How to avoid small wood chunks

[SmokeyGator]

After buying several bags of what is labeled "wood chunks" I noticed something. You get a FEW good size chunks, and A LOT MORE crappy wood chunks that are small, burn fast, and do not smoke for very long. Some of the bag will even contain what I consider chips more than chunks!

So I have an easy three step method that has not only eliminated the problem, but allows ME to choose exactly what I get.

Step 1: Do not buy chunks. Buy a bag of log splits.



Step 2: Using a bandsaw (sold separately) cut the log splits into whatever size you want. Make em large! Make them smaller! Just use proper safety equipment and hold off on the adult beverages until after you are finished playing with the power saw.



Step 3: Fill your REAL wood chunks bucket with your bounty!



That is all there is to it.

[hoovarmin]

Good solution. Now to tell my wife that we need a band saw...

[Bogy]

SmokeyGator My sliding miter is a 12". If the splits were too long I'd just cut them in half.

[Dan Deter]

Bandsaw would be a lot safer for this than the mitre saw

[Allon]

After you convinced your wife, chat me up and give out your technique!

[Dan Deter]

That's kinda similar to my process:
1) cut down a tree
2) cut tree into rounds the length I want
3) split the round with splitting maul and kindling cracker

[SmokeyGator]

I lack the real estate to farm trees. And around here palms are popular, but they are softwood and are therefore USELESS. There are Florida Oaks, but they are not easy for me to source. We also have Buttonwood - but cutting that down means you are probably going to jail.

[Jfrosty27]

I just had that same aggravation with a bag of "chunks " last night. And you pay top dollar for them these days too! I have the band saw. But I have never seen a bag of splits like you show. If I find something like that, I will definitely go this route. Thx.

[SmokeyGator]

I get mine from Home Depot. They have hickory and mesquite. Free shipping (order 2 or more bags) or free delivery to the nearest store. You can even subscribe for a minimum of one bag per month, and it just shows up.

[Michael_in_TX]

Using a bandsaw (sold separately)

First it was batteries not included, now bandsaws not included? What is this world coming to....

This is a really snazzy idea. I hate how much wood i "waste" by buying chunks, as they are just these slivers of things. They best I've been able to do is save the scraps and use them for direct grilling applications in which the food cooks quickly.

[SmokeyGator]

It is a conspiracy. All garages SHOULD come with a bandsaw.

[Steve R.]

Yeah, the small pieces and hunks of bark are frustrating. I have enough hickory, cherry and oak growing in my backyard, I don't typically buy it. But I have used those Kingsford splits for stick burners in a pinch, and it's good stuff.

[Jfrosty27]

I just checked my local Home Depot and they have these splits in stock. Only 3 miles away so an easy trip. Thanks for the advice.

[hoovarmin]

How do you think this would do? https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-272...s%2C206&sr=8-8

[SmokeyGator]

Not really what you want. This is more for cutting pipe or conduit, and with woodworking they are more for precision cuts such as birdsmouth cuts (triangular notches cut out of wood, most often to create rafter slope) or maybe joinery like rabbets, dado, or bridle cuts. But a vertical bandsaw will give you more control. For log splits, a handheld anything is dangerous because it will be difficult to secure the odd shaped log for cutting.

[HotSun]

Step 2: Using a bandsaw (sold separately)

Bandsaw sold separately....you had me rollin'

[SmokeyGator]

You know you want one. Do not resist. Join the bandsaw side....

[HotSun]

SmokeyGator , my dad has a bandsaw, probably hasn't fired it up since the '80's. Seems like a trap to me. Seriously though, I know Harbor Freight has a mini-bandsaw that I've had my eyes on for a few years. I might get if I can sneak it in the house without the wife seeing, haha.

[leol2]

You would need to have the wood in a vise or some sort of clamping system because it takes 2 hands to use that saw. It is quite heavy and the blades are fragile so any kick could break it

[SmokeyGator]

Go slow. Make sure the blade is sharp. Also I have a 1/2 inch wide blade with a 6 tooth per inch raker blade. Next time I order blades I am going with the 3 TPM raker, which is for kiln dried wood, but the blade I have now works. Just do not rush it. And pass the log through with the largest flattest side on the table, to avoid binding the blade.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I just pickup all the limbs from the hickory, pecan, cherry and oak trees around and cut them down with my compound miter saw.

[Panhead John]

If you happen to live near an Academy Sports and Outdoors, they have these wood splits, as well as other smoking wood logs. That’s also where I buy my B & B charcoal. They have a great BBQ section in their stores…lots of cookers, accessories, rubs, BBQ sauce etc. They’re better than most Home Depot’s for BBQ stuff.

[SmokeyGator]

Nearest Academy to me is Central FL. Orlando, St. Pete, or Melbourne depending on if I am heading north up up the east coast, west coast, or center of the state. I do plan to get to the Orlando area sometime this fall or winter, I will certainly hit up the Kissimmee FL location for a few boxes before hitting the turnpike southbound. Right off Osceola Parkway, so I will drive past it twice!

[Hulagn1971]

I just bought a box of that a month ago at Academy to use on my parrilla grill. Good stuff!

[Attjack]

Personally, I just wait for a tree to fall in my yard. Or in some cases, I act proactively.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/psyJIBrch7E

[Attjack]

That's nuts that they made everyone cut down their citrus.

[SmokeyGator]

Attjack it was really bad. BILLIONS in citrus was on the line. There were reasons, but the execution was pretty ham handed. That said, I do not know what the alternative was - other than just let the canker wipe out whatever it was going to, or send botanists to every yard with citrus and inspect the trees for the disease.

[Attjack]

The last pic and the video I posted came to fruition because of a beetle that infects birch trees. Before mine came down some other birch trees on the block did too. The second pic was an apricot tree that had some sort of disease or pest that caused scaling on the fruit. The first pic was a cherry that had root rot and fell on its own. If you look closely you can see my outdoor kitchen just beyond its reach.

[texastweeter]

Lol, I start with standing dry timber at the farm.

[Bogy]

I'll have to check tomorrow what wood is in my woodrack at our vacation home. We've had to cut down some dead or dying trees, and we've saved some of it for the firepit. But maybe I need to cut up for smoking. Some of the stuff on the bottom is getting close to having been there for 3 years.