British BBQ Society Forums

A friend of mine works for the local council in Leicester cutting down trees. I have given him a list of woods we could use and he has offered to get me some wood chunks/chips/sawdust. So I'm asking if there is anything I have to do to the wood i.e get a special heater, or let it dry out naturally?

buy one of those pneumatic wood splitters, it'll save you a lot of work.....seen them advertised cheap in lidls a while back

I think he's going to get me a mixture of wood chunks and chips. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the heads up on the WDOs. That wouldn't have even entered my head

What is best to use if I see anything in the wood?

I read that a kiln dried log will burn for longer than one that is air-dried.

Can't afford a kiln so natural drying it is then lol

Not sure if it's of any help but last year I took down a cherry tree in the garden.

I cut it at just above ground level with a chainsaw, then (after jumping out of the way!) I put the tree on a couple of X members (saws / dollies?) and went to work with the hand saw to cut the tree into 6" logs...this is no fun!

The branches were also hand cut and then cut into small pieces which I just use to throw onto the fire.

The, now, 6" x 8" 'log rounds' were then chopped into chunks...with an axe...again, no fun!

After 11-12 months of these chunks being stored in the shed (on a towel with another towel covering) they burn really well...to the point where I soak them in some water beforehand so they smoulder rather than burn - but if I don't, then they do produce some great long lasting heat charcoal!

Thanks for that tip LM. The bloke that is works with trees and cutting down an apple tree for me, is going to turn it into wood chips for me, So it's just a case of me getting them dried out. Looks like I've got to make room in my shed Don't know how it's all going to fit in?????????????????

I bought a bag of properly seasoned oak from a sawmill for £3 for a 25kg bag. I've also got a cheap (£19 B&Q) circular bench saw mounted in my garage. Put the two together and you've got a cheap supply of oak chunks or dust. I don't bother with chips as I prefer chunks which give a much longer smoulder. The dust I will use for cold smoking.

The wife won't let me have a chainsaw. Doesn't trust me lol.