Drying wood

[SmokeBRB1]

Hello everyone! I’m new to this forum and look forward to some excellent advice as I attempt to become a better backyard cook. Can anyone give me advice on using an electric smoker to dry or season smoking woods? It seems like a good idea, but I haven’t been able to find much info on the subject. Thanks in advance!

[Mark R]

Wattburner is too hot to "dry" wood.
Better off air/time drying. You can always buy a bag of chips if you're out.

[crusty ol salt]

Research kiln drying wood - When I cut mulberry trees I just stack the rounds. in 6 month I notice they have split and they are good and dry.

As far as seasoning wood? Not sure of what you are looking for or why.

If you are talking like Jack Daniels or Wine why waste good booze when you can buy the chips?

[Richtee]

Yeah, it’s not very efficient really. Rack it up off the ground And cover the top if ya can. Be ready in a month or two depending on size. Split is the fastest drying and easiest burning, obviously. Whole logs will take longer.

You can prolly rush it along, but will be surprised to find quite a bit of moisture in a charred green log.

[Richtee]

Oh...and welcome to Smoked-Meat

[SMOKE FREAK]

from Kansas

I don't think there is any good way to rush the seasoning of wood for the smoker. Trying to dry it in an "oven" environment will not give you the same results.

[SmokeBRB1]

Thanks for advice everyone! Definitely going to split and stack, and let it do it’s thing naturally.

[L20A]

I am a wood turner and I often dry a partially turned bowl in the microwave. It works very well. I have dried pellets, too, as here in FL the pellets can get fairly wet and they burn much better when dry so a few minutes in the micro and let it cool and repeat until dry enough for you. You can google it and find much info. I wouldn't bother with it for the smoker. Remember that cut trees will only dry through the end grain so block it up to allow for air flow over the ends. Gravity will also remove much water from wet wood. Stand a freshly cut log on end and a little later you should have a puddle of water under it. Sometimes when I am spinning green (wet) wood it will throw off a spray of water, getting everything nearby wet. Sorry for running on.

[Richtee]

i have seen that spray... messy and kinda dangerous. Coats up tools and glasses with a slippery paste.

[Richtee]

Now..I don’t know the destination for said wood splits, but for a stick burner, preheating the logs on the firebox assures a quick catch and clean start when adding splits to the fire...

What ya cooking on?

[Fishawn]

Yeah, it’s not very efficient really. Rack it up off the ground And cover the top if ya can. Be ready in a month or two depending on size. Split is the fastest drying and easiest burning, obviously. Whole logs will take longer.

You can prolly rush it along, but will be surprised to find quite a bit of moisture in a charred green log.

Don't rush it. Let it do its thang.

[DDave]

Former lumber dry kiln operator here. Dry kilns are know for moderate heat and LOTS of air flow. An electric smoker would have no where near the air flow nor capacity to be useful at all in drying smoking wood.

Best bet is air dried as already described.

Or build the dry kiln they describe at this site.
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestBusinesses/kiln.html

Plans are included.

[curious aardvark]

Actually if you're just going to burn it - then it doesn't matter how fast you dry it.

Wood for turning and woodworking needs to be seasoned slowly to minimise splits. But if you're just going to chunk it and burn it - then it makes absolutely no difference if it's split or not.

The easiest way is to build a 'kiln'. Buy a cheap plastic greenhouse, stand it in the sun, make sure it's got ventilation and stack your wood on the shelves. That will speed dry the wood.
https://www.amazon.com/Gardman-R687-...gateway&sr=8-4


Stick a couple chimneys in the top: plumbing pipe would work.
They'll act as a draw to increase air flow over the wood and remove moisture even quicker.

If you strip the bark - it'll dry quicker still :-)
that'll dry wood pretty damn quick :-)
And be cheaper than using an electric heater.