A question for all the TBH BBQ experts

[culero]

I cook (grill/smoke) very often and use a variety of woods like live oak, mesquite, pecan and hickory. For ribs and brisket, I normally use mostly live oak. A friend has a bunch of white oak that I could have for free. Well, I would have to help him saw and split the huge tree that fell last week on his place but that's no problem.
Is white oak good for smoking good BBQ? What other oaks are suitable for 'que'ing?
Thanks for the input.

[sailor]

All free wood is good for bbq.

[culero]

lol, sailor!

[Great White]

White Oak is good I use it often.

Free makes it better enjoy the workout........

[williamrich10]

never used the stuff and i bbq as much as i can, i just use post oak for brisket

[CastAndBlast]

I'm not a fan of white oak, but for free....

You could always just use it to get your pit hot, then throw in the good stuff for the right smoke

[freak-nasty]

Any oak would suffice! If anything just build your fire outside of pit and shovel coals into firebox.

[TxHunter73]

White oak will work just fine...

[kevlarjohnson]

I find that all Oak pretty much tastes the same... it's the splittin' that's different... red oak is the easiest and pin oak is the toughest.

the other thing that's different is the amount of smoking time you get out of it due to different densities.... wood will only smoke as long as there's moisture in it... once it turns to coal all you get is heat.

never use "green" wood in a bbq pit trying to get more smoke... you WILL get more smoke and you WILL put a "bitter" taste in your pit you can't get out.- - Don't use mesquite to "season" the pit as you'll get the same effect - once seasoned, you can use it for flavor in moderation (I prefer mesquite for open fire steaks only)...

I like to build a bed of coals with oak lump charcoal and add a layer of oak and/or hickory to smoke the meat - then for the last couple of hours add Apple and/or Cherry chunks (the wood - not the fruit). Pecan works ok - but it's not my favorite. - any nut and or fruit wood will be good - the others - steer clear (if you can eat the thing that falls from it - it's probably good - And the more you like the thing that falls from it - the better it will taste to you.)

[simek]

OMG! Loren is alive!

[kevlarjohnson]

Who's Loren?

[BTLowry]

All free wood is good for bbq.

I got some pine you can have

[culero]

Yep, Simek, I'm still kicking! Now that I've made my 2 annual posts, it's time for me to go back to my hole. Thanks for the info, guys! I'll keep some of the white oak and use it for getting the pit hot if nothing else.

[Legdog]

charcoal to get it hot (or in this case white oak)

hickory or pecan for smoke

mesquite for grill

never green

I know, pretty redundant info but I so rarely get to post on a culero thread.

[Jaybo31]

Stay away from water oak. That stuff is horrible. I had alot years ago and even quit using it in the fire pit. It can be dried for 2 years and still smoke like you threw water on a fire.