How to add wood? I know, silly Q.

[dadwith4daughters]

So I've been thinking I was getting pretty smert! with this Q'g stuff and realized, looking through some other posts (think it was Okey's) that I might be adding a step to the Q process.

Here's the question: Once you have the fire going (lump not wood) can you then add "cold" charcoal directly to the fire and let it heat up with the existing fire? I've been starting every batch of charcoal in a chimney then dropping the hot coals on the almost-extinguished coals in the side fire box.

My thought was that igniting charcoal has generally had an "off" taste and waiting until it was red hot ensured you would get the real flavor.

DW4D

 

[vlap]

I believe the off taste came from the chemicals in the charcoal. I did not notice that in the lump I bought. It seems to be ok to add cold lump to the lit and let it slowly catch.

 

[hawgheaven]

I've done it both ways, but prefer to add lit coals when using lump... I think the temps stay a bit more even.

 

[flagriller]

Ok first..there are no stupid/silly questions here, this is what the forum is for.
Now, yes can add unlit or "cold" LUMP charcoal to the fire I do it all the time. It must be lump though. I use Royal Oak lump from wally world. The reason is simple, lump is carbonized wood no additives. Bricquetts are scrap wood burned and mixed with a binder(chemicle) and formed so you have to make sure they're thoroughly burning first prior to add in to the fire. If you use wood smoking chunks, throw those babies on unlit to.

Hope this helps, if you need more feel free to pm me.

 

[dadwith4daughters]

Purfekt! Thanks all. I'll give it a try on Sunday with my first-ever butts. Hawg...I'll try and come up with some type of e'Q'uation on how to add so the temp stays consistent.

 

[fatback joe]

That was my preference also in the pre Stump days..........but I would definitely be lying if I said that unlit never got thrown in......bricks or lump.

 

[blackhawk19]

Already waiting on the Q-View

 

[flagriller]

The answer is this; make it quick

Take the unlit lump put it in the chimney, open the sidebox door, and dump it quickly. No matter what you do you're going to loose heat, but with the new charcoal in there it will come back reletively quick.

 

[jamesb]

Yes you can add unlit lump or charcoal to an existing bed of coals. This is essentially the basis of "The Minion Method" that most folks use in the WSM cookers. Actually the 'method' is to fill the coal ring in the WSM with unlit coals and place a smaller portion of lit coals to the top of the others and manage a slow controlled burn throughout the cook...

I've been doing this for years with no ill effects or off tastes. I've done this with lump and charcoal... Even Kingsford... that stuff always smelled funky when starting, but never noticed any thing on the food...

Since your using lump/charcoal, do a search on the Minion Method and see if it can be adopted to your particular cooker.

HtHs,
James.

 

[deejaydebi]

I've done it with chrcoals and lump coal and never had a problem.

 

[dadwith4daughters]

James B, you're right. I Googled Minion and got a bunch of stuff on the guy. Here's an article on Mr. Minion and how it came about. Sounds like a great plan. You can actually do a 6 hour burn without ever having to add more fuel. Brilliant! I can nap now!!! Gotta work perfect for over-night Q's like brisket.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/135677_minion20.html

Question: A couple of sites had a charcoal cage for the off-set smoker that keeps the charcoal all together and not all over the grates. Any idea where I can get one?

Thanks!

 

[dbeast420]

The cheapest route to go would be check with your local welding shop and see if they have any expanded metal drops about the same size.

Then just get a good measurement of your fire box and then just make it to fit, It doesn't need to be the biggest in the world but enough to hold a reasonable of fuel.

I did one 12 " square and just tied it with some bailing wire. It's redneck but it works

 

[dadwith4daughters]

What's a welding shop? HA! Wife gives me grief cause I can't even find the local grocery store. Sounds like a plan. I like the redneck version. What's bailing wire? Just kidding...

 

[Dutch]

Dw4d: your comment reminded me of a story-

I took a friend from the city boating with my lil' bro. We got talking about bailing hay and I mentioned that I needed to pick up a roll of bailing wire. My friend was paying more attention to the scenery than the converstaion asked "What's bailing wire?" Without missing a beat my bro replied "We use it to bail water out of the boat". We got to talking about other stuff and my friend pipes ups with, "Gee, wouldn't be kind of hard to bail water with bailing wire?" I replied "Yeah, that's why it's easier to use buckets for bailing!" A couple of minutes went by and my friend with a surprised look on his face said "You guy are really funny-ha, ha, ha!"

My friend finally realized that he had his leg pulled not once but twice. For some reason, everything we told him after that was countered with "For sure?", "Really?" or "Is this for real?" Gosh, don't know why he wouldn't trust a couple of good ol' boys like us!!