Question from a newbie

[Smokin_glenn]

Does anyone use the snake method? What are the pros and cons? I have a WSM. Can you use lump or strictly briquettes?

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

I use the minion method with my WSM. Google it.

 

[Smokin_glenn]

I use the minion method with my WSM. Google it.

I usually do too

 

[bill1]

I use the snake (well actually a Z--a couple of staggered half-height bricks) in my rectangular charcoal smoker. Keeps the temp from ever going past 250-275.

 

[Smokin_glenn]

How long a smoke do you het?

 

[Smokin_glenn]

How long a smoke do you het?

 

[one eyed jack]

I have a friend who tried a snake burn in his 22 inch WSM. The smoker never got above about 150*
The WSM smokers are very controllable. Just go with the minion, or volcano starting method and you'll be fine.

I use the snake in my kettles very often and it works very well in that situation.

 

[bill1]

I made a 15" square x 7" high charcoal basket for my masterbuilt rectangular chest charcoal smoker. I've put in two half height bricks to form a charcoal snake (sideways-Z) like this:
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I use a small ring-element charcoal starter in the lower left corner to get it going then slide the basket in with the meat on upper racks. Lump charcoal lasts about 5 hours at 250F. That's with vents pretty well throttled closed. I don't always fill the Z basket to the top, but I've found if it's less than half filled, the fire doesn't always "turn the corner" well. (For smaller cuts of meat, I'll find I have 1/3 of the charcoal at the end of the Z left unburned. I put it in a steel can with tongs and use it next time--penny saved is...)

I suspend pellets and wood chips ~2" above the coals on steel mesh of ~1/4" grid to get a little extra smoke although adding some scattered pieces of good smoking wood chunks on top of the charcoal works similarly...it's just that I always have pellets.