Charcoal Question For Smoking

[motley cue]

Hello-

New member here, been smoking for a couple years now and something has always perplexed me.

I start the charcoal in a chimney starter, let it ash over, then add to smoker. The smoker gets hot, then I monitor it and when the temp drops below 200 degrees I start another chimney up and add to existing charcoal. The temp rises above 225 then settles back down.

How can I better keep temp stable during the smoking process? I tried adding a couple lumps of new charcoal but they never catch fire. I always have to fire up another chimney's worth.

Any tips?

 

[fpnmf]

It would be real nice if we knew what kind of smoker yer using..and what the ambient wherever you are???

  Craig

 

[motley cue]

Well I'll make it real nice for you. Not that it matters much but I've got a Brinkmann bullet type smoker. I've also got a offset barrel type Char Griller smoker that I've yet to use.

 

[motley cue]

Oh and ambient (temperature) where I am varies with the time of year. Right now its 52, typical for early March. Sometimes it gets real hot, over 100 in the summer. Then in the winter it gets real cold, down into the 20s at night.

In any regards I'm in NC. Ambient (temperature) isn't really my issue. The issue is finding a way to add unlit charcoal to existing fire to maintain 225 or am I doing things correctly by making a new fire every couple hours with my chimney starter?

 

[s2k9k]

Have you tried the "Minion Method"?

When you get a minute would you do us a favor and stop b "Roll Call" and introduce yourself so we can give you a proper SMF Welcome, Thanks!

 

[confederateknowhow]

You would be surprised what your ambient them and location can affect. I live in the Ohio River Valley, in Kentucky. The humidity here in the summer time can be killer. It can make getting some coals going a challenge sometimes.

 

[bigeyedavid]

Really cold where i live in Minnesota is - 10 for the high with a -49 wind chill .Yet i still go ice fishing 

So what im sayin is 20 is not that cold .Yes im just messin with ya .   

 

[motley cue]

Have you tried the "Minion Method"?

When you get a minute would you do us a favor and stop b "Roll Call" and introduce yourself so we can give you a proper SMF Welcome, Thanks!

Thnaks S2. I've got lump charcoal and briquettes. Wasn't sold on the lump but now that I know a little more I'll pay more attention to it. Amazing how putting lit coals on unlit coals will maintain temperature apparently but I'm going to give it a shot. On my long brisket smokes, it may cut down on the adding of coals every 3 hours or so. The last time I felt like we had a baby again, getting up every three hours to tend it.

 

[pgsmoker64]

Dave gave you some great advice!

The Minion method is the way to go, and it really does matter what type of smoker you are using as we could give you specific advice and tips related to your specific style of smoker.

I have stopped using my chimney starter and now use Weber starter blocks.  

Stick one in the middle, light it, cover with unlit coals and in just a few moments you are ready to start smokin!

Good luck,

Bill

 

[cliffcarter]

Perhaps a better question to ask is how did you get to sign up as Motley Cue? There is already a member here with that screen name, he is also OTBS#104.

 

[fpnmf]

Well I'll make it real nice for you. Not that it matters much but I've got a Brinkmann bullet type smoker. 

Well it does matter....

You would get a different reply if you were using a WSM or a UDS..

  Craig

                                   Ya spelled Brinkman wrong....

 

[motley cue]

Well it does matter....

You would get a different reply if you were using a WSM or a UDS..

  Craig

                                   Ya spelled Brinkman wrong....

No, I didn't. I used to work for them so I wouldn't spell it wrong. http://www.brinkmann.net/Home.aspx

My question really doesn't revolve around the type of smoker, it revolves around technique. And I got a technique to try. Thanks to Dave for answering, not being an incorrect spell checker or someone who doesn't understand the question.