I'm now a believer

[idontwan2know]

I've had a cheapie Brinkmann offset for about a year and a half now. When I first got it I did a few mods(extended exhaust pipe to grate level, added a baffle over the firebox opening) and have been using it with mixed results since.

I've produced some mighty fine Q on the beast, but constant attention to the thing was required no matter what fuel, damper settings, fire size, etc. I used.

So after reading these boards a bit, I resolved to try a charcoal basket. I'd read about them in a few other places, but you folks were definitely the ones who finally convinced me to get off my rear and give it a shot.

There won't be any pictures of the contraption, as it is the quintissential example of a kludge(a piece of expanded metal that was lying around in the shed bent into a U, then some aluminum flashing with holes drilled through it to cover the ends), but even with my makeshift and poorly built example, the results are astounding.

I put a shoulder on once the pit got up to 200, it hovered around 215 for an hour or two, climbed to 245 and has been very slowly declining for the last three hours (current temp is 235). Needless to say, this is far far better temp maintenance than I've ever had in the past, and with no maintenance whatsoever.

Now that I know the darned thing works, I'll wait until the current kludge fails, then buy one from somebody who knows what they're doing. Thanks for convincing me to try this thing!

[kcquer]

idw2k, I just recently started experimenting with the same technique. I've been getting 3 to 4 hour unattended burns in my horizontal. I prefer the idea of burning all wood. In practice I'm quite fond of having brisket and sleep both in the same weekend!
Welcome.

[idontwan2know]

Burning all wood gives me the best flavor by a long shot, but as you say, it's just too much work for long cooks. One day I'll get me a Klose and burn wood to my heart's content, but until then it'll have to be reserved for ribs and chickens.

I used Kingsford for this cook as that seemed to be the general practice with the baskets. I'm starting to have an ash problem now (about 7 hours in)....what kind of results do you get burning lump in the basket?

[willkat98]

hotter temps, less ash.

If I had a good source of lump, I'd use it more.

Unfortunately, like $10 a bag for 8#'s I think

[kcquer]

I need to add a flange mod to my cimarron door, it fits so poorly that its difficult for me to control the rate which the fire advances.
My first efforts resulted in too much fire and too much heat. A friend suggested I try a brand of briq cheaper than K'ford. I did and had better results. I have not tried lump alone using the extended burn method.
When ash accumulation does become excessive (about 12hrs in) I've been just removing my fire grate, scraping the ash to a metal bucket and basically starting over. Pit temp might drop from 210 down to 180 or so but only for a few minutes, and I'm good for more than long enough to finish any cook.

[BBQchef33]

i find lump burns faster and much hotter than kinsford in the basket. Also the irregular shapes make for more airflow which probably adds to that... I would stick with kingsford and a good amount of large chunks mixed in.

[brdbbq]

I turn up the gas.

[Bigmista]

hotter temps, less ash.

If I had a good source of lump, I'd use it more.

Unfortunately, like $10 a bag for 8#'s I think

At least we have an advantage on you for something!

We can get 2 7# bags of Mesquite lump for $5 in Southern Cal.

[parrothead]

Unfortunately, like $10 a bag for 8#'s I think

That's a twenty pound bag at Home Depot for $10. Mesquite or hickory.

[willkat98]

Unfortunately, like $10 a bag for 8#'s I think

That's a twenty pound bag at Home Depot for $10. Mesquite or hickory.

Not chunk, lump.

Cowboy comes in 4 and 8 pounders

[smokeypig]

local truevalue has 20# of lump for 11.99. irregular shapes and inconsistent sizes - mega-breakage in the bag. i've bought lump charcoal online as well.

[Bigmista]

local truevalue has 20# of lump for 11.99. irregular shapes and inconsistent sizes - mega-breakage in the bag. i've bought lump charcoal online as well.

There is a 40# bag at Smart & Final here for 13.99. Best of the West mesquite lump. Generally about 10% breakage and dust.

mista

[BigAl]

Now that I know the darned thing works, I'll wait until the current kludge fails, then buy one from somebody who knows what they're doing. Thanks for convincing me to try this thing!
:D

[The_Kapn]

Now that I know the darned thing works, I'll wait until the current kludge fails, then buy one from somebody who knows what they're doing. Thanks for convincing me to try this thing!
:D
Big Al was just lurking and waiting for this!!!
TIM

[BigAl]

Not much of a lurker, been working non stop on a business plan, just finished first cut. It's is on the way to invertor broker. So, now it's a verrrrrry late,