Soaking Chunks ?

[jerkyaddict]

just wondering how many folk's soak chunks in coal smoking , and if so for how long ??? i dont seem to get any decent smoke when i soak , but then again i sometime's get full ignition when i dont

then i get temp change
and it's less smoke too plus a pain in the arse to control heat......any help
with this would be much appreciated !!

 

[fatback joe]

No soaking for me.

 

[flash]

I soak, always have, always will. Otherwise as you state, instant ignition. I will soak wood for a couple of hours. I figure if it soaks well into the wood chunk, maybe the outside does dry and ignite, but it should burn more slowly towards the interior of the chunk that is still damp. I've never had any problems getting smoke.

 

[desertlites]

most times I soak,but there are times I don't-why u ask?can't say for sure-just playing I spose,but I do find if I smoke dry it catches fire often.

 

[packplantpath]

I've done both. All I can tell is that soaking delayed the inevitable by about an hour.

In my SnP, if the wood flames up, it's because I've got the airflow too high, in which case I close it down and if necessary, just take my tongs and pick the burning chunk up, blow the flames out, and stick it in a metal bucket until it's just smoldering at which time I put it back in. Most of the time I don't have to take it out, but sometimes they just seem to be smoking too much for me and don't want to stop very fast. This normally occurs if I'm not doing a good job paying attention and I let it get burning too good.

My rule, if I can see the smoke, there is too much smoke.

 

[richtee]

I'm sold on pre-burning. Makes all this irrelevant.

 

[jerkyaddict]

guessing when i soaked i did it too long , hence less smoke !!! the info here is heavenly thank's for input guy's .

and richtee how do you pre-burn ?? maybe i could do that instead

 

[richtee]

I have a grate I put over my turkey frier/camp cookera and stack chunks on it. Fire it up and let 'em burn to just about when the flames start dying..then into the pan/pit.

 

[jerkyaddict]

Richtee that is genius

i haz one dem dare turkey fryer's , only cooked
turkey in it once.....After i saw how many people burn'd down whatever
they lived in i got too scared to use it for anything but seafood boil's or doin big batch taters for salads n such..... but i think you may have the yellow brick road right there THANK YOU SIR !!!!

 

[richtee]

It's only fire, and I can't take credit for that one...LOL!

Yer welcome.

 

[fatback joe]

Sure you can, just let me take the credit for the wheel. LOL

 

[richtee]

Huh... I knew ya were old..but WOW...

 

[glued2it]

If you would like to have more information on the subject, The search feature should show several results.

 

[jerkyaddict]

Thanks glued hadnt thought of that either :D

 

[kookie]

I never soak........Takes to long to make smoke in my little cheif when soaked........

 

[13spicerub]

i did an experiment with wood chunks, i soaked for a few hours, and a day, and a week. the water never got even closed to the center of the chunk. eventually the water will evap and it'll catch fire and raise your temp.

wrap it in foil and poke 2-3 small holes on each side, never had a flare up since.

 

[smokin' joe]

I pre burn...soaking is just a hassle in my opinion. But...to each his own use an old coffee can with several holes punched in it to get the same effect.

 

[cubguy17]

I have always soaked even if it was for only 30 minutes, and I get nice looking thin smoke. I tried 1 time on a last minute decision to smoke not to soak the wood, and my normal Thin Blue Smoke was Thick White Smoke.
NO GOOD. So I will continue to soak. Never tried preburning might have to give it a try.

 

[jerkyaddict]

13spicerub i feel it....did it and thought i did something wrong along the way failure cant beat the odd's wood catches fire no matter sooner or later

 

[richtee]

You are under a false impression. Dunno why. But what does steam look like? Seriously... thin blue can ONLY come from partially combusted material. As water <and other things> cook off, the smoke WILL be white. Period.

Yes this is a calling to the carpet... anyone?