Fire Management - Version Umpteen

[dave schiller]

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</style><![endif]

There are lots of threads on this site about fire management in an offset smoker.  Most are several years old and probably buried and forgotten in the ashes from years of smoking.  I thought I'd add my recent thoughts and experience with my offset.  I'm getting ready to cook my first brisket on July 4 and have been practicing fire management in preparation for that.  I'm using a New Braunfels Black Diamond, but I think my observations apply to any of the similar offsets.  I made the recommended mods to the smoker and after numerous trial runs (no meat) I've come to the following conclusions.

Sealing up the smoker

Do it.  Do some test burns and observe where any smoke leaks are.  I used a fair amount of fiberglass tape and high temp silicone to seal both the doors.  My smoker won't float, but it's pretty tight.  Many offsets can leak a lot and that means heat loss and lack of air control.

Getting it up to temperature

At first, I was having a difficult time getting mine up to 275*, my target temp, using a chimney of lit charcoal.  It took about two hours.  Turns out, I wasn’t giving it nearly enough fuel.  Today, I dumped a chimney of lit coals into the firebox and then added two more (unlit) and in about 20-25 minutes it was up to 300*.  Solution: Give it plenty of fuel.

Temperature control

I admit to using a BBQGuru to control the fire.  There are other systems that do the same thing.  I know it's frowned on by the purists, but I drive a car with an automatic transmission too.  During a cook with guests coming over and sides to prepare, I don’t want to have to tweak the fire every 15-30 minutes during a 10-12 hour cook.  So I bought and use the Guru and it works as advertised, maintaining the temp that I set it for.  As long as there is enough fuel in the firebox, it controls the temp to within a degree of the setting.

Heat and smoke

My theory is that heat comes from charcoal and smoke/flavor from wood.  I found that trying to maintain the desired temp with wood and at the same time produce thin blue smoke was next to impossible.  The wood produced billowing clouds of thick smoke while maintaining the temp.  Overpowering smoke is not good for flavor.  Now I use a full box of charcoal for heat and throw in a piece of wood for smoke, like maybe 2"x3"x8".  Nice thin smoke from this and after an hour or so (if needed), I throw in another chunk of wood.

So those are my comments.  In summary:

Seal the smoker well

Give it adequate fuel

Use a temperature control system

Get your heat from charcoal and smoke/flavor from wood chunks

Hope this helps.

 

[h2so4ca]

Hi Dave

I have to disagree with you on a few points. 

On an offset ( I own two Lang's ) I start and run all wood. I build an all wood fire in my firebox and ignite it with a weed burner. So all of my smoke and heat come from wood. And I have no problem getting thin blue smoke. I think the reason is that wood burns hotter then charcoal. 

If you are using a charcoal basket or a large amount of charcoal with some lit and some not your fire will never be hot enough to completely combust all of the out gasses from the wood and charcoal. 

In a typical start up I will build a larger fire then I will cook with and bring the smoker up to a temp higher then I will be cooking at. When I hit say 300 degrees I will add the meat and bring the smoker temp down by slowly reducing air flow to the fire. From that point on I'm only adding one or two splits of wood every 45 to 60 min. ( My Lang's are pretty fuel efficient and hold temp very well. I'm sure the mass of these things help with that tremendously) So I would say give it a try running all wood and you may find it easier to get the thin blue smoke we are all looking for. 

As a side note on occasion I will start a fire in my fire pit that sits on the patio and burn a bunch of wood down to embers and then take a few shovel's full and make a bed of coals in one of my smokers and then just lay 3 or 4 full quarter splits on that to start out. Both ways work very well. 

 

[SmokyMose]

I'm afraid I have to disagree a bit also. I'm running a little ole $300 CharGriller with no "mods" other than a baffle at the hot end. No door seals or anything. I start the fire with a chimney of charcoal to get the woodfire going. It's never taken longer than a half hour (if it's cold outside) to get to temp. I do the whole cook from there on with wood only. I only get a minute or two of white smoke sometimes after adding a new split. I have noticed that if you try to keep too low a temp you get too much smoke. That's why offsets like to run at higher temps. Mine is usually happy at 260 to 280, depending on the outside temps. I usually need to add wood every 1/2 hour to 3/4 hour, depending on what sort of wood is burning.

