First cook with the WSM 18 and Fireboard

[nursewizzle]

https://share.fireboard.io/C92E01

I'm not sure what I did wrong. I was under the impression I could go a whole butt cook with one load of fuel. I used Kingsford briquettes with chunks of cherry and pecan. I had the ring full of briquettes and hollowed out a space in the middle and then dumped a half-chimney of lit briquettes. I added fuel several times during this and still only made it about nine and a half hours before I called it quits since the grate temps didn't seem to be coming back up and the meat temps were actually dropping. Right now they are wrapped and in the oven to finish but I'm a bit disappointed. I think my expectations were off on this setup.

 

[noboundaries]

Kingsford switched their formula several times the last few years. The worst thing they did was cut the density of their briquettes from 1 oz to .8 oz each. When they cut the weight/density, they cut the length of time the briquette will last. I had the idea the other day they should be sued for putting "longer lasting" on KBB. It's marketing BS.

Switch to a denser briquette, like Royal Oak Ridge/Home Depot Embers/Walmart Expert Grill (they are all Royal Oak). You'll see the burn time increase by 50% and NEVER go back to Kingsford.

One more thing. RO requires less hot briquettes to start the fire. For a 225F chamber temp, fire up no more than 8 briquests to add to your cold briq/wood pile or you'll burn hot. RO takes a little longer to come up to temp, but it is worth the wait.

Edit update: Before Kingsford changed their charcoal formula, I could run 18-22 hours on a full load in my 22" WSM. When I noticed a SIGNIFICANT drop in the length of time KBB would last, I ran a test comparing KBB to RO. Here's the test.

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t...n-temperature-time-and-ash-comparison.262989/

 

[tropics]

I think a half chimney is way to much as a starter.If I remember you just got this smoker,does it have any leaks to cause more air going in?
Richie

 

[gmc2003]

What was the temp of your smoker? Both Richie and the Charcoal Nerd have given you some solid advice. Also when the coals are burning down you may need to tap some of the ash into the ash pan and rearrange the leftover coals.

Chris

 

[chopsaw]

I'm a bit disappointed.

You won't be . Take time to learn it . Switch to Royal Oak . That by itself will make a huge difference . I use a 14 , but I fired it up empty when I first got it . Just to have an idea of how it was going to run .