Wood Identification Please....

[dsgarner06]

Here's a link on a pretty good explanation of wood uses for smoking with some decent pictures.

http://virtualweberbullet.com/woods.html

[Bearcarver]

From the looks of the logs in pic #2 I would say that is mesquite wood due to the red center and the logs are smooth due to being old... Looks like the one log ontop has had some beetle damage under the bark.. Best way to tell is to knock off a small chunk of the bark and burn it.. If it smells like rat piss you have mesquite..

The others to me look like Oak of some type, could be post oak.. But pics of the bark are important..

Holy Chit---Now I'm really glad I never used Mesquite!!!


Bear

[Texas-Hunter]

Holy Chit---Now I'm really glad I never used Mesquite!!!


Bear

Seriously.. When you start to burn mesquite it smells like rodent urine.. Now if you never smelt that then you may say WTF is that I smell..

[Richtee]

Seriously.. When you start to burn mesquite it smells like rodent urine.. Now if you never smelt that then you may say WTF is that I smell..

Why, mesquite of course! Ugh..I can't take the stuff either. It might make a good coal bed- MAYBE... but NOT a wood for smoking with IMO.

[cliffcarter]

That second pict ain't oak. Errr, not like I ever seen anyway. Possible the last two are aged oak.

I think aged is the operative word here, that wood has been off the stump a very long time.

[Mark R]

Seriously.. When you start to burn mesquite it smells like rodent urine.. Now if you never smelt that then you may say WTF is that I smell..

So, TH - exactly how do you know what "rodent urine" smells like? Other than burning mesquite.....on second though, I really don't need to know!

[SMOKE FREAK]

I think aged is the operative word here, that wood has been off the stump a very long time.

My thoughts exactly...You want yer wood to be well seasoned but when its too old it loses its flavor and burns up to fast...

Mesquite is good when its burning...When it smolders it is a very strong smoke...I aint never smelled no rat piss though

[Bearcarver]

Seriously.. When you start to burn mesquite it smells like rodent urine.. Now if you never smelt that then you may say WTF is that I smell..

Why, mesquite of course! Ugh..I can't take the stuff either. It might make a good coal bed- MAYBE... but NOT a wood for smoking with IMO.

So, TH - exactly how do you know what "rodent urine" smells like? Other than burning mesquite.....on second though, I really don't need to know!

I know what it smells like, because when I was in my 20s & 30s, there was a huge dump near my parents house, and whenever the guys there were going to do a lot of Dozer work, they would call me & a bunch of my buddies. Then we would all go over & get in position, with shotguns & 22s. They'd bust open huge cities full of rats. I'll never forget that smell, but after a few minutes the smell of gun powder covered it pretty well. I had to wear a glove on my left hand, because the barrel on my single shot 20 GA got too hot to touch.
I never had any Mesquite Wood, but I have some AMNS Mesquite Fuel in my smoking cabinet that I've been ignoring for about 2 years. Now I may never try it.


Bear

[Texas-Hunter]

So, TH - exactly how do you know what "rodent urine" smells like? Other than burning mesquite.....on second though, I really don't need to know!

Well, I was the unfortunate sole that had a family of rats living in one of my hunting trailers years ago when I hunted West Texas.. Since it was a 350 mile trip one way to the property I did not frequent it that often.. Sooooo when I did show up one weekend I had unwanted house guests.. The clean up was unreal.. I should have just torched the whole damn thing..

My thoughts exactly...You want yer wood to be well seasoned but when its too old it loses its flavor and burns up to fast...

Mesquite is good when its burning...When it smolders it is a very strong smoke...I aint never smelled no rat piss though

I agree Craig, great to grill over and I use it to smoked my jalapeno peppers when I make Chipotle.. No other wood gives the peppers a better flavor IMO..

[Mark R]

I agree Craig, great to grill over and I use it to smoked my jalapeno peppers when I make Chipotle.. No other wood gives the peppers a better flavor IMO..

Now that is useful info!