Question about stick-burning

Docash said:

Ok, first sorry if this is in the wrong forum--

I just put a down payment on a new Lang 36 hybrid smoker/grill and have never tried stick-burning before so I have a couple of really basic questions.  First, I did read the Stickburning 101 section and that helped but I need a couple of more in-depth answers. 

I live in Southern Arizona where wood is not easy to come by, nor is it cheap.  I've found a couple of places where I can get dried wood (primarily mesquite and pecan) but due to the price, I want to make sure that I do this the right way.  From what I've researched, it doesn't appear that I am going to want to do my smoking with 100% mesquite due to it's strong, bitter smoke.  In my electric smoker I always used about 2/3 to 3/4 hickory + the remainder mesquite and got good flavor with that. Is oak inexpensive.  Use a mild flavor wood like oak and add a bit of hickory or mesquite.  Hickory is pretty strong also, oak not so much

First, I read somewhere that placing firebrick in the bottom of the firebox is a good way to conserve heat (and therefore use less wood).  Does anyone have experience doing this, or is it a waste of money?  Never tried but I heard the same thing,  the ash will help insulate the bottom of the firebox but the top of the firebox gets hot enough to fry eggs so you may lay some on top.

Secondly (and you Lang users feel free to chime in).  Does the firebox have a built in grate to allow the ashes to drop down?  It appears from some of his videos it does.  Going back to question #1, if there is a grate is there enough clearance to allow the firebrick underneath it, or does that cause air circulation problems with your fire? the firegrate is removable, I wouldn't place firebrick under it to allow for air circulation.  Like I said previously a good layer of ash will act as the insulator

Third (and this is the biggest question I actually had), how many of you are using wood chunks to start your fire versus splits? I can get chunks of wood relatively cheaply if that's what I need to start my fire--but if it makes more sense just to go out and get more splits I would save more if I just bought it all at once.  This is why I mentioned the mesquite before--would it make more sense to just buy some mesquite chunks and throw them in periodically, or even start the coal bed with mesquite chunks and then add in the pecan splits?  Mesquite and hickory are flavoring.  I use charcoal to get the fire started then put in splits.  I have plenty of free pecan so that is what I use but find a decent source for firewood in the area and use that for the fire, the mesquite and pecan as flavor.

Finally, for anyone that owns a Lang 36--his website says the firebox is 17"x17".  What is the size of split you use?  I've read about the diameter of a beer can is a good reference, but what about length.  The place I can get the firewood has it in 18-22" lengths--is that too large to fit (diagonally) in the firebox.  I can get it special cut down for an additional fee, but it's pretty pricey to do that (about $50 extra).  Any ideas on how long I should have it cut (if I need to)?   thats a tough one,  the diagonal thing will be a pain in the neck   I use small splits about the size of a beer can as you mentioned because I can control the fire the way I want to.  Can you just buy large pieces from the guy for a lower price and then cut to the length you need.  I have visited Arizona many times but I couldn't tell you about the wood sources.  It may be worth a trip to find a source of oak, rent a trailer and chain saw then spend the weekend cutting,  oh yea, then you'll have to split it.  Welcome to the world of wood burners.

Oak burns nice and hot so it is a good heat source

Hope this helps

Thanks for your help.

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