I have a New Braunfels side firebox smoker that is similar to many of the side firebox setups most other have. I hear/read about almost everyone who uses mainly lump charcoal or briquettes and only uses small chunks of wood for moderate smoke flavor.
Since using my side firebox smoker I start out with 5 matchlight charcoal briquettes and stack my kindling on top of that and larger pieces of wood on top of those. I used to just use small splinters of wood I collected when I split the wood origianlly but those have been used up. I have a large stack of oak and a good stack of Orange wood that I use for cooking and have no desire to spend additional money on charcoal when wood is readily available. I think that I would rather have a few good size chunks of oak (and some orange for taste) burning in my box instead of charcoal.
Anyhow, I wouldn't call myself a purist by any means, but I don't think charcoal smoker is the best name for it. Maybe I'm just weird.
Anyone else out there agree with this or am I the only one?
Since using my side firebox smoker I start out with 5 matchlight charcoal briquettes and stack my kindling on top of that and larger pieces of wood on top of those. I used to just use small splinters of wood I collected when I split the wood origianlly but those have been used up. I have a large stack of oak and a good stack of Orange wood that I use for cooking and have no desire to spend additional money on charcoal when wood is readily available. I think that I would rather have a few good size chunks of oak (and some orange for taste) burning in my box instead of charcoal.
Anyhow, I wouldn't call myself a purist by any means, but I don't think charcoal smoker is the best name for it. Maybe I'm just weird.
Anyone else out there agree with this or am I the only one?