Hey all, Hickory is not an easily found commodity down here in the bottom of hell, But I've been bugging my buddy who's a tree guy to drop me off a load of Hickory for smoking. So, yesterday he drops me off this load and you can definitely smell it's Hickory but is it Pignut or Bitternut? I really don't believe it's shagbark, it's not the bark, I've came across before. Thoughts folks? Thanks for the help.
Looks like pignut. Shag is unmistakable and bitternut has smoother bark Whatever variety it burns hot as Hell! Nice even lengths too. Are you paying him extra for that or specify? Another variety called mockernut that im not familiar with.
Na, this is all Free stuff! I've done some welding for him over the years, (never charged him) and were high school buddies. I don't even know if we have Mockernut down here. Hickories are sooooooooo far and few between here. I spent the morning splitting it up, maybe the pics help! Either way, I'm so happy to get some Hickory for smoking! Buying the bag stuff sucks. Bella like's it also!
That's a lot of hickory, is that all for smoking? The only downside to hickory, the powder post beetles will make a mess. If possible, I would stack it where you don't mind the sawdust from them. On the upside they help it season faster. Love hickory!
I'll put about 1/4 cord aside for smoking. I asked my friend for a small load and thats what I got. Not gonna be picky when it comes to Hickory. I was tickled to even get some.
I have about 5 cord of bitternut hickory cut and stacked. Was wondering what that critter was that was producing saw dust and boring rings around the outer diameter.
Yep, I agree with pignut. And although I prefer to throw some chunks of shag in the smoker, pignut heartwood should do fine. Whether you split out the heartwood or not, definitely debark.
Yes, I do remove the bark. Some folks say it's not needed but I've noticed a slightly bitter taste if it's left on. I do that on all the wood I use for smoking.
I have a Weber Smokey Mountain bullet smoker. I use charcoal and just a few chunks of thumb- sized smoke wood. What kind of smoker do you have, WeldrDave?
I have a "cheapie" for now, one from Tractor Supply. I took my big old #5 smoker to the gun club because the bottom was falling/rotted out of it so we use it to just grill hotdogs and burgers. It draws way too much air now, I retired it a couple years ago if you remember, it got bad. I'm gonna build one as soon as I acquire an Old 250gal Propane tank. They are much thicker and I'll attach a Fisher wood stove to it
I wasn't sure but the conscience is leaning that way. I've only seen maybe a dozen Hickories over the years but not enough to Identify them well enough, just seeing the fruit they drop was the only way (I) knew they were Hickory.
That's a really nice score. It looks just like some we just had. We didn't have any for years, then scored a good bit a couple years ago. Then more came in. When it dries some, the bark usually comes off easy.