A temp control system would be nice, but hardly necessary.

That being said, I really don't know anything about New Braunfels smokers.

 

[joe black]

These guys have you started in the right direction. I start with about 2/3 basket of lump and fire it up with a chimney of briqs. This will establish a really good bed of coals, which I feel is most necessary. When the CC is up to a little above my cooking temp, I will add a couple of pre-heated splits and the meat. The meat will reduce your CC temp to your cook range. When you get close to the bottom of your cook range, add another couple of pre-heated splits. The trick to the pre-heated splits is the ignition lag. The pre-heated splits will ignite much quicker and this reduces the temp drop on the low end and also keep a much cleaner smoke. If I have any white smoke, it is very little and is gone quite quickly.

Also have good quality and well checked gauges for your CC. This will give you a much better idea of the CC temp. A good quality digital gauge set at the grate and in the meat is a must. I would suggest River Country for the mounted gauges and Maverick et732 for the digital grate and meat set.

Good luck and good smoking. Let us know how you come out, Joe. :grilling_smilie:

 

[dave schiller]

Guys, I'm hearing you and digesting your comments.  I'll compose my response and post it after ruminating a bit.

 

[dave schiller]

Guys, I cooked my first brisket on July 4.  Based on the results of that cook, I stand by my earlier post about using charcoal for heat and wood for smoke/flavor.  I used Royal Oak lump for the burn and periodically added a piece of oak for smoke, probably every hour until I wrapped it about six hours after starting.  We had several guest over for dinner, which is dangerous to do on the first cooking try.  Luckily, the brisket came out perfectly; nice bark and smoke ring, tender, juicy, smoky, everything you'd hope for.  Everyone knew this was my first attempt and said it was great.  I asked everyone to rate it on a 1-10 scale and they all gave it a 9.  One guy's comment was that it might have been a bit heavy on the smoke flavor.  I think if I had used wood exclusively, it would have resulted to too much smoke flavor.

I used a full bag of charcoal (15.5 lbs) during the cook and a BBQGuru to control the temp.  It made things simple and easy.  I admit it's not the traditional technique, but it worked.   I'm really more interested in the final product than the process to make it.  So as long as I can get the same results using my method, I'll stick with it.  Kudos to those that use wood exclusively, but not for me.

 

[Rings Я Us]

I'm not used to eating smoked meat. I would probably be one to think using more than 3 or 4 wood chunks for a brisket it too much. This is half of my smoke hickory chunks for 14 hours. Was great taste. Just saying.. be safe!

IMG_20170705_193206.jpg

• Rings Я Us
• Jul 7, 2017

 

[h2so4ca]

As long as you are happy with the product you are producing then more power to you. 

For me I will stick with an all wood fire in my offsets.

I have 3 charcoal smokers and an electric along with my stick burners but the taste is very different.

On my charcoal smokers the smoke is always stronger then on my stick burners and I think it has to 

do with the way it tends to smolder on the charcoal vs how it burns on the offset's. 

But as I said as long as you are happy with it then really thats all that should matter. 

 

[Rings Я Us]

No room for stick burners or wood piles in my apartment. I would love one.

 

[lancep]

If you're happy with the results you're getting, more power to you. If it ain't broke don't fix it right? That said, there is a big difference between stick burning and adding wood to charcoal or any other heat source for flavor. When cooking with wood, smoke is a side effect. No matter how hot and clean your fire is burning, your meat is going to get smoked. But it's cleaner smoke so you don't get "too smokey" you get "just right." The trick is to run a clean, hot fire just big enough to keep your smoker in range. You might give it a try sometime with a spatched chicken. That way it's a quick smoke and you can get a feel for it without investing a ton of time.

Lance

 

[hardcookin]

I agree with what Lance and h2so4ca is saying.
Myself I burn wood from start to finish. I think an offset smoker burning wood gives the best flavor.
Everybody has their preferences, based on their experiences and that's good.

