stick burner base fuel.

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fxsales1959

Master of the Pit
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Dec 17, 2019
1,666
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Ft Lauderdale.
hey Y'all,
I' sure this is a repeat but here goes. still "working with my fairly new OKJ reverse flow stick burner. I'm not particularly excited about the fire box, mostly the included fire basket. 'm fighting with what to use as a "base fuel" to get it going so I can add wood. for years on my vertical i used good 'ol kingsford original briquettes . after hanging out here I thought it might be worthwhile to try some lump. I always didn't like the starting odor and smoke from the supposed "no additives" Kingsford. back in the day I had good luck with Royal oak briquettes, so i bought a huge bag of their lump. I had read it burns cleaner with less ash. Well, royal oak lump was more like ping pong ball size chunks.
even with a full chimney when i dumped in the fire box it as so "tight" it couldn't breathe, even with the firebox door completely open. If i lived in he country I'd start a fire in a barrel or pit with logs/splits, the shovel it into the firebox to add splits for smoke.
So to shut up and move on, what do y'all with offsets use to get the fire going to add wood for smoke? Our wood selection in S Florida sucks, relegated to what they have at home depot and Blowes. I typically prefer apple and hickory depending on the meat. My results with the rervese flow have been great, just hard to get things going.
TIA
John
 

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Briquettes for me, no brand preference but lump is usually too expensive for my tastes.
FWIW, you should never close the firebox door, either starting the fire or cooking, and that goes for the exhaust stack closure device as well.'
Regulate cook temp by how much fuel you place in the firebox.
Restricting the air inlet will cause unclean smoke flavors to invade your meat.
 
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I never use any charcoal on my offset. I start some splits with a weed torch, firebox door wide open. Regulate temp by leaving the door open from a crack to a few inches. The more often you use it the better you'll get to know it. RAY
DSCN1754.JPG
 
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I use a chimney of hot briquettes (I'm partial to Embers now) in the basket with a couple of splits on top of that,
leaving the door and vents open til they're burning good, then closing up and going from there with wood only.
Everything goes in the basket.....
 
hey Y'all,
I' sure this is a repeat but here goes. still "working with my fairly new OKJ reverse flow stick burner. I'm not particularly excited about the fire box, mostly the included fire basket. 'm fighting with what to use as a "base fuel" to get it going so I can add wood. for years on my vertical i used good 'ol kingsford original briquettes . after hanging out here I thought it might be worthwhile to try some lump. I always didn't like the starting odor and smoke from the supposed "no additives" Kingsford. back in the day I had good luck with Royal oak briquettes, so i bought a huge bag of their lump. I had read it burns cleaner with less ash. Well, royal oak lump was more like ping pong ball size chunks.
even with a full chimney when i dumped in the fire box it as so "tight" it couldn't breathe, even with the firebox door completely open. If i lived in he country I'd start a fire in a barrel or pit with logs/splits, the shovel it into the firebox to add splits for smoke.
So to shut up and move on, what do y'all with offsets use to get the fire going to add wood for smoke? Our wood selection in S Florida sucks, relegated to what they have at home depot and Blowes. I typically prefer apple and hickory depending on the meat. My results with the rervese flow have been great, just hard to get things going.
TIA
John

unfortunately I found this out as well with my new OKJ RF. Charcoal basket is too big for cookers and coals get to spread out which causes them to burn out quickly and fall thru grate. I built V shaped basket with a 4” base I load up with lump. Once going I lay one split diagonal so sits about 1/2” above coal base. The V shape keeps coals down in center. This goes on repeat until cook is done with no issues

head over to the reverse flow threads in smoker builder section on mods I just completed. PM me with any questions
 
Here's a good video to watch, especially how he sets up the firebox with the racks instead of the basket. .
When I used my Joe, this video helped me a lot as I was having the same issues as you. If you've had your Joe a couple of years, remove the exhaust stack and make sure it is clear of soot and tar, they will restrict air flow and cause temp problems.

Here in South Carolina, wood is not a problem and I have a variety of splits, but for lump, check out the Walmart brand which is Expert Grill. It is just Royal Oak in another bag and the quality can be hit or miss, but it is the cheapest lump on the market. I do not use briquets anymore.
 
