Charcoal

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

How much charcoal should one add to maintain a constant temp around 225??? How often should it be added??? And how much should you start with???

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

P.S. I know i've been asking a ton of questions on here lately, and i just hope i'm not bugging y'all with my lack of experience, knowledge, etc. It's just that most of ya seem to be quite knowledgeable on most things Q, and i just wanna get to that point where you're at. So again, sorry i ask so many questions, but thanks for all the help.

mikekilian1947 · Posted: Jan 28 2006 Post subject:

Hard to answer your question without a few more details. What kind of smoker do you have? This, in and of itself, will not necessarily give enough information to give you a definitive answer, but it may help. In the end, you will need to work with your equipment to see what works and what doesn't. Also, another consideration is the outside temp this time of the year. I'd be happy to give it a shot!

Mike
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"I can smell the future." Nostrildomus

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Its a homemade smoker, and there are some pics of it under the topic "I NEED HELP!!!". about half way down the 1st page it think.

Doc1680 · Posted: Jan 28 2006 Post subject:

Mike is right. There are too many variables to give an exact answer. You'll just have to go with what you thinkand adjust. I know on my first few smokes learing how to control my fire.
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Doc

Nate · Newbie Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Houston, TX

Its hard to tell you exactly how much to add or what method you should use. I saw the pics of your smoker and think, from the size of things, that you should not need to make a huge fire. If you use the minion method your fire will burn longer, helping keep a good temp. There is a thread about the minion method somewhere on the board, just can't find it right now.

You will be best served just experimenting with your smoker over time as to how much coal and wood works best for you and for what temps you would like to keep.

I would start with a chimney full of coals and a few small pieces of wood.

mikekilian1947 · Posted: Jan 29 2006 Post subject:

I think Nate is correct. One chimney of coals on some wood or an additional pile of coal should be a good start. I saw your pics online and I'd recommend that you add some sort of grate to suspend the coals off the bottom of your firebox. They will tend to "insulate" and smother the live coals. I find that I have a few problems with this on my own smoker as the day wears on. Get a thermometer, an inexpensive pork butt, add the coals and wood and see what your pit want to do -- it's going to be a learning process for the first few smokes but you'll always have something to eat at the end of the day. Let us know how things go.

Mike
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"I can smell the future." Nostrildomus