Gray smoke

[sacedbysapp]

I’ve noticed if I add a preheated split or 2 I get a raging hot fire and a heavy gray to black smoke with awful smell. But if I add 1 or 2 I heated splits np. What the problem?

 

[jcam222]

Sounds like your wood may still have too high moisture? Perhaps pre heating it removes moisture.

 

[sacedbysapp]

When I don’t preheat I get a good burn.

 

[mike243]

What kind of wood are you burning

 

[Chasdev]

Smoke color and volume are a function of the air reaching the fire so as long as your wood is properly seasoned (with around 20% internal moisture, to me 15% is best) the smoke produced is entirely a function of airflow into and out of the smoker.
Franklin and many others run with the firebox door and exhaust stack wide open, controlling the burn and smoke produced by how much fuel is added and when.
Two things to consider, smoke is produced by burning wood while the majority of heat comes from the coal base.
The balancing act between coals and smoke is the trick.