Fire management epiphany yesterday!

M

MJ_Tenn

Full Fledged Farker
Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Messages
335
Reaction score
184
Points
0
Location
Dayton, Tennessee
Been cooking on my Lang 48 reverse flow smoker for the last four months and am really feeling good about fire management. I have used wood as my only source for heat and smoke and it dawned on me that the sticks I was adding was too large. Got my chopping ax out and split my oak and hickory logs into much smaller splits....coke can size just like I knew I should be using and my fire control was quite easy! Gonna smoke two Boston Butts Friday and am looking forward to the control I have finally attained with fire management!
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: gtr
MJ_Tenn said:
Been cooking on my Lang 48 reverse flow smoker for the last four months and am really feeling good about fire management. I have used wood as my only source for heat and smoke and it dawned on me that the sticks I was adding was too large. Got my chopping ax out and split my oak and hickory logs into much smaller splits....coke can size just like I knew I should be using and my fire control was quite easy! Gonna smoke two Boston Butts Friday and am looking forward to the control I have finally attained with fire management!
Click to expand...

How much more often do you have to add wood with smaller splits? How many sticks do you add as opposed to before?
 
That's the question I was going to ask... I cut smaller chunks but I'm adding pretty often consistently.
 
That is what works for me. After reading on here I put at least the next split if not two on top of the fire box. How do you use the vents? I have been keeping everything wide open.
 
coastal said:
How much more often do you have to add wood with smaller splits? How many sticks do you add as opposed to before?
Click to expand...

I was adding at about the same rate as before (approx 45 minutes or so) but am now adding maybe two pre-heated small sticks instead of one large one...what a difference it made!
 
jeffturnerjr said:
That's the question I was going to ask... I cut smaller chunks but I'm adding pretty often consistently.
Click to expand...

Jeff, you might consider adding several smaller chunks instead of just one. I split mine into just larger than what I would call kindling.
 
ironmanerik said:
That is what works for me. After reading on here I put at least the next split if not two on top of the fire box. How do you use the vents? I have been keeping everything wide open.
Click to expand...

Chimney is wide open...rear vent is almost shut and front vent about 1/2 to 3/4 open...I opened the vents a little bit as I added wood to get good air flow. I would leave the firebox door open for a minute or two and then shut it.
 
I do the same for my Lang 36...the fire box is only 17"...Once I get a good coal bed going...then use splits 9" long and on the small side...maybe 1/8 of the log...this size work great every hour or so for maintaining a 250 deg pit...
 
I use splits the same size I add 1 every 45 min to run at 300.YMMV
 
fire control

on my LANG 60 iuse splits the size of pop can or a little smaller leave pinwheels closed on one side full open on other side
 
MeatCandy said:
I do the same for my Lang 36...the fire box is only 17"...Once I get a good coal bed going...then use splits 9" long and on the small side...maybe 1/8 of the log...this size work great every hour or so for maintaining a 250 deg pit...
Click to expand...

What are your pinwheel vent settings? I have a 36" arriving this Sun/Mon.
 
Small splits were the trick for me also. You have to refuel a little more often, but the fire is very clean and the sticks burn great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cayenne
It's FINALLY here: My BlueSmoke Offset Smoker!!!
2 3 4
Replies
65
Views
4K
HogGrog
HogGrog
Headgear
New Stick Burner Help
Replies
16
Views
832
cayenne
cayenne
snadamo
Maiden Cook on OKJ Offset: Pulled Pork
Replies
8
Views
568
TheHojo
TheHojo
D
Clean Fire in a Oklahoma Joess Bronco
Replies
9
Views
1K
mcyork28
mcyork28
P
Offset: Firebox damper+stack damper for best smoke/temp/fuel control?
Replies
14
Views
2K
smokeisgood
S
Back
Top