An oak is an oak is an oak?

[hog warden]

No they are not.

So came into a little surplus cash a while back and planning on blowing some of it on a stick burner smoker. So been spending entirely too much time researching some of those guys, a lot of them coming out of Texas. The one thing all of them have in common is they are using post oak.

Well I'm in MO, so we don't have that here.

Edited.......I misspoke. Apparently MO does have post oak and it is statewide.

But we do have other oak and lots of it.

To name a few.......I have access to and can use white oak, red oak, shumard oak, pin oak shingle oak, burr oak, blackjack and chinkapin. As per MDC, MO has at least 21 different sub species of oak trees. So lots of choices.

Anybody outside of Texas have experience with any of these? Pin oak is far and away the most common......and aside from dropping acorns for wildlife, mostly useless for anything but to burn it. Shingle oak is not far behind and related to it's namesake, is really easy to split.

But again, anybody have a preference?

PS: Been absent for a few years. Nice to be back. Glad to see some familiar faces.

[hog warden]

And not to muddy the waters, also have at least 2 or 3 common species of hickory, and that is before you get into the pecans.

[gmotoman]

Me personally I would look for fruit woods. I've never liked oak as a smoke. Mizzoo is home to a ton of fruit trees including peach, and cherry which are two of my faves.

I also did a little research. I will link the company, they're in Macon. But look what they're selling. When it comes to oak it looks like they're using POST and WHITE. So if you're set on using oak those would be the types I'd chase.

But that said maybe call them and ask them their opinion on types of oak.

That's what I got. I am a chatterbox so take all this for what it is worth coming from a west coaster in Oregon.

https://www.chiggercreek.com/products.html

[hog warden]

Have not heard of the chigger creek guys but there are a few outfits like that selling to BBQ guys. Looks like they are geared to adding chunks to charcoal vs. fueling stick burners. I'm more of a have chainsaw(s) will travel kind of guy. One way to score some stuff locally if you didn't have access to timber yourself would be to talk to loggers. They are often on the hunt for white oak saw logs and will usually leave the tops where they fall. I once filled the back of a 20' straight bed grain truck with 5' sides from the top of only one massive white oak tree. Entire state is covered with oaks that can be cut for free. So question is which one's are preferred.

[gmotoman]

Have not heard of the chigger creek guys but there are a few outfits like that selling to BBQ guys. Looks like they are geared to adding chunks to charcoal vs. fueling stick burners. I'm more of a have chainsaw(s) will travel kind of guy. One way to score some stuff locally if you didn't have access to timber yourself would be to talk to loggers. They are often on the hunt for white oak saw logs and will usually leave the tops where they fall. I once filled the back of a 20' straight bed grain truck with 5' sides from the top of only one massive white oak tree. Entire state is covered with oaks that can be cut for free. So question is which one's are preferred.

Yeah OK I see where you're coming from now. Sorry I can't be more help.

[SMOKE FREAK]

I can get all the Pin Oak I want. And I don't want it.

If you have pecan nearby, that's what I would get.

[crusty ol salt]

I have read that post oak has a good temperature and flavor.

[SmokinLee]

I've been on a mission to score some post oak here in MI. Comes highly recommended by a former BBQ teammate outta Texas. It's lookin like you gonna have to take a trip buddy.