My fire post pic hvy

[phathead69]

So I've seen several posts about fire mgmt. I'm gonna give my thoughts and my recent smoke. In no way do I claim it's the only or best or anyone doing it differently is wrong. I'm just posting what works for me.
Starting my fire.

My little pile of splinters and small pieces of tinder. Oak stored dry under cover outside.
While most of the time a propane torch is used to start my fires I used just a butane grill lighter.

Now that it's going I add some of these small kindling.


More and little larger kindling ready to go.


Lager kindling added and starting to catch


Starting to burn down and make coals


Adding my large pieces. Wrist or smaller size.


Burning down to larger bed of coals


Just added my large pieces wrist / forearm size. Yes I leave the bark on. Notice the sunlight shining thru my vent opening. I usually leave it open 2 inches plus or minus 1.

Burning good now.


Now I push them to the back corner and I have a bed of cooking coals ready for some meat. What you see here is about 230 to 245F in my smoker.

I'll add a split or two every 45 minutes or so. Yes when I add the split it may run up 250 or 260 and even 270 but will quickly start back down.
Things I want to point out is this wood is fully seasoned and dry. I wonder if some problems are related to "green" or damp wood.
I also want to point out when I grab a stick I notice does it seem heavey meaning a knot or twisted and dense, which means it will ignite a little slower so I add sooner to a hotter bed of coals and burns a little longer. Really light meaning it will ignite faster and burn hotter. Just hope this can help anyone struggling and remember mileage can vary between smoker types, weather, elevation, and elevation. This whole process took a little over hour and a half. Prep meat drink coffee or just enjoy watching a fire burn during this time. Good luck . Here is a pic of the brisket that fire produced.

 

[hardcookin]

Brisket looks good!

I usually crib my wood and light it with a weed burner.
What you done works fine.

 

[jcam222]

Great post! Sooner or later I’ll add a stick burner to my arsenal. I’ll need advice like this then for sure.

 

[SmokinAl]

Nice post, but like Doug, I use a weed burner to light mine up. It's just a lot quicker.
BTW the brisket looks delicious!!
Al

 

[phathead69]

Doug and Al. I usually use a map gas with torch head. It's easier by far. I just wanted to demonstrate that a simple lighter or even match will do the trick if the wood is dry and seasoned. Sorta thinking some having trouble on here may be overthinking it. We all sometimes take some things for granted that others struggle with. Like Bear, JJ and Chile, Smokin Vol, Civil turn out some meals that they make look easy but I cant come close to it.