Local, mail order or industrial - Does it matter?

[agill99]

I did a quick search and didn't see a similar post, so...

Do you have an opinion about where to buy wood chucks? I've bought fruit wood from a local firewood supplier, but I have had to cut it down for chunks - I don't have an offset. The obvious other options are mail order (Fruita and Smokinlicious) or bags of Kinsford/Weber from the hardware store.

I generally burn apple or cherry, so it's not that exotic and was thinking as long as the wood it properly dried and stored it shouldn' t matter, should it?

What's your opinion? Thanks in advance.

[Spinaker]

I think mail order wood is a rip off if you live in an area that has hardwoods. (Like the Chicago area) If you are just using chunks, you should be able to find a company that sells firewood. Also, look around your area for orchards, many times they are removing trees in the spring, see if you can get trimmings, cut offs or whole trees that have been cut down. Apple trees are not very big and you can handle them fairly easily. Look at tree trimming companies too. You do not need huge logs. Just large branches that are a few inches thick. The are easy to cut to size and split up. Again, you are using chunks so you are not using this as your primary fuel source and you need very little for each cook.

If you need to cut them down to chunks, you have to do that yourself. That is part of the reason wood shops like fruita are expensive. They do that for you.

Of course storing it in a dry place is key, but that is pretty easy to do, as long as it is covered.

When it comes down to it........really it is all about how resourceful you wanna be. It is much easier to just order from Fruita. But you can pretty easily find and make your own wood chunks if you want too.

I used to look on Craigs list for wood people were giving away when a tree went down. FB market place is another spot to look. Again, it comes down to how much work you want to put in. For me, I cut all my own stuff all the time. A few logs from a cherry, oak or apple tree will make a lot of wood chunks for you to add to your fire.

[Sid P]

Kingsford and Weber work just fine. One of these .75 cubic foot bags from Home Depot will last a good long time if you’re not using them as fuel. What part of Chicago are you in?

[agill99]

Oak Park. I've bought lump charcoal and apple splits from A1 Country Firewood, but I've found that cutting the splits down is a pain.

[STEbbq]

If you can’t source local, and I agree the time investment in finding local supply is substantial, I’d use Smokalicious. I am very pleased with the quality as it is much better than the big box stores and already cut and prepped for me.

[Bkhuna]

Yup. I live in Florida and finding apple, cherry, etc., is a fruitless endeavor. That goodness for fruitawood, et.al.

[Santamarina]

I’m a fan of local. As Spinaker said, mail order is ridiculously expensive compared to what I can get locally. Shipping alone is more than what my local guy charges for a wheelbarrow of splits.

Thankfully, Fred the Wood Guy has about an acre of land just a few miles from my house that’s piled high with great quality wood. Always huge stacks of oak and almond, other fruit wood is available too.

Before I had a stickburner and just used chunks on my kettle I’d grab a bag from Home Depot and it did the trick.

[Huskee]

When I want to collect different chunks for experimentation I use FruitaWoodChunks. I love them. Their "U Pick'em" was always the best deal so if you go that route look that option up.

Yeah, it's expensive, if you have other options. If you're using chunks on charcoal though it lasts a long time. If you don't have other options, if you just can't get firewood near you or can't portion it down, then they're there for you and they charge what they charge, like buying a brisket flat at your local butcher. I've used them and they sell high quality chunks. I'd seek other options if you need actual firewood for a stick burner, unless money isn't an issue.

[barelfly]

I’ll second Smokinlicious. I’ve been a customer of theirs for 7 years. Their specific filet cuts fit my smoker perfectly. To me, I’ll pay that extra bit for that convenience.

I know there are some local sources near me, but they are not small chunks that I need, more so logs.

That’s just from a guy who has a smoker that uses small 2x3” chunks. If you have somewhere near you that has the type of wood you need, that would be great too!

[radiodome21]

This where I buy my firewood from. When we moved we opted for gas fireplaces so we don’t go there as much. I’ve never bought any wood for smoking from them though, but they sell to restaurants.

https://chicago-firewood.com

[Jfrosty27]

Find a woodworker and make them your new best friend. Or a local cabinet shop. They will have hardwood cut offs that they throw away. I am a woodworking hobbyist and have and endless supply.

example: I milled down a few cherry boards yesterday. The cutoffs will supply chunks for my bbq’ing for a long time.

[Finster]

I often get my chunks at a local orchard. They cater to all smoker types with chunks, splits, and logs.
if I had to guesstimate, it’s probably about 20% more expensive than the bags at Homies, but it supports a local business. A half bushel box of chunks is $22. Not sure how that compares to mail order, as I’ve never gone that route. I’ve heard all the talk of natural dried being better than kiln dried. I’ve used both and can’t say that I even notice a difference.
I’ve most recently been supplementing the orchard wood with some cherry that I got from a friend.
Hard to beat free wood.