 

[Rings Я Us]

A proper heavy duty sealed up ready to go stick burner in my price range? No such thing. A stick burner for any price, that I don't have to keep an eye on all day? Don't exist. A place to keep said stick burner? Not here. Place to store a couple months worth of wood? Nope.. not this apartment complex.. use stick burner to cook for me,myself and I? Not practical.. am single and work.. I have about 12 weekends a year that weather is pleasant and would use a $1,000.00 plus smoker. Would be nice to live out in the sticks and be set for cash and time.. retired and have a big group to cook for..


I will have to stick with the ECB for now.. my pathetic modified clunker. [emoji]129301[/emoji] lol good times..

Oh, was gonna say I lived in the real Braunfels in Germany. Where a bunch of the Germans left to settle in Texas. Cool..

 

[Rings Я Us]

They never grilled or smoked much for leisure.. Lol I guess once in Texas in New Braunfels , they took up the grilling and smoking meats.

 

[phatbac]

A proper heavy duty sealed up ready to go stick burner in my price range? No such thing. A stick burner for any price, that I don't have to keep an eye on all day? Don't exist. A place to keep said stick burner? Not here. Place to store a couple months worth of wood? Nope.. not this apartment complex.. use stick burner to cook for me,myself and I? Not practical.. am single and work.. I have about 12 weekends a year that weather is pleasant and would use a $1,000.00 plus smoker. Would be nice to live out in the sticks and be set for cash and time.. retired and have a big group to cook for..


I will have to stick with the ECB for now.. my pathetic modified clunker. [emoji]129301[/emoji] lol good times..

Oh, was gonna say I lived in the real Braunfels in Germany. Where a bunch of the Germans left to settle in Texas. Cool..

If you ever decide to upgrade on the ECB maybe you should try a WSM mini (14.5") I have seen them as a low as $99 at Walmart in the winter (clearance i think) and it would be a good smoker for the apartment situation and hold good heat/air flow etc. they are perfect for the charcoal/wood chunk smokes.  

Happy Smoking,

phatbac (Aaron)

 

[SmokyMose]

[/RIGHT]

A proper heavy duty sealed up ready to go stick burner in my price range? No such thing. A stick burner for any price, that I don't have to keep an eye on all day? Don't exist. A place to keep said stick burner? Not here. Place to store a couple months worth of wood? Nope.. not this apartment complex.. use stick burner to cook for me,myself and I? Not practical.. am single and work.. I have about 12 weekends a year that weather is pleasant and would use a $1,000.00 plus smoker. Would be nice to live out in the sticks and be set for cash and time.. retired and have a big group to cook for..


I will have to stick with the ECB for now.. my pathetic modified clunker. [emoji]129301[/emoji] lol good times..

Oh, was gonna say I lived in the real Braunfels in Germany. Where a bunch of the Germans left to settle in Texas. Cool..

Totally understand, Rings. Been there, and I can't afford a $1000 smoker either. You really don't have to spend that much, but there is the "babysitting" part.....
Use whatcha got and have fun!

I think phatbac is onto something with that WSM mini.

 

[bluewhisper]

I'm lucky to have a place for an offset and a stash of wood. I'm usually cooking for 2.

I use a few of the techniques you guys are describing. I burn a mix of lump and wood,  sometimes all wood.

 

[joe black]

This is a great exchange of thought and personal needs. This is the way a forum is supposed to operate. Everyone has their own preferences and nobody is trying to lead the pack. It's really refreshing when everyone can have their own opinions and can feel comfortable expressing them.

Dave, be careful with that ruminating. I've heard you can go blind from that.

 

[dave schiller]

Going blind from ruminating?  That's a good one, Joe.  Never heard that before. 

 

[SmokyMose]

Going blind from ruminating?  That's a good one, Joe.  Never heard that before.  :biggrin:

I think my mother told me that once when I was a teenager...

 

[lancep]

Soo... can I ruminate just till I need glasses???