Splits?

porkorama

Newbie

Original poster

Jun 17, 2010

7

10

• Jun 17, 2010

• #1

Hey all-

I'm just starting out...first run a couple weeks back w/ maple and spareribs, turned out great...this is probably a dumb question but Jeff says that he uses splits to maintain consistent temp. for about 45 minutes, is a split 1/4 of a log, or smaller?

Thanks, Tony D.

 

Dutch

Smoking Guru

Staff member

Administrator

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

OTBS Admin

Group Lead

Jul 7, 2005

7,135

498

Midvale, UT

• Jun 17, 2010

• #2

Tony, it really depends on the size of the log. On my logs that measures 3-4 inches accross, I'll just split them in half. Anything up to 10-12 inches will get split into fourths while the much larger stuff will get split into fourths and those splits will then be split in half though the cross section.

 

• 

Reactions: porkorama

pineywoods

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Staff member

Administrator

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

OTBS Admin

Group Lead

Mar 22, 2008

28,847

3,934

Florida

• Jun 17, 2010

• #3

I try to make my splits a fairly consistent size which means some logs get quartered and some get split more than that. Since I share wood with a few friends I cut the logs about 14-15" then split them into about 3-4" thick splits. My firebox is 24" and the shorter splits still work fine.

 

• 

Reactions: porkorama

TulsaJeff

Smoke Whisperer

Staff member

Administrator

OTBS Member

Jun 28, 2005

5,436

934

Tulsa, OK

• Jun 17, 2010

• #4

Here are the splits that I used sitting next to a regulation size football for reference..

And.. a side view to show you the thickness

 

danielh

Meat Mopper

Mar 2, 2010

150

10

O'boro, KY

• Jun 17, 2010

• #5

I probably do way more splitting than i need to, but mine look about like jeff's.  maybe a little longer though.  I will split a 6-8" log into at least 1/8ths if not smaller than that.  At least in my head it seems to not only burn cleaner, but i swear it seems like i get more mileage out of my wood.  Probably not...  But if i believe it, it has to be true :D

 

Last edited: Jun 17, 2010

smoke 2 geaux

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 18, 2010

419

18

Denham Springs La.

• Jun 17, 2010

• #6

Good info.  I noticed that you don't have any bark on your splits.  I have been using Pecan that I left the bark on and I am getting some thick white smoke until it burns off.  Do you somehow de-bark your wood, or do you just save the interior pieces with no bark and use the outside pieces in the fireplace? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

TulsaJeff

Smoke Whisperer

Staff member

Administrator

OTBS Member

Jun 28, 2005

5,436

934

Tulsa, OK

• Jun 17, 2010

• #7

I generally don't worry about the bark unless it wants to come off.. if it is loose I'll go ahead and pull it off but otherwise, it gets a sniff test and a visual and it's good to go. If it smells moldy or I see fungus, bugs or something funky, it goes in the bin for fireplace wood.

The cherry pictured here was already split and de-barked when I got it so I'm not complaining

 

oldschoolbbq

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Jul 16, 2008

9,359

205

NW Ohio - outside Toledo

• Sep 10, 2010

• #8

http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/...ion=view&current=DanasWedding-04.jpg&newest=1     Here's a shot of my splits;'FLO' likes small, short sticks placed right in front of her nose(intake).

I start like this -http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/...action=view&current=Picture119-1.jpg&newest=1    and end up like this   http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/.../?action=view&current=Picture124.jpg&newest=1

A good way to learn your placement and size of fire in your SFB is to get a 6-pak and play with it...just sayin'

Hope this helps and,