ok so i finally got to getting my new smoker ready for action. I have it siliconed, the door toggle clamps, firebox and cook chamber gaskets and bbqsmokermods baffle plate kit. I see they sell an exhaust extension to bring the stack down to the grates but they say don't use if you have a baffle plate installed you don't need them.
Do you all find that to be true? You don't want to extend the stack down to grates with a baffle?
Also i have a face cord of hickory. do i really need to go thru the hassle of chunking it downing small piece and building a mesh box for the firebox? Is it just going to be too hard to regulate temps or something running full pieces of split wood is that why everyone runs a box?