What size charcoal basket?

[roushy]

Morning folks!  My firebox is slightly oversized as I didn't add the 2nd chamber yet.  It is 19x19x19 with the smoking chamber of around 55 gallons.  What size charcoal box should I build?  I can go to HomeDepot and easily pick up a 24x24 expanded metal sheet and knock one out that is 12x12x6 in an evening.  Would that be enough are to heat the firebox and chamber?  I'd hate to undersize it, but then again I would hate to spend twice as much for a size I really didn't need.  I was thinking of using the minion method with the basket to get longer burns without constantly feeding the firebox. 

Thoughts?

~ Roushy

 

[daveomak]

Roushy, morning....  build a basket that is max size for easy removal from the firebox....  bigger is better so you don't have to reload during a smoke....  build it once...  Make sure the holes in the mesh are large so the ash will readily fall out of it and not plug up the air flow to the briquettes...     Dave 

 

[roushy]

The basket would be sitting about 3" from the bottom (all sides would be expanded metal), directly between the air inlet and the inlet to the RF chamber.  I am thinking I can build a 12x12x12 without much hassel.  Maybe I'll make it a little bigger.

 

[daveomak]

3" may be a little close to the bottom for long smokes....  The ash builds up pretty fast... some folks go 5" if they have room.... It is a pain to remove a hot basket to clean out the ash...  

 

[roushy]

If i build a 12x12x12 I would have room to go higher.  I have pegs welded in at 3" but I could always put something in there to move it higher.  My concern really isn't how to manage though... it was the size compared to the firebox.  I want to make sure I build one that will get everything hot enough and not undersize it.  Would a 12x12x12 in an 18x18x18 firebox be okay to heat things?  

 

[daveomak]

If i build a 12x12x12 I would have room to go higher.  I have pegs welded in at 3" but I could always put something in there to move it higher.  My concern really isn't how to manage though... it was the size compared to the firebox.  I want to make sure I build one that will get everything hot enough and not undersize it.  Would a 12x12x12 in an 18x18x18 firebox be okay to heat things?   

That depends on how well the smoker is sealed.... thickness of the metal... (insulating qualities)....  how long a smoke takes...  Some take 16 hours or longer depending on the meat and the "stall" it goes through during the cooking process....  If the basket you build lasts 10-12 hours and the meat wants 16 hours of heat, you will be ticked....   Length of time a basket burns depends on the previously mentioned criteria plus quality of charcoal, how hot it burns, ambient temp, wind, etc.... It is so hard to forecast the variables....  every smoker is different and has different learning curves there are very few "givens"....    Trial and error dominate this wonderful hobby..... That is why success is held dearly in the smoking arena.....   Dave 

 

[roushy]

All good points.  I think what I'll do is get a 15" grate from HomeDepot and 2 12x24 expanded metal sheets to make a circle basket.  That should get me plenty of space to fill up the basket and then I'll run through a test to see how it heats up.

 

[daveomak]

Roushy,  12" tall... 16" dia. would be a good basket....  Take pics of your basket build with the grate for others to learn from....  We love pics and the learning experience is what we are all about.....   Thanks,  Dave