Lowes has hickory and mesquite, but its kind of expensive. where do you all get other kinds? i hope you don't say "my neighbor".

 

You should not have to pay a nickel for wood to smoke food.
If you check the links below you can find a wood that grows near you and use that.
I have willows growing behind my place and can cut some anytime except the smoke tends to be a bit harsh for some foods.
I have found that depending on how you place the wood to smoulder it really doesn't take a lot.

Link 1
Link 2

What kind of smoking set up do you use?

 

right now its just a Chargriller Super Pro
http://www.chargriller.com/shop/grills/super-pro.html

I'm hoping to add the side firebox this summer.

 

well, i live in a suburb, and i dont think my neighbors would appreciate it if i started hacking on their trees.

 

That is similar to what I am using.
I had been using charcoal on the left side as a heat source but recently started using an electric hot plate.
I was making "wood packets" by wrapping damp hardwood shavings in aluminum foil and poking holes in it.
I can't seem to get as intense smoke this way as when I was using charcoal.

I'll keep experimenting I guess.



As far as being in the city goes maybe gathering wood in the country would be a reason to commune with nature.
I'm not sure what your rig uses as a heat source but if you wrap your wood shavings in foil it makes them last longer.

 

I like the fruit woods for smoking so when I lived in the city, I looked up orchards in the phone book. Called a couple and they were happy to give me the limbs they trimmed off their trees. Cherry and apple are favorites. I have even used the sawdust from cutting the limbs to small sizes. I just put them in a pie tin and moistened them. I also use "real" fruit juices mixed with water in my water pan. The natural sugars coat and seal the flavors in. Good luck.

 

I collect up the trimmings off of neighbors apple, pear, cherry, peach, apricot, etc. trees.. they prune every year and have to get rid of them somewhere.. cut them up and store them in those plastic garbage cans with lids.. alder is a great smoker too.. and easy to find down.. oh, and one of my favorites is plum.. it gives chicken, fish, and pork a terrific smoke flavor.. I usually cut these in rounds, like silver dollars, then if they've dried before I use it, soak it for a bit and throw it on the coals.. and use the fruit tree twigs too, they smoke just as good..

 

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Yes, if you live in the city or the country, you can network, ask around and get bits of wood for free. You are asking for scraps, not cabinet or furniture grade boards.

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