fire box burn time?

[Jokerswild!]

So I just about have my smoker done. I had ordered a charcoal basket- but when it came it was 12x12x8. i did a mod to get a full 12x12x12 basket in addition to adding the 3 inch legs.

So with a square basket I can JUST get in.... a 17.6 lb bag of lump coal. . Im running a weber lid and and a sliding vent on the bottom. I may add a ball valve for windy days.

so what kind of run time can I get out of that in the 225-240 range? Hoping 12. Praying for more for those BIG briskets.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Chasdev]

That's not out of the question, how well it's insulated or how well it holds heat inside the cook chamber will tell the tale.

 

[thirdeye]

What style/brand of smoker do you have, and how aggressive is the draft?

 

[Jokerswild!]

UDS smoker. i thought I posted to the UDs forum??

 

[Johnny Ray]

12 should be easy at those temps using lump.

I always used a good quality brick in my drums for more even temps throughout the cook. If you dump some lit bricks on the unlit and let it come up to temp I would think 14 to 15 hours is realistic.

 

[Jokerswild!]

Brick? New term for me?

 

[Colin1230]

Brickettes, maybe?

 

[Johnny Ray]

Brick? New term for me?

I’m so sorry. Briquettes. I like B&B brand. They also make lump.
If I can’t get B&B I like Royal Oak Brand.
JR

 

[Jokerswild!]

Thats interesting. I thought most guys were loving lump in these units. I was able clean out my local big box store this winter, at 3 bucks a bag for lump...so I have ALOT of lump. Alot. Like 110 gallons... so yeah... lump it is!

 

[thirdeye]

UDS smoker. i thought I posted to the UDs forum??

You did.... I just missed that. I super-sized my baskets a few years ago and now they are 15" diameter X 10" tall. I can easily get 12 hours burn time at 275° - 300°, and at 250° I can get 16 or so hours. I used to use all lump coal, but now I use a few layers of Kingsford Long Burning which mellows out the fire and does not make as much ash as regular briquettes do.