Publix has hard wood in bags for about $5, it’s a combo of pecan, hickory, and oak. You may have to split the splits cause some of them are too big for a small smoker. I also use the spilts to make very thin chunks about 1” thick with my chop saw. And use them in my Smoke Vault.
Al
 
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Here's a good video to watch, especially how he sets up the firebox with the racks instead of the basket. .
When I used my Joe, this video helped me a lot as I was having the same issues as you. If you've had your Joe a couple of years, remove the exhaust stack and make sure it is clear of soot and tar, they will restrict air flow and cause temp problems.

Here in South Carolina, wood is not a problem and I have a variety of splits, but for lump, check out the Walmart brand which is Expert Grill. It is just Royal Oak in another bag and the quality can be hit or miss, but it is the cheapest lump on the market. I do not use briquets anymore.

Interesting video. It took me a year to get down the basics like that on my own LOL!
Leaving the firebox vents open like that may work when it's really cold somewhat but not when it's sunny in the 80s....
 
Here's a good video to watch, especially how he sets up the firebox with the racks instead of the basket. .
When I used my Joe, this video helped me a lot as I was having the same issues as you. If you've had your Joe a couple of years, remove the exhaust stack and make sure it is clear of soot and tar, they will restrict air flow and cause temp problems.

Here in South Carolina, wood is not a problem and I have a variety of splits, but for lump, check out the Walmart brand which is Expert Grill. It is just Royal Oak in another bag and the quality can be hit or miss, but it is the cheapest lump on the market. I do not use briquets anymore.

that was 20 mintues well spent. now I know what the extra 2 grates are for. so I will do the V next time and shitcan the basket. Also need to get a hatchet to split the splits. I' still stuck with those $20 bags of "logs" from Blowes tht mostly are 5-6" around. it's expensive relatively, but what can you do in the "city." I'm still split on the base fuel. I'll look at Wally world for their lumps. with the "V" I think the royal oak will burn good enough to get my sticks on fire.
Thanks to you all. It's been a real change from my vertical Dynaglo stick burner. I still kinda like that old smoker, but it's not big enough for real hoe-down. Time to figure out Labor day menu.
 
that was 20 mintues well spent. now I know what the extra 2 grates are for. so I will do the V next time and shitcan the basket. Also need to get a hatchet to split the splits. I' still stuck with those $20 bags of "logs" from Blowes tht mostly are 5-6" around. it's expensive relatively, but what can you do in the "city." I'm still split on the base fuel. I'll look at Wally world for their lumps. with the "V" I think the royal oak will burn good enough to get my sticks on fire.
Thanks to you all. It's been a real change from my vertical Dynaglo stick burner. I still kinda like that old smoker, but it's not big enough for real hoe-down. Time to figure out Labor day menu.
Don't shitcan the basket. I may try the v-shape thing but the basket has served me well for a few years.
I'm in a city and stuck with buying bags too for some wood.
I gave up on lump because of too many small pieces in the bottom 1/3 of the bag.
Briquets will get your splits burning just fine.
Keep playing with it.
 
Don't shitcan the basket. I may try the v-shape thing but the basket has served me well for a few years.
I'm in a city and stuck with buying bags too for some wood.
I gave up on lump because of too many small pieces in the bottom 1/3 of the bag.
Briquets will get your splits burning just fine.
Keep playing with it.
i'm a hoarder, by shitcan, i just will set it in the garage for an untold time.
 
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Look on craigslist for firewood or contact the local tree removal companies. I don't know where in Florida you are but grabbing a 1/4 cord will hold you awhile.
 
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In central Florida myself- using local Live & Water Oak. Also splurge on pecan wood from Buc-ee’s when I travel
 
Buc-ee’s


What/where is this place ??

I have some pecan for sale here in Central Fl.

 
What/where is this place ??

I have some pecan for sale here in Central Fl.


Massive gas station and stores. They just opened one at world golf village near st augustine. Also, one located in Daytona. I dont venture south of Orlando so not sure if one down there.
 
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