wood fire in BSKD or Bandera?

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lth80

Newbie
Original poster
Jun 24, 2011
15
10
I'm just wondering if anyone uses just wood for their fire in the Brinkmann Smoke King Deluxe or Bandera.

Would doing this help me get my temps up in the cook chamber, or will it be too hot for the unit?

Don't want to wreck the unit but so far haven't been able to get temps above 220, and only once I actually had it up that high.

Anyways, wood will have to be ordered in so I don't wanna take the step then doesn't work or warps the crap out of the firebox/grill.
 
I haven't burned wood for fuel myself, but I have heard of quite a few folks doing it with a side fire box. I think they start with a small bed of charcoal, then lay small splits on top of the charcoal to get the wood burning. Use a smaller hotter burning fire with wood to avoid excess smoke. Get the wood fire regulated and toss in your food.

If you have good intake air controls, temps should be easily manageable. If you're not able to get over 220* with charcoal, you may have an issue with the coal grate...not a large enough gap between the metal of the grate or not enough space underneathe will kill a fire after a few hours...it's gotta be able to breathe, and if the ashes are not dropping out away from the coal bed, it won't burn very hot for extended periods.

Eric
 
I built a charcoal basket and it's now a good 3 inches above the bottom.  I'm kinda lost as to why I can't get it hotter.  I just did the baffle mod so maybe my heat was just going straight up and out the vent.  I have some new charcoal I've been told burns hotter, Dragons Breath, so if that doesn't do it i'll try a wood fire.  

Thanks for the tips
 
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