Smoking Question for a Dummy

[TexasSun]

OK, I have a question and I know there are tons of answers, but I wanted to know what y'alls techniques were for building a fire for smoking.

Typically I just use charcoal and use wet wood chips or chunks on top once everything is going. I have also tried just using mesquite or oak wood and had good results, but wanted to know other techniques that our Hornfans brethren use.

 

[jmrob93]

What kind of pit/grill/heating device?

What are you cooking? How big is it, how long does it take?

 

[coachkiss]

I had always used charcoal in a chimney starter, layered it on the rack, and threw split logs on top. Most of my smoking time seemed to be keeping charcoal in the chimney.

A friend of mine showed me a "fire wand" that he made. It was a pipe that was capped at the end, but had some port holes near the end on the sides of the pipe. It was connected to a rubber hose, that was connected to a propane tank. Turn on the gas, light the wand, and stick it under the wood to get it going. Once the wood gets going take it out.

It has enhanced my smoking enjoyment tremendously.

 

[El Paso Way]

Coach, is the pipe with the holes used the same as a charcoal starter? What diameter pipe did he use. i would assume the wood would have to be cut up in chunks in order to fill the pipe. Could you explain this a little more? I have always liked using coals from the wood rather than putting the wood directly onto the fire. Its just never practical. Living out here in El Paso means wood comes at a premium, and I'm always looking for ways to get the most out of it.

 

[TexasSun]

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[OzzieVirgil]

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[NCAAFBALLROX]

I usually star with Oak lump in a chimney & then put my split logs on top. Give it a bit & everything is up to proper temperature.

Occasionally, I will put a stick of the wood in the chimney along with the Oak lump charcoal, but mostly up @ the top of the chimney.

 

[TheFied]

I smoked 4 racks of spare ribs on Labor Day. I used a full chimney starter of lump charcoal. I lined my firebox with about 1/2 of the chimney starter with unlit lump coal. After the chimney starter gets lit I pour the lit ones on the unlit ones.

After that gets going, I throw either mesquite or hickory logs in the firebox.

It usually takes me 30min to get the chimney starter going, I then pour them in the firebox and I wait another 15-30min before putting the logs on.

 

[coachkiss]

Ozzie,

That was exactly what I was talking about.

 

[hullabelew]

Pedro here is holding the firestick he made for getting the wood going in our smoker. It ain't store-bought, but it works.

 

[Luke Duke]

I use this

 

[judgroybeanbag]

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[hullabelew]

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[NCAAFBALLROX]

Yeah, this is my rig:

I have been in the wrong place @ the wrong time & haven't gotten the tank refilled in some time now.

The chimney starter is a good backup in case you go empty on the tank. If you sign up for the Email coupons from Harbor Frieght, you'll get that torch kit coming up on sale about once every 3 months or so. We actually use them all the time for doing roofing work "SBS Modified", or a granulated roofing topcoat (3' long roll, weighs around 100 lbs) with a tar type backing that is flame activated. The Harbor Freight kit is just as good as the ones that I have gotten from my commercial roofing supply houses, but they don't provide a sparker (also available there).

BTW, here's my log splitter:

When I'm using the propane tank, I just get the wood on fire with the torch & don't bother with any charcoal to start.

 

[Sooner-Tuf]

My firebox has a piece of 3/4" square tubing that runs along the bottom. You can hook up propane or natural gas to start wood or charcoal.

It slides out easily but I just leave it except when cleaning out the firebox. They last 3-4 years. If you took it out when not using it I suspect it would last darn near forever.

I hate filling propane tanks so I only use that where natural gas is not an option.

 

[TheFied]

Wow, you guys are in a big hurry.