Offset smoker fire

[WstTxSmokes]

I have an old country brazos offset smoker. It’s a pretty good offset for the price when I bought it in 2019, however I typically have to rotate firebox to face with the wind or it has a really hard time of making that good smoke. Is this due to the stack not being tall enough to draw the fire or is this something everyone deals with? I don’t mind moving it but it seems like I shouldn’t have to if I had the right pit?

 

[SMOKEOCD]

Try leaving the door open instead of the vent to get a hotter fire and force the draft to start.

 

[smokerjim]

Does your wood sit on a grate in the fire box to let air get to the bottom of wood? Is your wood dry?I would leave your smoke vent wide open to prevent stale smoke building up and creating creosote and try and control your fire with the fire box vent or door first. You could try and extend your smoke stack with some dryer pipe or something if you think that is a problem.

 

[Newglide]

I have an Old Country Pecos, I usually controll the inlet air like @SMOKEOCD suggested by opening the vent about half way and opening the door a couple of inches and leaving the smokestack wide open. I have also extended the smoke stack with stove pipe. The stove pipe helped the draw a lot. sometimes too much.
How is your smoker situated? Is it turned in a way where there's something blocking air like a wall or deck or something?

 

[sawhorseray]

ALL GREAT ADVICE ABOUT LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN AND EXTENDING THE STACK. I CAN'T RECALL EVER HAVING THE DOOR ON MY SQ36 COMPLETELY CLOSED, CONSTANTLY HAD TO PLAY WITH THE DOOR AND VENTS.

WHERE YOU AT IN WEST TEXAS? I MOVED TO ALPINE A MONTH AGO FROM AZ, HOTTER HERE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT AT LEAST IT'S NOT 114º EVRY DAY.