Just bought my first WSM. The 14.5". Couldn't pass up the price. It was on clearance for $99. Took it to the register and it rang up $54.00. Holy Crap!!! Best Deal I've gotten all year. Anyhow, I was reading some of the recipes and cooking procedures on this site and my question is this: Are the charcoal chimney loads the same for all size WSM's? For example, the procedure calls for a full load of lit and then a full load of unlit. Are the charcoal holders the same size for the 14.5", 18.5" and 22.5" or do I need to minimize my charcoal for the 14.5"? If so, buy how much?
Charcoal Loads
- Thread starter Vic
- Start date
Bob Ivey
TVWBB Emerald Member
First, welcome to the site!
Second, where in socal are you and where did you get that fabulous price and do they have more?
The charcoal holders are each a different size.
As for how much to buy, get what you need for now (a few bags will hold you for a while) but when the sales hit then stock up. A lot of us store a lot when the bags are half the normal price. Just makes sense. Congrats on the new smoker.
Second, where in socal are you and where did you get that fabulous price and do they have more?
The charcoal holders are each a different size.
As for how much to buy, get what you need for now (a few bags will hold you for a while) but when the sales hit then stock up. A lot of us store a lot when the bags are half the normal price. Just makes sense. Congrats on the new smoker.
Dwain Pannell
TVWBB Hall of Fame
Hey Vic. I recommend the Weber part number 7447 Compact Chimney Starter for the 14.5".
Bob, Thanks for the Welcome.
I scored this little beauty at the OSH in Granada Hills off of Chatsworth and Zelzah. Unfortunately, It was the last one they had.
In regards to the charcoal, I'm an avid grill'er on my 22.5" kettle so I always stock up on KBB. Especially during the Holiday sales at Home Depot. Will buy enough to last me a few months at a time.
I was really looking for amounts to load into the 14.5", but it looks like Dwain has recommended I use the compact chimney starter instead of the full size.
Thank you both for the suggestions and help. Looking forward to doing a lot of smokin
I scored this little beauty at the OSH in Granada Hills off of Chatsworth and Zelzah. Unfortunately, It was the last one they had.
In regards to the charcoal, I'm an avid grill'er on my 22.5" kettle so I always stock up on KBB. Especially during the Holiday sales at Home Depot. Will buy enough to last me a few months at a time.
I was really looking for amounts to load into the 14.5", but it looks like Dwain has recommended I use the compact chimney starter instead of the full size.
Thank you both for the suggestions and help. Looking forward to doing a lot of smokin
timothy
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
That's the standard method and is fine for shorter cooks that you would want HH. If you want longer and slower ( or higher ) use the Minion Method. Most if not all of us fill the charcoal chamber to full than top off with a small amount of lit, on my 18'5" I use a quarter chimney, but for the 14.5" you might use less. You really have to experiment with what you want as far as cooker temps, time etc.
OBTW welcome to the board
Tim
Robert McGee
TVWBB Gold Member
Vic;
Welcome to the club!
Congratulations on that GREAT buy. I bought my 14.5 as "broken box" from Amazon for just over $150 and thought I hit the jackpot. Still do feel that way. It is a terrific little smoker. I use a "tin can" Minion start and use 8-10 lit briquettes in the tin can:
The picture is of my Mini-Joe but the principle is the same. By the way, I use a pair of water pump pliers to remove the tin can as it can get very hot
...
After you dump the lit briquettes in the tin can (the can has both ends cut out), you remove the tin can and the lit gradually expands the fire radially to the outside. This helps to control the temperature as well as give you a nice progressive burn. It is very predictable. You can adjust the number of briquettes that tells you it is correct for YOU.
After your cook is over and you have removed the meat, shut all vents and the next day you can remove the unused portion of the coals and use them in your grill. I prefer to start with all new in my smoker so I can predict my timing on the cook.
Keep on smokin',
Dale53
Welcome to the club!
Congratulations on that GREAT buy. I bought my 14.5 as "broken box" from Amazon for just over $150 and thought I hit the jackpot. Still do feel that way. It is a terrific little smoker. I use a "tin can" Minion start and use 8-10 lit briquettes in the tin can:
The picture is of my Mini-Joe but the principle is the same. By the way, I use a pair of water pump pliers to remove the tin can as it can get very hot
...After you dump the lit briquettes in the tin can (the can has both ends cut out), you remove the tin can and the lit gradually expands the fire radially to the outside. This helps to control the temperature as well as give you a nice progressive burn. It is very predictable. You can adjust the number of briquettes that tells you it is correct for YOU.
After your cook is over and you have removed the meat, shut all vents and the next day you can remove the unused portion of the coals and use them in your grill. I prefer to start with all new in my smoker so I can predict my timing on the cook.
Keep on smokin',
Dale53
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