Charred Oak Chips

[Selby]

I've been looking at the prices some members are paying for oak chips. Here in Oz. I bought a plank of American White Oak for Aus. $20.00 from an exotic timber ( that's Lumber to our American pals) yard & got to work with my power planer & toasted the shavings outside in a wok. I,ve got the makings of a lifetime. Cheers, Selby.

[Hawke]

Sticks are much better than chips.
Cut your board into 1/2 to 3/4" square sticks about 6 inches long.
Wrap them in foil and toast in the oven at 400*F for 2 hours. adjust time to suit the level of toasting you want.

[Husker]

Sticks are much better than chips.
Cut your board into 1/2 to 3/4" square sticks about 6 inches long.
Wrap them in foil and toast in the oven at 400*F for 2 hours. adjust time to suit the level of toasting you want.

I really like the pattern shown on this thread for sticks:

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

I now cut up my used barrel wood to this pattern. Makes for a darn good and quick stick aging material.

H.

[Selby]

I originally thought of using splits or sticks, but since I can only wait 3 months max. Ithought heavy shavings would do the job quicker & be easier to make. I Toast them in a wok, & when smoking, set them afire with a blowtorch to the right color then damp it with the lid till cool.
Shake the dust out & use. But now I believe this is not the best treatment healthwise.(can't be worse than some barbeques though) & will rinse next lot. Don't know if these will be as effective. -- Watch this space!
I age in large jars with a tight, non airtight lid to allow breathing & have had excellent results with no loss of alcohol & a pronounced vanilla aroma. Selby

[punkin]

I bought a box trailer full of new aged american oak for a pineapple...

[tracker0945]

I bought a box trailer full of new aged american oak for a pineapple...

But then you always have been far too free with your money.


Cheers.

[blanikdog]

I'm going to try for a boot full from a Coopers at Rutherglen. You may require a trailer load, but I certainly won't.

The oak sticks are working well, Punkin. I'm back into trying toasted oak again, not burn't like I was using.

[Selby]

Do you guys wash your charred sticks before use, or would this de nature their effect? Selby.

[punkin]

Do you guys wash your charred sticks before use, or would this de nature their effect? Selby.

I always put a sliver in the bottle when bottling, Selby.
This does two things for me, it gives me the (probably false) idea that it'll keep aging a tiny bit after it's bottled, and it makes the spirit distinctively mine.
I rinse this small piece under the tap to stop unsightly splinters from dropping off in the bottle.

As far as in the aging jugs, no i don't bother rinsing the sticks, as it's always filtered when cut anyway, so any small bits of charcoal or wood get trapped out then. If you were really charring your sticks, then you might think about doing it to save some filtering, but it's up to you.

[tracker0945]

The Coopers down my way sell their off-cuts by the bag for kindling.
I believe about $5 per bag


Cheers

[Selby]

I was watching this guy from Jack Daniels on TV who said they washed the charcoal to remove carsinegins. Also as you know . activated charecoal has to be washed before filtering Vodka to prevent salts coming out of suspension weeks later in the bottle. Selby

[punkin]

I was watching this guy from Jack Daniels on TV who said they washed the charcoal to remove carsinegins. Also as you know . activated charecoal has to be washed before filtering Vodka to prevent salts coming out of suspension weeks later in the bottle. Selby

Not many on here use either charcoal or carbon Selby.