Cpl questions

[phathead69]

Posted in general since covering different areas. Here's my smoker. Damper on left side.

So I'm gonna smoke a butt for work monday and thought I'll try minion method this morning
Lit then added some wood.

So question/observation. "Fire" rolled across bottom charcol pile and for the most part defeated my attempt to prolong babysitting as I wanted to accomplish a few things this morning. No biggie I'll just wood smoke rest of way like normal. Is there a secret to the minion.?
Butt in there with this

 

[daveomak]

Bury smaller wood chunks in a pile of charcoal... That "burying" stops the chunks from getting oxygen, which will ignite the wood... You will get smoldering wood instead of flame.... Usually, the charcoal is suspended on expanded metal so there is no heat trapped on the bottom of the pile...

 

[krj]

Looking at your pictures, I'd personally call what you're doing more of a wide snake method. The problem you're going to have is that with your cooker, you're going to pull so much natural draft across your lit coals, that it's going to light them all pretty quick. If you're looking for prolonged times without having to fuss, you might look into one of those metal snake method mazes(can't remember the name) that allows you to do a snake method in a smaller space and shields the remainder of the coals from igniting to quickly.

 

[phathead69]

Bury smaller wood chunks in a pile of charcoal... That "burying" stops the chunks from getting oxygen, which will ignite the wood... You will get smoldering wood instead of flame.... Usually, the charcoal is suspended on expanded metal so there is no heat trapped on the bottom of the pile...

See what your saying and nxt will try that. I'm trying different things for ways to gain some non chking/watching times when needed.

 

[phathead69]

Minion may not have worked but turned out good

 

[SmokinAl]

Yes Sir!
It sure looks good!
Al