Wood only in an ECB???

[billybones]

Anyone with an ECB had any success using wood only? My first effort was unsuccessful because I was using moist wood that kept creating billowy white smoke. I also could not get the temp up past 175 and that was without a water pan. Anyone have any advice?

 

[walking dude]

billy........GREAT question...........i myself have been wondering this myself........hopefully someone has dun this and will help us both out.......i have TONS a ash to use........

 

[desertlites]

Billy & Dude I use mesquite or iron wood all the time(both hardwoods) for indirect cooking,I get it going first before adding to cooker.would be a must if useing in a ecb,make sure u use a grate over your pan,it don't take long to burn bottem of your pan out not doing so.just adding wood to your coals is gonna smoke somthing awful,tis why I only add after it's going,hope this helps

 

[richtee]

I have tried it. It'll work OK in the summer, but you need to have a pile of coals in the bottom. Almost full at that. And a hot pile ready to go, because they'll burn out in around a half hour. And ashing up is a problem too- gotta constantly shake out the fire bowl. Mine is modded with about 35 1/2" holes in it, makes it easier, but it's still a logistic nightmare.

Use lump and save your sanity.

 

[billybones]

Wow. Sounds like more of a hassle than its worth. Thanks for the advice. You just saved me boatloads of headaches trying to make it work!

 

[richtee]

Yeah, them stickburners usually gotta hella firebox on 'em. I mean, don't let me discourge ya from trying, but...

 

[bbq bubba]

Ya, your gonna end up melting that sucker trying to get it to eat wood!!

 

[peculiarmike]

The ECB is designed to burn charcoal, not wood.
Knowing we smokers like to try every variation we can think up on the off chance we might find the next great thing in smoking, I see where you are coming from.
BUT, charcoal is the fuel of choice for an ECB. Lump or briquette, your choice.
And you MUST have the water pan in place and full of - water, sand, rocks - again, your choice.
Otherwise you are just GRILLING over direct heat, not smoking low & slow.

 

[wavector]

I preburn for my Cajun Cookn' smoker and have had no problems. Temp are about 200-225°F pretty constant.

The bigger charcoal smoker I have (Vertical Brinmann Smokn' Pit King Smoker), I start with charcoal and wood mixed in the starter chimney and then add small chunks of hickory (and sometimes small splits) for the entire smoke.

Low and Slow at about 210-225 (I can successfully get lower if I wnat to and up 400°F if needed) and if I want higher temps I adjust the air intake through the modification on the charcoal pan. I have about 9 7/8" holes drilled in the bottom of the charcoal pan, and to block air I plug the hole(s) with an unburned peice of wood or a a hot coal that's already in the pan. To allow more air I move the coals around away from the holes.

This is the method I have found works best for the King Smoker. I have another modification that I'm going to try and I will post that mod after a few trials. It involves the use of an old aluminum frying pan and sprockets with chain, from a old bicycle for adjusting the ash/cleaner damper combo I making for this mod. Remember this is for the King Smoker only.

 

[billybones]

When I started thinking about using wood only, it was for smoked shrimp (12 count per pound asian prawns). So I wanted high heat and thin blue smoke at the same time. However, I never even thought about the pan not being designed for wood fires. I'd probably burn right through my ecb coal pan.
Oh well, need to just upgrade to a vertical brinkmann with a firebox I guess.

 

[wavector]

An old dutch would work great as a charcoal/wood pan, with a few mods.

 

[walking dude]

good thought wave........with some holes drilled.......but.....can cast be drilled easy???.......no clue with me......but if it can......legs hold it up above the pan........good idea..........

 

[richtee]

It can...just use a .22 caliber drill ;{) Or ALOT of oil.

 

[walking dude]

tried to use the .22

its why i NOW how problems getting on a plane........steel plate in the head.......go figure