Hey...I use more chips than Illini and I am Illini...most people will not belive how little wood it takes....so start them on the low side is my theory....Now try making your own chunks the size of a marshmallow and add one each time with 2 or 3 chips...take a new paint stirring stick and manage the burn...moving things around by removing the loading tray and manipulating where the wood is inside the wood box..turn the dump slowly so the added stuff falls on top of the old stuff...I'm full of em!!