Thank you BigAl! That is the quality answer that I was looking for to answer my question. I shudda went to the origional source to begin with.
I will now order my LOG basket from Spicewine. Thanks again BigAl.
Markbet, aside from the chatter in this thread, is there something "wrong" with the other answers??. Being i was the only one that responded, it seems to me you are implying the answers were not of good 'quality'. Sorry you didnt get what you wanted. But for the benefits of the other members, I will continue anyway.
It is called a "charcoal basket" for a reason, not a log basket.
IMO, stacking the basket with logs, is no different than stacking the logs on the firegrate. As I stated before, i dont see it buying you anything for burning just logs. With charcoal or lump however, a basket slows the burn, it controls the pile and stops it from spilling into a flat pile of burning coal with increased airflow and burning too hot. By keeping the coals stacked, it slows the burn by limiting airflow.
But stacking logs in the basket and thinking you can go to sleep for 4 hours is taking a risk.
Focus on the real purpose of the basket being to
extend unattended burn times. The basket usually runs extended periods- 4-6-8 hrs, with the dampers
mostly closed. I would NOT want to run for an extended period, with nothing but unburned wood starting to ignite, with a closed damper. This most likly is going to lead to smouldering.. and white smoke. Leave the damper open and eventually, you will have a blazing fire.
This is less likely to happen with some lump or charcoal mixed in to aid in faster and cleaner ignition. Unbuned wood has impurities that will be released during a slow ignition, this will impart nasty flvors to the meat. Lump has these impurities burned out allready, it can ign ite slowly without the nasty flavors. Charcoal is somewhere in between. But slow smoldering ignition to just wood is by far the worst. To avoid that, you need airflow... and if your not there... you got a blaze.
So, IMO, the basket, yes will work with logs, but will NOT give you an unattended extended burn. You leave a basket full of logs alone for a few hours, with the dampers closed, you are coming back to white smoke and sooty food. On the other hand, leave it with the dampers OPEN, for an extended time, and you will be coming back to meat jerky ande peeled paint. You are not going to get the extended UNATTENDED burn you would with charcoal or lump. All you will have is a neatly burning log fire that still needs tending.
So back to my original
crummy answer. A
charcoal basket...it will not buy you anything for burning just logs.
In the water pan v. Sand pan discussions, we say "they call it a water pan for a reason".. well, they call it a "charcoal basket" for a reason.