H
Handsome Jack
Guest
I've only had an 18.5 WSM for a short time. On my first long burn I felt clumsy reloading the charcoal a double handful at a time. Whats a better way? Any special tools or tricks?
HeSmellsLikeSmoke
somebody shut me the fark up.
I have a small steel shovel that came with a wood stove. It fits easily through the door so i can add lit coals in a practical manner.
Smoothsmoke
Babbling Farker
Use the minion method. That way you shouldn't need to reload. You should get 12+ hours easily on the 18".
Harbormaster
somebody shut me the fark up.
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,978
- Reaction score
- 6,583
- Points
- 113
- Age
- 60
- Location
- Wyocena/Pardeeville, WI
This.
I have an antique ash shovel I got from my grampa's estate after he passed. Works perfect.
I see from your location that you are Q'ing in a cold climate. The 18.5 with a FULL ring of charcoal will last me about 16 hours with an average outdoor temp of 70*F. That's maintaining a temp of approx 250 to 275*F on the top rack.
Do you use water in the pan? Consider wrapping the water pan in foil and using a substrate such as a ceramic flower pot saucer etc.
We see these questions a lot. With the WSM, outdoor temp and wind are big factors. You can make a lot of adjustments with your vents too.
It will take some experimentation.
To answer your original question, I mounted Stanley garage door handles on my rig so I could lift off the upper part and and add hot coal if needed.
Can do the "Hot Squat" if required. Good Luck!
BobM
Babbling Farker
I use an old garden trowel.
Sent from my Android phone.
Sent from my Android phone.
H
Handsome Jack
Guest
A old ash shovel, I'll find one.
I did use the Minion Method but maybe because I'm a new operator or maybe because of the blizzard I needed to add after about 10 hours. Although I could have been premature. I think it was about 15* F.
I did use the Minion Method but maybe because I'm a new operator or maybe because of the blizzard I needed to add after about 10 hours. Although I could have been premature. I think it was about 15* F.
Last edited by a moderator:
caseydog
somebody shut me the fark up.
Well, sometimes a man doesn't get his timing right. I hate to overload my WSM, and because of that, every once-in-a-while, I have to add fuel, because the meat is taking longer to cook than I planned for. And, I haven't developed a good plan for that reload.
I share the OP's interest in reloading. I use my hands, a pair of welder's gloves and some old tongs. It works okay, I guess. i think the problem for me is knowing when to add fuel, and how much at a time.
I'm thinking about getting an ice scoop for the hardware. But, I still haven't figured out when to add fuel, when I need to.
CD
H
Handsome Jack
Guest
While the door was open and the smoke and steam rolled out it was hard to see the charcoal level, a bright flashlight helps a lot.
H
Handsome Jack
Guest
Toast
That's a nice looking piece of meat. I would gladly share some with you.
That's funny, I just bought handles today but I'm getting old and i'm full of replacement parts. No hot squats for me.
That's a nice looking piece of meat. I would gladly share some with you.
That's funny, I just bought handles today but I'm getting old and i'm full of replacement parts. No hot squats for me.
Cayman1
is one Smokin' Farker
I made a chute out of a piece of aluminum I had. Bent 90 degrees and tapered on the end that goes into the wsm. Then I take a fireplace shovel, push the coals in the wsm to the rear and add the new lump on the front side by pouring down the chute.
Do not do this if you have unfoiled meat in the cooker as you will have dust. You really shiould do what they call the hot squat. That involves taking the lid and center section off and adding right on the coals in the ring. You need welding gloves as the cooker is hot and mounting Genie garage door handles on the middle section helps to do this.
Do not do this if you have unfoiled meat in the cooker as you will have dust. You really shiould do what they call the hot squat. That involves taking the lid and center section off and adding right on the coals in the ring. You need welding gloves as the cooker is hot and mounting Genie garage door handles on the middle section helps to do this.
fantomlord
is Blowin Smoke!
+1 on that...the garage door handles would make it easier, but even with mine running around 275°, I've found I can lift it to move aside with just a normal pair of leather work gloves without my hands burning at all.
Bluesman
Babbling Farker
I have an ice scoop and it works great. I add when the temps will no longer stay were I want them. My method is to use the scoop to redistribute the hot coals and then add some fresh on top.
deguerre
somebody shut me the fark up.
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2009
- Messages
- 27,145
- Reaction score
- 43,498
- Points
- 0
- Age
- 65
Excellent idea. I usually don't need to reload on my Cajun Bandit - the 22.5 width helps quite a bit - but I do have to redistribute sometimes. I'll check out the ice scoop!
BBQ Bandit
Babbling Farker
With the 22.5 WSM - with the door off, I gently pull sideways on the middle section and rotate it around as I add coals... thereby adding a fresh ring of coals.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2004
- Messages
- 42,755
- Reaction score
- 35,619
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Wandering, but not lost
Honestly, I have never had to reload mine. I fill the charcoal rings as full as I can get it, take 8-10 briquettes out of the middle and light them in a chimney and then put them in the depression where they once were. Then I assemble it and cook.
If you are using water, make sure you put boiling water in the pan. That way you don't burn fuel heating cold water. Also, it's really the wind that sucks the heat out of a WSM, especially in the winter, so fashion some sort of wind block to cut the wind.
If you are using water, make sure you put boiling water in the pan. That way you don't burn fuel heating cold water. Also, it's really the wind that sucks the heat out of a WSM, especially in the winter, so fashion some sort of wind block to cut the wind.
deguerre
somebody shut me the fark up.
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2009
- Messages
- 27,145
- Reaction score
- 43,498
- Points
- 0
- Age
- 65
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2004
- Messages
- 42,755
- Reaction score
- 35,619
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Wandering, but not lost
You can come out. Sadly, it's true, but I'm holding on to them so I can leave them to Harbormaster when I die :becky:
JD McGee
somebody shut me the fark up.
Very rarely do I ever need to re-load...if I do I use the door as a "coal chute" and dump a chimney full down it...
Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2
