Baby backs 1st time. Meh....

[ReelFaster]

My wood is not consistent in size. Chunks and some splits. Tried to use splits mostly, two parallel either side of coal bed and one across the two parallel ones. Tried them at a 45 degree to the air flow and seemed to smother the fire. Everything was wide open stack and butterfly vent.

This will make it challenging to say the least. You want fairly consistent sized splits which will really help with fire management. I was never a fan of chunks for my OKJ, rather long splits in the give or take 10" range. It's all a learning curve especially with a new offset. You will learn what it likes and what adjustments are needed over time. It's a labor of love, therapeutic for me personally and FM is can be an art form of itself. Welcome to world of stick burning.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Welcome to SMF
Lots of good info above and I will agree that the biggest thing is figuring out what size chunks or splits you need to run. You might be surprised how little you will get away with once your coal bed is established. My buddy has a large trailer setup built out of an old gas barrel that was probably a 250gal tank and the size of coal bed and the size of split he found that works best for him is much smaller than most would guess and he feeds it about every 30min and he can run it easily is some pretty chilly temps up here in ND during winter. He is mostly running oak that he gets from our farm that we cut and split, he has a moisture tester but not sure what he aims for. Me I just basically send it as long as it doesn't feel wet to the touch
Also I highly agree with preheating your next pieces that will go on the fire by setting on fire box, top of cook chamber or inside cook chamber, basically anything that works.
Air flow management I would say leave exhaust wide open and adjust at the door any way you can. Just remember that air flow changes take a little time to level out so making adjustments every 5min leaves you chasing your tail.

 

[Bill'nCrosbyTX]

I have to admire y'all with your stick burners. I wish I had started on one years ago when I got my first pellet smoker. Those ribs look good though.

 

[Nofries]

I have to admire y'all with your stick burners. I wish I had started on one years ago when I got my first pellet smoker. Those ribs look good though.

Never too late to start. I'm 54 and just starting. I think the challenge is a big part of why I bought it.

 

[Nofries]

Welcome to SMF
Lots of good info above and I will agree that the biggest thing is figuring out what size chunks or splits you need to run. You might be surprised how little you will get away with once your coal bed is established. My buddy has a large trailer setup built out of an old gas barrel that was probably a 250gal tank and the size of coal bed and the size of split he found that works best for him is much smaller than most would guess and he feeds it about every 30min and he can run it easily is some pretty chilly temps up here in ND during winter. He is mostly running oak that he gets from our farm that we cut and split, he has a moisture tester but not sure what he aims for. Me I just basically send it as long as it doesn't feel wet to the touch
Also I highly agree with preheating your next pieces that will go on the fire by setting on fire box, top of cook chamber or inside cook chamber, basically anything that works.
Air flow management I would say leave exhaust wide open and adjust at the door any way you can. Just remember that air flow changes take a little time to level out so making adjustments every 5min leaves you chasing your tail.

Thanks great info.

 

[bigfurmn]

@Nofries Don't get down. I would tear those up, they look great to me. Just remember, if it tastes good to you it doesn't matter what others think. Keep trying and trying different things. This whole site has your back.