Chopping wood in the city

[Uncle Al]

Well it is more like sawing and splitting wood in the city   The best deal I have found on wood for smoking is at my local Academy Sports.  They have these big 40-50 lb. bags of Oak, Pecan, Hickory and Mesquite for $15 each.  Apple and Cherry are double the price at $30.  The wood comes as mini logs about 12" in length, too big to be comfortable on the kettle.  So to make things right and since I live in the city I had to use power tools! 

Before we get started here is a message from Norm: There is no other more important safety rule......than to wear THESE... safety glasses...


Step 1:  Break out the bandsaw:


Step 2:  Slice mini log across the grain into 3 roughly 4" pieces:


Step 3:  Put down the power tools and dump chunks out on a hard concrete surface:


Step 4:  Get out the non power tools: hatchet + hammer:


Step 5:  Split chunks with the grain into smaller pieces by striking back of hatchet with hammer:


Result:  Kettle sized smoke wood, and lots of it.  Each bag produced enough wood to fill up two 5 gallon buckets:


Now I should be good on wood for the whole Summer 

[Swamp Yankee]

I'm lucky - living in the country with a yard full of hickory trees.