Fire?? What am I doing?!!

[deadeye531]

Ok guys I guess I need alot of help. I have alittle Charbroil Smoker with the fire box on the side. I see alot of guys with big baskets full of briquettes and say that will last all night. I cant seem to put extra in for them all burning at the same time? Is there a trick to this? I start about 15 briquettes and let them burn and then try to add extra around but they all burn and I just have to add as I go. Would be nice as Im gonna be up all night with this butt and then working again tomorrow also. What was I thinking? Besides being hooked on smoking. Oh Im using bif blue k bag.

[ON THE FARM]

you need to make a basket, i have a 12" tall and 12" diameter in mine. then that is what you fill with unburned briquettes then you put your 15 or so lit coals on top of that to get a long burn. it is called the minion method. it will be kind of close to the lid when you add the lit coals but works good.
regulate the temp with the damper on the side.

[deadeye531]

I have a basket for them but I didnt know I was suppose to put them on top. Will it hurt if I change it now? I just put a pork butt on an hour ago. How long will that burn? Do i need to watch it constantly like I do now?

[Jeff S.]

When you add the lit coals, add them to the side of your coals closest to the smoking chamber, away from the intake vent.

It slows the burn back through the unlit coals.

Hope that makes sense.

Also, as you add more coals, push the burning coals closer to the smoke chamber and then add the unlit coals closer to the intake.


Jeff S.

[TheMidnightSmoker]

I dont think you can change it now that it has been going. Remember for next time to put the few burning coals on top. This should give you are real long burn time.

[ON THE FARM]

where did you put the lit coals?

[deadeye531]

I had the lit coals in the basket in the fire box with some hickory. I just ran out real quick and put about 5" of coals in another basket that is 14"x14" and then took the lit basket out real quick and changed them out putting the lit ones now on top of the other basket. Had it done in less than a minute and didnt loose my temps just gotta watch it for a bit. Glad I found this site yall know so much.

[ON THE FARM]

that should work, keep an eye on your temps for a while now. remember small adjustments at a time.

[toadhunter911]

I usually get a good 3-4 hours from my initial basket (mine is a piece of 24'X24" expanded metal cut at the corners and folded to make a basket). Here's pic of a similar one...

http://i17.tinypic.com/66djtdd.jpg

I put about 5 lbs of unlit briquettes in the basket, piled around the edges and a little in the center, with whatever smoke wood I'm using. I like to use cherry and pecan chunks. Then light about half a chimney of lump and add it to the center of the basket when its totally lit.

I usually have to add a little lit coal (lump and briquettes) every 90 minutes or so, about a half a chimney full, to maintain 250 for a 12 hour cook.

They do require a good deal of babysitting, and alot of airflow adjusting, but my Chargriller turns out some mighty fine Q. Good luck brother!

[deadeye531]

Ive got a basket just about the same as yours well actually 3 of them lol. How much charcoal do you go through for a long burn? I have an 18 pound bag but think I need more. i have until 6pm est sat. 14 pound butt.

[RDWD]

Im getting ready to put two butts on my cos tonight for an overnight as well. I haven't made a basket yet so I'm gonna be doing a lot of babysitting as well. Im gonna flip the charcoal trough thingy upside down to aid in the heat dispersion this time. I'll keep you posted with some pics as I go. Looks like I'm in for the long haul tonight. Good luck deadeye.

[deadeye531]

Good luck to you. I will be on here more than likely. Will try to do pics. as I go

[RDWD]

Sounds good, I walked outside a second ago and I thought I could smell your smoke coming from the North haha.

[toadhunter911]

Ive got a basket just about the same as yours well actually 3 of them lol. How much charcoal do you go through for a long burn? I have an 18 pound bag but think I need more. i have until 6pm est sat. 14 pound butt.

She eats alot of fuel. I went thru a 14 lb bag of briquettes, a 10 lb bag of lump, and about 4 lbs of pecan chunks on the 35 lbs of butts I did today. Took a bit over 12 hours.

[deadeye531]

How did it only take 12 hrs? at an hr and half my 14 pounds is gonna take 21 hrs according to my thinking. Please tell me Im wrong lol.

RDWD wouldnt doubt it lol. since I changed the baskets the smoke was pouring out

[toadhunter911]

How did it only take 12 hrs? at an hr and half my 14 pounds is gonna take 21 hrs according to my thinking. Please tell me Im wrong lol.

RDWD wouldnt doubt it lol. since I changed the baskets the smoke was pouring out

What temp you cooking at?

[deadeye531]

225-250 with some mess ups lol

[NorthwestBBQ]

Seal it up and put a Guru or Stoker on it and that basket of coal will burn like a candle wick.

[jasonalan724]

man, i remember ECB days. You will learn excelent fire skills the way you are working. Its good all around for Q knowledge. I think over ten lbs of butt doesnt matter. if you can fit it on your smoker it should only take 12 at most

[toadhunter911]

man, i remember ECB days. You will learn excelent fire skills the way you are working. Its good all around for Q knowledge. I think over ten lbs of butt doesnt matter. if you can fit it on your smoker it should only take 12 at most

Agreed. I cooked at 250ish, had 5 butts around 7# each and took 12 hours and 15 minutes.

[RDWD]

I don't have a time frame in mind for mine, as they say on here it is done when it is done.

[toadhunter911]

Seal it up and put a Guru or Stoker on it and that basket of coal will burn like a candle wick.

If I don't upgrade to a better unit next spring, I'm gonna add a guru or stoker.

[deadeye531]

hmm well thats good to know. Think I got the fire settled down now and Im the only one up lol. Funny how we do all the work and everyone else will just love to eat it. A long night ahead of me and gotta referee soccer games tomorrow.