Red brick bbq issues

[jay459]

Having some issues with this red brick bbq. I thought it would be a good idea to build one of these, but doesn't seem to give same quality as store bought bbq.

Firstly the grills I bought from black knight which are stainless and quite expensive have discoloured a lot, they look purple and yellow and no amount of cleaning removes this.

Secondly, im using big k charcoal and only burns for 45 mins, i don't get any red hot coals either. Im going to try mixing my lump wood charcoal with briquettes and see if i get a longer burn and maybe add some wood chips in to the mix.

Should i add anything to my bbq, there is a good foundation below so I could add a chimney to it, im not sure if anything else can be added to aid temperature control or smoking.

 

[mike243]

that looks like a grill to me,is that supposed to be a smoker? maybe I'm not looking at it right

 

[daveomak]

I have built and used pits like that one... I have found they need a door on the front to control the air flow... I used a sheet of aluminum to completely cover the opening... It was an old highway sign I picked up at the recyclers...
Blocking the front slows the air flow down a TON... ends the chimney effect of the heat/smoke traveling up the back wall of the pit so you get a fairly uniform heat/smoke across the grate...
I used sticks in my pit... mostly alder and maple... stick were approx. 2x3"...