Firebox set up

[Smokin Okie]

A good pruning blade makes a big difference when cutting splits with a reciprocating saw.

I bought a Black and Decker reciprocating saw along with some 9" pruning blade. I was a bit disappointed in how easily it cut down my splits, but will still use it. I'm thinking I still use the miter saw but not cut all the way through the piece, leave maybe a 1/4" . Then use the reciprocating saw to finish it off. Eliminate almost all the kickback risk with the miter saw.

One thing I notice with the pruning blade that's a bit scary, that blade will flop back and forth quite a ways. IDK if I'm using it right or that's just the way its designed ???

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

I bought a Black and Decker reciprocating saw along with some 9" pruning blade. I was a bit disappointed in how easily it cut down my splits, but will still use it. I'm thinking I still use the miter saw but not cut all the way through the piece, leave maybe a 1/4" . Then use the reciprocating saw to finish it off. Eliminate almost all the kickback risk with the miter saw.

One thing I notice with the pruning blade that's a bit scary, that blade will flop back and forth quite a ways. IDK if I'm using it right or that's just the way its designed ???

There shouldn't be much kickback risk with the miter saw. I'd recommend cutting all the way through. Position it as best you can so the split is against the fence on both sides of the blade. Since the blade rotates into the piece towards the fence, as long as the piece is against the fence on both sides of the blade, it shouldn't kick away from the fence (towards you).

 

[Smokin Okie]

I smoked three pork butt on the Brazos yesterday using the LSG fire basket and I was really impressed with it. It helped maintain a good coal bed. Pre-warmed splits readily ignited when placed on the coals. And it helped me keep the fire away from my cook chamber, sort've added a bit of advantage of a longer FB .

This was money well spent on my Brazos.

I sat it on fire bricks , just as in the pic above, and that worked fine. It got plenty of air flow from underneath.

Here's a chart of my smoke. Ive been using a Thermoworks Gateway to make these charts of my cooks for about a year now, and this was the best cook I've had

I put the meat on the smoker at 10:30 am. I had just one spike over 300, which is an improvement. And I opened the cook chamber door about once an hour to move meat and spritz .

 

[Smokin Okie]

There shouldn't be much kickback risk with the miter saw. I'd recommend cutting all the way through. Position it as best you can so the split is against the fence on both sides of the blade. Since the blade rotates into the piece towards the fence, as long as the piece is against the fence on both sides of the blade, it shouldn't kick away from the fence (towards you).

I've been using the miter saw for two years, made hundreds of cuts. I've had two kickbacks, both small pieces , and the saw threw them away from me.

I guess I've read too much on other forums about miter saws not being safe with irregular shaped pieces of wood.

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

I've been using the miter saw for two years, made hundreds of cuts. I've had two kickbacks, both small pieces , and the saw threw them away from me.

I guess I've read too much on other forums about miter saws not being safe with irregular shaped pieces of wood.

I've not made any cuts on a miter saw with irregular shaped pieces, so I have no experience to advise from. I just know how miter saws rotate when cutting (it's good to know which direction the saw blade is going so you limit damaging the show side of the wood). Make sure you're wearing eye protection, and let the chips fall where they may (pun intended).