Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
I guess I Gota learn how to fire manage this hickory acts diffrent than other woods. Was hard to get going I guess I'm going to have to burn some down as coals befor I start cooking.
If you are starting the wood with a torch that is your problem, partly. Either dump 2 chimneys of lump charcoal in the fire box and start that with the torch or start some kindling with the torch and add progressively larger splits until you have a good fire going and can add full size splits to maintain it.
Either way you need to start with a good base of coals before you add the cooking wood.