Masterbuilt 560 tips

[smallz]

I just recently picked up this gravity fed smoker and am in the learning process. I see through videos and manual instructions that putting a piece of chunk wood or chips in the ash bin will help with providing smoke. The chips burn too fast and the chunks really never take off well enough to get a good smoke. The manual says not to use match light type of coal.

My last cook I placed about 8 pieces of match light coal in the ash bin while starting up the grill and placed some chunk wood on top. This really did good and the ambers slowly got the coal burning. Has anyone else tried this. Would never put it in the hopper but in the ash bin seemed like a good thing and it worked.

 

[mcokevin]

Welcome, I hope we'll see you around here for quite a while.

I have a 1080, which is one of the big brothers of the 560. I put a hickory split vertical in the charcoal hopper and surround it with charcoal. When I am loading up for a smoke I put a little bit of charcoal in as a base layer, then a hickory split vertically, then fill charcoal around the split.

I've never put lit charcoal in the ash bin. I'd recommend keeping the lit stuff in the firebox where it's meant to be.

I'd go either a full split in the hopper or chunks spaced apart gradually in the hopper.

There are a few other regular contributors around here who also run or have run versions of the MB Gravity, hopefully they'll chime in as well.

 

[Smokin Okie]

When I had my 560, I broke a firebrick in half. Then put the two pieces in the ash bin and suspended a piece of expanded metal across the top. Then put a good size chunk on top.

Suspending the chunk so it can get air around it, helps it combust .

 

[clifish]

Welcome, I hope we'll see you around here for quite a while.

I have a 1080, which is one of the big brothers of the 560. I put a hickory split vertical in the charcoal hopper and surround it with charcoal. When I am loading up for a smoke I put a little bit of charcoal in as a base layer, then a hickory split vertically, then fill charcoal around the split.

I've never put lit charcoal in the ash bin. I'd recommend keeping the lit stuff in the firebox where it's meant to be.

I'd go either a full split in the hopper or chunks spaced apart gradually in the hopper.

There are a few other regular contributors around here who also run or have run versions of the MB Gravity, hopefully they'll chime in as well.

I do the same with my MB800, either a bunch of chunks or smaller splits in the hopper. No complaints from anyone for lack of smoke flavor in my cooks.

 

[Smokin Okie]

What I found about putting chunks in the hopper on my 560, is no matter how high they were placed, they turned into charcoal quickly.

The hopper is the perfect environment for making charcoal, its high heat and low oxygen.

For that reason, I always emptied the hopper between cooks. Even chunks of wood I put on the very top of the coals, would be turned to charcoal.

 

[FoxmanNC]

I have a 560 as well. I have something similar to expanded metal, lifting the wood chunks and allowing the ash to fall through the grate, leaving embers on the wood to smolder, which is the intent. I would ask what charcoal you are using? I have found that older briquette charcoal in the Kingsford brand can lead to a lack of smoke flavor for whatever reason. For best results (IMO), stick with the B&B brand. I prefer the orange competition Oak briquetts. They are much better briquetts than Kingsford, bigger, lasting longer, producing better flavor, more heat, thus more embers = more smoke. I would also point you to LSS mods and consider some things, such as the stainless cover for the heat shield. Mine is an older 560, I also replaced my Firebrick and went with a stainless liner for the charcoal shoot from LSS, as well as a rear vent damper to control the smoke retention and limit the impact of wind. Welcome to the Gravity Family, kick back and enjoy some good smoked meat!

 

[Smokin Okie]

I did not want to close the exhaust. These cookers have great air flow, because the cooking temp is controlled by air from a fan, rather than from the amount of fuel. I did not want to impede that. And I'm a believer in air flow.

But I was fortunate, to be able to turn the 560 into the wind, so the back was protected, no matter which direction the wind came from .

 

[smallz]

I would also point you to LSS mods and consider some things, such as the stainless cover for the heat shield.

I found my way to this website. Would love to buy a few add ons, especially the firebox stainless sleeve and the vent damper. Thank you for the Welcome!

 

[smallz]

I've never put lit charcoal in the ash bin. I'd recommend keeping the lit stuff in the firebox where it's meant to be.

Probably words of wisdom here. I don’t want to ruin the grill. It did work well though. Thank you!