This method works great and I use it in all my charcoal smokers. Similar to the minion method, except you are keeping all the energy from the fuel in the smoker and not loosing any of it by lighting the fuel outside the smoker.
Give the sidelight method a try. Works great with the WSM's and there's no wasting fuel. Had my 14.5" up to smoking temp in less than 10 minutes the other day and it was 14°f outside. For those that have never tried it you are missing out.
1. Fill charcoal ring with fuel and wood. Make sure one hole in ring is aligned with lower vent.
2. Put smoker together
3. Open all vents.
4. Light torch and place in one of lower vents.
5. Run the torch until your pit temp is 25°-30° degrees above your target temp. The pit temp will drop considerably.
6. If the pit temp settles 25° degrees or more below your desired temp fire the torch again. If not let the pit com up by itself.
Slowly close one vent art a time. Always leave your exhaust wide open.
For higher temp smokes (above 300°), I will run the torch in more than one vent.
These were taken last summer:
