Cutting a branch off an oak tree.

[Boozehound]

O.K. I like to use stuff from my local area so I want to use some English Oak to age my shine. There are loads of trees so I'll cut a branch off one soon. Is there a minimum diameter I need to get to the good wood?

I understand the drying will take ages.

Also, are dead branches that have fallen off any use at all?

Cheers.

[ammo man]

From what I understand you want only heart wood.

Here is what I did. I went to my woods, and cut down a little white oak tree about 8 inches in diameter at the bottom. Then cut off 4 blocks about 18 to 20 inches long so I could handle them easily. At home I removed the sap wood which left heart wood from 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. This was what I wanted. I processed the heart wood so that I had little chunks about 1 X 1 1/2 inches (this is just an average. Not many larger, but some smaller).

Next I packed as many of these chunks into a Dole pineapple can with the top cut out as I could. Then covered the top with a couple or so layers of Al foil with a pencil size hole punched in it. This I laid down on the burner of my propane BBQer, and turned it on. After about 45 minutes, I turned the flame off and removed the wood. It had charcoal around in many places, but also had areas of charred wood. It did not matter that the wood was still "green". The heat dried it out nicely.

The above is an outline of my procedure. Of course, if you use my procedure, you will more than likely have to make modifications to fit you set up.

I don't know yet how this is going to work in "curing" the whiskey, but I am looking at about a gallon (in two half gallon jars) that has turned the prettiest whiskey color you would ever want to see after only two days.

Bert

[MuleKicker]

+1 ammoman.

[Tater]

I cut mine almost same way (heart wood) Difference being once Ive got mine cut into 1 1./2 x11/2 in strips usually 10 to12 in long I air dry only takes short time in hot weather.Then char.