Coal burning too short?

[friarbuck]

I have just gotten my smoker. (Great forum by the way, learned a lot so far from the posts)

I'm not cooking meat yet, just trying to get the timing of everything down. Keeping the temp @ 225-250. I've been using Fireking Lump Coal. I've read online people have kept it burning for 4+ hours. But...mine burns out after about an hour. Let me explain what i'm doing, then hopefully someone can tell me what i'm doing wrong...or if that's just the way it works.

I've got a side smoke box on my grill. 3ft long grill barrel, 1.25ft long side smoker. I put about 2-3lb of lump coal on there and get it going. I'll just write out my data.

Time | description

0:00 - light lump coals up w/ fire starter brick.
0:15 - half coals gray. grill @ 225.
0:30 - 90% coals gray. grill @ 275. Close my intake vent 50%.
0:45 - Grill @ 250.
1:00 - Grill @ 250.
1:15 - Grill @ 230.
1:30 - Grill @ 225.

I took a peak at 1h30min and the coals were completly burned away. Just ash with a few pieces here or there.

Now, unless I'm doing something wrong...this means i'll be using 2-3lb/lump coal every hour.

How does that sound to some of you people with know-how for this stuff?

Thanks in advance,
Buck

 

[bbq bubba]

Not familiar with that lump but usually burns hotter and faster.
Start with more lump for a longer burn, use a charcoal basket for even longer burning or try another brand or even charcoal.
I get 6-7 hrs on 6# of charcoal in my offset using a basket!

 

[john dice]

Minion method for one. Someone could describe it better then I can I am sure. But it is basically making a trail of unlit charcoal and throwing some burning charcoal on at one end. Usually done by modding your charcoal box with acouple solid metal pieces.

Try using lump charcoal.

I suggest using a chimney to get the coals started. That would speed up the time taking to heat the smoker up. Plus you can start the chimney up mid smoke and have pre burning coals instead of starting all over.