viking72
Fire Starter
Try no basket, no briquettes, one chimney of lump with 3 or 4 splits of hardwood on top. Let it burn!
I don't know what else to suggest, unless the wood you are using is not seasoned? Maybe someone else can help because something is going on.
HI All Another try at stick burning, here are the results..First off I tried to use the charcoal basket, once again. Filled the basket 3/4 full of Kingsford Blue with a can in the middle/minion method, place the hot coals in the middle , Ditch the charcoal and build a wood fire using seasoned wood, once everything got hot, are you letting the coals properly ash over? tried to get the a smaller cherry split/12x1 going, not much luck..
I then emptied the basket on the firebox grate which sits 4" above FB floor.Tried once again to get the smaller splits going , no such luck, but with firebox lid open there were flames, also at times with the vent door open, flames would appear. Some how I finally got a bigger split/12x3 to flame.Temps by the FB were around 300-350, You have a 350° hot spot yet you cant get wood to light? on the end away from the FB temps were 300. I had to keep opening the cooking pit door to lower temps.Next timer maybe all small splits 6x3 Ditch the charcoal and build a wood fire using seasoned wood
When I emptied the basket onto the FBI grate a lot of coals went under the grate. How do I fix that problem. Going to give stick burning another try. If NOT successful, I will go back to using charcoal and wood just for the flavor.Seems like I have an air flow problem?
Thanks Dan
PS With all that the ribs came out pretty good.
Hi You mean start off with just the splits? That is why I started with the White Birch, to give me a bed of coals, before adding apple splits.
From the pic, your charcoal will choke the flame as there is no air movement underneath, as mentioned before try without the charcoal JUST WOOD, that's all I got... Goodluck!
Hi All Well here are the results. Most of time the new splits caught on fire, other times, it was MPIA to get them going.
Here are my findings/thoughts on stick burning.
1. Lest charcoal is the better way to go
2.You MUST stay on the top of things. Once the fire & temps go down. it is HARD to get the splits burning and the temps up. Temps came really fluctuate.
3. I had to use a lot splits 12 x 1/2 to keep things going. One could go broke using just wood.
Speaking of wood I think can get Oak splits 17" x 3/4" x 3/4" for 50 cents a piece. 17" would be a tight fit in my firebox. Each should be good for about 1 hr. So 10 splits=10 hrs burn time=$5.00. Not a bad way to go "IF" I can get them big splits to burn.
4. Half way thur I had to start and add 1/2 chimney KB, to get temps back up.
5. It takes a lot of work to keep a stick burning going
6. NOT sure if it is worth the time and effort or $$.
Thanks Dan
PS Last pic is the white birch, which was the 1st to go, before adding the apple.
From the pic, your charcoal will choke the flame as there is no air movement underneath, as mentioned before try without the charcoal JUST WOOD, that's all I got... Goodluck!
You got me so confused at this point, did you start this last burn with wood then add coals later?
Hi You mean start off with just the splits? That is why I started with the White Birch, to give me a bed of coals, before adding apple splits.
Just picked a few cherry and oak splits. Going to try again soon
Thanks Dan