burning . I find it imparts a flavor that would other wise take some time in 2 weeks you'd like it had been down for months just my experiences anyway

[vance71975]

Hi ya Vance listen if ya want to save money walking through the forest that's great and can be done , drinking it now . listen I select as close t heart wood and simply burn it a bit with a butane torch (would be concerned using wood other then oak maybe chestnut to do it otherwise) . I heat the ethanol (normally rum in my case) to say 40'cent. and add the oak straight away , smoldering not burning . I find it imparts a flavor that would other wise take some time in 2 weeks you'd like it had been down for months just my experiences anyway

Awesome thanks for the tip!

[thecroweater]

cause I'm assuming you can identify quircus

[vance71975]

cause I'm assuming you can identify quircus

Yup i can tell the different woods apart and know what to look for as far as White Oak goes. I am also planning on Drying,toasting and charring some Mulberry and Some Grape Vine to try as well, I was once told, that if you can use it to Smoke Food, you can use it to Age Booze, tho you may not like the flavor from some of them, Like Mesquite for example. But Aging on Mesquite Chips would make a Nice Base for a Meat Marinade.

[Washashore]

Yes, definitely select heart wood if you have the opportunity. I've read, from various sources, to leave it exposed out in the elements. The rain, UV, etc... help remove the nasties (tannins, etc..) before charring and aging. Just allow adequate airflow between logs (or sticks) to prohibit rot.

[thecroweater]

yup oak is used because it imparts a nice flavor when alcohol is stored in it combined with the fact that it is non porous enough not to loose to much (see angles share) however there are some other timbers that can impart nice flavor but are to porous for long term storage . The trick is not to use something poisonous , Chestnut is ok and I've heard of ppl using santalum (sandlewood family) in spiced type drinks (think vermouth) and a large variety of fruit woods but I'd do a fair amount of research before going to far down that path