Using Oak moulding in cold smoker

[covehithe]

I'm buying my dust at present from various places and now I want to try making some of my own Oak dust.

I should say, I'm a picture framer, and get 5kg-10kg a week of small offcuts/slivers from the mitering machine. I only use Oak or Ash.
Question: can I use the oak in the smoker?
Best or easiest way to get it to dust of right size.
The supplier naturally will not tell me source of the wood so I don't know if its safe to use.

Any advice appreciated.

[grisell]

I don't know that much about oak, but after what I've heard, it must be matured for five years ( ) before using as a flavouring in a smoker because of its high content of tannins. But I'm not sure myself, just what I've read somewhere. I've often used oak when I was active in smoking, but that oak was dried and matured for decades. Delicious to fish anyway!

[grisell]

Welcome to the forum by the way!

[wheels]

Hi, and welcome.

If your oak is untreated and your machine hasn't put any oil or the like on it (as it would if chain-sawed) then I can't see why you shouldn't use it.

Phil

[covehithe]

Thanks for the welcome.
Have discovered from alternative supplier of the same mouldings that they have been "treated" - so I am going to give it a miss.

[Gill]

I'm curious - why would the oak need to be treated and what sort of treatment is applied? It seems rather strange to me. I use oak a lot in my woodwork and the only way in which it is treated is to be dried in a kiln.

[grisell]

I will try to find a reference. As I said, I'm not sure. Just remember that I read it somewhere.

[wnkt]

I was a picture framer for about 15 years or so and most picture frame moulding has been painted, stained or treated in some way and you wouldn't want to burn the wood that is going to be used around food. Lots of nasty chemicals.
There are some wood working shops that use untreated wood and stain or paint it themselves, that would be ok to use.

[wheels]

Grisell

The person who posted the original question said:

Thanks for the welcome.
Have discovered from alternative supplier of the same mouldings that they have been "treated" - so I am going to give it a miss.

So, what's the issue? To me, the question seems to have been answered.

Phil

[JollyJohn]

I brought back 8 bin liners full of oak dust/shavings, from my workshop in France. This is the sweepings after making four oak doors, the results of sawing and planing/thicknessing. I used to throw it over the parapet wall into the valley, but now that I'm smoking, I thought I'd bring it back.

The oak was bought from the local sawmill about five years ago, kiln dried and ready for "menuiserie", joinery to you and me. It comes as slices of tree trunk with the bark still on it, and has had no treatment other than drying.

Although its dried for joinery, I was really surprised how much moisture is still in the wood. When I tried the dust in the CSG, it wouldn't stay alight, also, in my air pump smoker, it was difficult to keep going, and produced a lot of moisture inside. However, after drying in the oven for half an hour, it works great, got enough to see me out!

[grisell]

Grisell

The person who posted the original question said:

Thanks for the welcome.
Have discovered from alternative supplier of the same mouldings that they have been "treated" - so I am going to give it a miss.

So, what's the issue? To me, the question seems to have been answered.

Phil

The issue is a misunderstandig by me. I confused 'treated' and 'matured'.

[wheels]

Not to worry - I just thought it odd.