Are Fireboxes Simply Too Big???

LeeBo · 02-13-2005, 08:08 PM

Here's something for a philosophical Q discussion:

I've noticed that every upright and/or barrel smoker that I have ever seen would benefit from a basket. I was thinking today as I placed my basket (with divider) in the firebox - "Why don't they just make smaller fireboxes?"

I suppose the trade-off would be smaller wood size, but still, you could load it fully packed, light it, and be ready to smoke.

Moreover, if you ever had the chance to build your own smoker, would you use an normal sized firebox with a smaller in-set basket or just build a smaller firebox?

- LeeBo

Wayne · 02-13-2005, 09:04 PM

Baskets need good ventilation. That is why they are full of holes and smaller than the firebox.

LeeBo · 02-13-2005, 09:22 PM

My initial thought/response was, "What about those that don't use baskets. The boxes are still large." However, I see your point.

The size of the box is for more than fuel. Takes oxygen to burn it.

(Wish someone would cut down the trees so I could see the forest) hehehe.

- LeeBo

Heimelswine · 02-14-2005, 12:05 AM

Quote:

(Wish someone would cut down the trees so I could see the forest) hehehe.

- LeeBo

LLLMAO

BBQchef33 · 02-14-2005, 12:27 AM

BYC has a 20x20x24 firebox and once hot will maintain 250 on a single 8 inch split or small coalbed. Larger box gives you versatality. Lets you build a large fire for preheat and establishing a coalbed.. once its hot, it and allows smaller fires with better airflow.

kcquer · 02-14-2005, 05:45 AM

The one dimension that is almost never big enough, especially on the 'dera, is height. The vertical space required for ashroom and air circulation under the fire plus the vertical space required for an efficent, controlable basket fire makes height the most critical dimension and unfortunately its usually the first over looked.

02-13-2005, 08:08 PM	#1
LeeBo On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-11-05 Location: Soonerville, OK Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Are Fireboxes Simply Too Big??? Here's something for a philosophical Q discussion: I've noticed that every upright and/or barrel smoker that I have ever seen would benefit from a basket. I was thinking today as I placed my basket (with divider) in the firebox - "Why don't they just make smaller fireboxes?" I suppose the trade-off would be smaller wood size, but still, you could load it fully packed, light it, and be ready to smoke. Moreover, if you ever had the chance to build your own smoker, would you use an normal sized firebox with a smaller in-set basket or just build a smaller firebox? - LeeBo

02-14-2005, 12:27 AM	#5
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	BYC has a 20x20x24 firebox and once hot will maintain 250 on a single 8 inch split or small coalbed. Larger box gives you versatality. Lets you build a large fire for preheat and establishing a coalbed.. once its hot, it and allows smaller fires with better airflow. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

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02-13-2005, 09:04 PM	#2
Wayne is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-26-03 Location: Fall River, Kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Baskets need good ventilation. That is why they are full of holes and smaller than the firebox.

02-13-2005, 09:22 PM	#3
LeeBo On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-11-05 Location: Soonerville, OK Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My initial thought/response was, "What about those that don't use baskets. The boxes are still large." However, I see your point. The size of the box is for more than fuel. Takes oxygen to burn it. (Wish someone would cut down the trees so I could see the forest) hehehe. - LeeBo

02-14-2005, 05:45 AM	#6
kcquer Lives in Spirit Join Date: 02-17-04 Location: Wherever there's Sweet Blue Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The one dimension that is almost never big enough, especially on the 'dera, is height. The vertical space required for ashroom and air circulation under the fire plus the vertical space required for an efficent, controlable basket fire makes height the most critical dimension and unfortunately its usually the first over looked.