Tree ID and Seasoning time?

uncfan2457 · Posted: Jul 29 2010 Post subject: Tree ID and Seasoning time?

Tree #1

Tree #2

Tree #3

Tree #4 Sorry no bark pic

I am like tree illiterate when it comes to telling what kind of tree is what but a few of the trees that I posted have a fruit or nut growing along with the leaves. Tree #4 is has a small green nut or something growing with the leaves. Also on fruit woods what is the seasoning times on them?
Thanks in advance!

SoEzzy · Posted: Jul 29 2010 Post subject:

I'm pretty tree illiterate too, but I didn't know it cause I can't read and write!

On the seasoning part of the question, there are some rough guides, but it depends on how you stack and store it, how wet the wood was when you felled or bought it, and how dry you like it to be before you use it.

The rough guide is always "3 Seasons" for me, if you fell it in the Spring it should be useful by Winter, Summer by Spring, Fall by Summer, Winter by Fall.

If you have a moisture meter, you can measure and monitor the way it dries, you'll start out around 70% water, and you are better off if you can get it down to 23% or less before burning it. The wetter it is the more energy is used to dry it out to burn, so the less heat goes into the cooking chamber, but some folks go to the other extreme and burn green / greener wood, I don't recommend this for most smaller backyard pits, but experienced folks do it on some bigger commercial style pits.

If you don't know what you're doing you can get some nasty tasting food that way! Crying or Very sad

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uncfan2457 · Posted: Jul 29 2010 Post subject:

LOL Well Ezzy If I could read I could probably have figured out this tree ID site a friend gave me online. So I went with the next best thing, ask you guys! Thanks for the info that was a big help!

CliffC · Posted: Jul 29 2010 Post subject:

#1 looks like cherry to me.

patruns · Posted: Jul 30 2010 Post subject:

I was going to go with peach.....
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pyper · BBQ Fan Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 164 Location: S.C.

#1 is peach.

#2 kind of looks like walnut.

On seasoning, especially for the smaller pieces, I go by the appearance and the feel. When they split open and they feel light, then they're dry.

Around here if you stack it in a sunny, breezy place it will dry pretty quick in the summer.

VAsmoke · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 11 Location: Richmond VA

#3 is a sycamore

morick · Posted: Jul 30 2010 Post subject:

pic#3 lots of poison ivy on the ground Wink

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byrdzeye · Posted: Jul 30 2010 Post subject:

#1 cherry
#2 black walnut
#3 sycamore
#4 hackberry

pyper · BBQ Fan Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 164 Location: S.C.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, odds are in favor of peach and against cherry.

CliffC · Posted: Jul 30 2010 Post subject:

byrdzeye · Posted: Jul 31 2010 Post subject:

Heres a good desc and photo of peach leaves.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/fruits/peach3.htm
Also lighter green and thin. Here you can see light passing through a leaf.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Youngpeach3800ppx_Cropped.jpg
The tree pictured looks like thick, waxy leaves.

I don't think its a wild black cherry either but still a cherry.

pyper · BBQ Fan Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 164 Location: S.C.

uncfan2457 · Posted: Jul 31 2010 Post subject:

Thanks guys for the reply, I am leaning toward a Cherry for number one. The question is now, does it matter what kind of cherry it is to use for smoking? I am going to take another trip out this afternoon and try to get a few more pics.

CliffC · Posted: Jul 31 2010 Post subject:

pyper · BBQ Fan Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 164 Location: S.C.

You know, tree #1 looks a lot like a tree that I just cut up on my property. It's some kind of nasty cherry. It has half-inch cherry shaped fruits that are hollow and waxy and yellow. They're on the tree now. The wood was very light and sappy and I don't think it would be good for smoking.