Hard woods for making mash paddles.

[msa8967]

Recently I found some pieces of cherry, white oak, red oak, walnut and maple left over from when I made furniture. Which of these wood should I use for making mash paddles and which should I not use? I know maple is great and soft woods are not good but I am unsure of the rest of these types of wood.

Thanks

 

[BowAholic]

The hard maple like flooring works best, but I would guess the dense cherry would as well. Oaks may be a little porous...and pecan might work since it's basically a hickory.

 

[SeeMont]

I like closed grain wood, maple and cherry. But I think any of these woods would work. They are used pre boil so any nasty stuff should be killed. I read someplace that the old brewers paddles would add some distinctive individual qualities to their beer. Good Luck.

 

[Culinarytracker]

As a chef, I can say that maple has characteristics that are well suited to this task. So much that wood cutting boards have to be made from a hard maple.

Something to do with it's porosity and how it's one of the only woods that can be reliably sanitized.

Edit: Same goes for butcher block countertops

 

[madscientist451]

Of the woods listed, I'd use in this order: 1. Maple 2. Cherry 3. Walnut.4 White Oak, 5. Red Oak.

 

[EuBrew]

I'd stay away from the red oak and walnut. I have a slight allergy to walnut and I know when I used to sell woodworking machinery customers would sell or give their shavings to horse and cattle ranchers and they won't take walnut because of toxicity issues. Red oak is too pourous. White oak has great resistance to elements so I'd be fine using that. Cherry is plenty dense as well. Of the species you have maple would be my first choice followed by maple and white oak.

 

[beergolf]

Maple is the best. Cherry second

Definitely stay away from walnut.

 

[msa8967]

I am going to use the maple, cherry and some of the white oak. Thanks for the advice everyone.