Fire Box - Insulated or Not Insulated

[bruno994]

I use quite a bit of various species of oak since I run a pallet mill and have access to all the cut offs from our cants (6 x 8, 7 x 9, 4 x 6 pieces of wood).  I also use pecan and mesquite.  Pecan is readily available as well since we have an abundance of pecan trees around.  

 

[ribwizzard]

I've always stuck to Oak, Ive tried some of the hickory a couple of times with poor results.

 

[bruno994]

I did not like hickory for any other reason that I felt like it burned hotter than the mesquite, oak or pecan, changing the way my pit cooked.  The least amount of adjustments during a cook I have to make, the better on me.  I really have taken a liking to pecan.  It seems to mix well with the oak and burns similiar.