The power of ash....

[timstalltaletav]

What difference knocking a bit of ash off the coals can make. Cooking my overnight brisket at a stable 234° since about 9:00pm. Thought I'd knock the ash off before I get another beer. Just tapped the bottom of the WSM with my foot two times. Temp went from 234 to 255° in 2 minutes.

I have it settled back into 240° but I thought that was pretty wild.

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Interesting tjs ! Sounds like the ash maybe works as a insulator ! Makes sense I think.... :biggrin:

 

[welshrarebit]

Ash build up chokes off oxygen to the heat source. By removing the ash your charcoal/lump was getting more oxygen and burned hotter.

 

[noboundaries]

Charcoal, especially briquettes, burn from the outside in.  The ash definitely works as an air insulator.  Knock it off, new outside exposed to the air!

 

[addertooth]

I have often thought about building a "knocker" for a small smoker to keep the coals ash free.  An electric solenoid which taps a plate on the side of the smoker a few times every 20 minutes.  (Honey, is someone at the door again? I am getting tired of these kids knocking and running away when you are smoking).

 

[damon555]

Before I got my BBQ guru my WSM got a couple of light kicks every 3 or 4 hours. Using the guru burns the charcoal down to nothing without any outside help.

 

[noboundaries]

 
Before I got my BBQ guru my WSM got a couple of light kicks every 3 or 4 hours. Using the guru burns the charcoal down to nothing without any outside help.

Amen Brother!