BobBrisket
Moderator
Plethora o' Pecan
A couple months back, a buddy and I cut this fallen pecan up and brought it home. As you can see, even some of the larger cuts on top of the rack are lighter in color. Even the smaller stuff is light in color. I've used pecan pretty much exclusively for many years because it's abundant here and most times, well, actually all the times I've gotten it.............FREE! Honestly, I don't care if the bark is on or off or about to fall off. I guess my taste buds aren't as sensitive, but I can't tell the difference if I used chunks from the larger stuff or from the smaller limbs.
Pecan also has lots of oil/sap in it during the spring and summer months and will "bleed" if you prune it during the growing season, much like mesquite. SO, the wood tends to be lighter when cut during the colder months when the oil/sap is not out in the wood itself, but more in the roots. During the growing season it's darker because the sap/oil has dispersed throughout the wood/tree itself. At least this is what I have heard, I'm no tree expert. What I do know, is that it's pecan. It's all good. Small stuff. Bigger stuff. Light, dark, even the shells are good for smoking, BUT not the pecan hulls. It's very susceptible to insects when it's alive, more so when it's dead. Wood beetles LOVE the stuff when it's dead and lay their eggs in the stuff. There is probably a thread somewhere in the forum that answers that question too. So, keep the wood away from the house. Those borer beetles are something else! I wouldn't worry about the color of the wood at all. Use it up and you will see. Good to see wood making people so happy!!:becky: Light, dark, thick, thin, long, short, hard (not so much the soft woods though).......wood is good!:thumb:
Preferred method for cutting: Loud chainsaw with a toothy chain OR my granddad's old hand saw. Splitting: Small hatchet with or without a hammer for help, depends on my mood and if I'm too lazy to go find the hammer. Or, I just use the large axe. I've even used a hammer and masonry chisel cause I was too lazy to go find the hatchet.
For ?'s about the pests, go here: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75317&highlight=beetles I'm not an expert on insects either! :becky:
More split stuff and color: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41893&highlight=pecan
I've even given others my wood, er pecan: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46815&highlight=pecan
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180340&highlight=pecan
A couple months back, a buddy and I cut this fallen pecan up and brought it home. As you can see, even some of the larger cuts on top of the rack are lighter in color. Even the smaller stuff is light in color. I've used pecan pretty much exclusively for many years because it's abundant here and most times, well, actually all the times I've gotten it.............FREE! Honestly, I don't care if the bark is on or off or about to fall off. I guess my taste buds aren't as sensitive, but I can't tell the difference if I used chunks from the larger stuff or from the smaller limbs.
Pecan also has lots of oil/sap in it during the spring and summer months and will "bleed" if you prune it during the growing season, much like mesquite. SO, the wood tends to be lighter when cut during the colder months when the oil/sap is not out in the wood itself, but more in the roots. During the growing season it's darker because the sap/oil has dispersed throughout the wood/tree itself. At least this is what I have heard, I'm no tree expert. What I do know, is that it's pecan. It's all good. Small stuff. Bigger stuff. Light, dark, even the shells are good for smoking, BUT not the pecan hulls. It's very susceptible to insects when it's alive, more so when it's dead. Wood beetles LOVE the stuff when it's dead and lay their eggs in the stuff. There is probably a thread somewhere in the forum that answers that question too. So, keep the wood away from the house. Those borer beetles are something else! I wouldn't worry about the color of the wood at all. Use it up and you will see. Good to see wood making people so happy!!:becky: Light, dark, thick, thin, long, short, hard (not so much the soft woods though).......wood is good!:thumb:
Preferred method for cutting: Loud chainsaw with a toothy chain OR my granddad's old hand saw. Splitting: Small hatchet with or without a hammer for help, depends on my mood and if I'm too lazy to go find the hammer. Or, I just use the large axe. I've even used a hammer and masonry chisel cause I was too lazy to go find the hatchet.
For ?'s about the pests, go here: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75317&highlight=beetles I'm not an expert on insects either! :becky:
More split stuff and color: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41893&highlight=pecan
I've even given others my wood, er pecan: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46815&highlight=pecan
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