Just An Idea...

[Rusty James]

I've seen some of you wiring two charcoal grates together, perpendicular to each other, to keep small pieces of lump charcoal from falling through. I've found a way to remedy the charcoal loss, without a second grate, by adding a single layer of briquettes on the grate first before adding lump charcoal. I have also included three pieces of hickory in the mix for this smoke (sausage links, patties, franks). I usually bury five pieces for long smokes.

This is my first year anniversary of using a WSM, and I am getting better according to friends and family. I've even started adding a rub of late, and it is getting rave reviews, and I think I like it better with rub too.

 

[JBooker]

What about when the coals are extinguished? That's usually when you need the finer grate. That way you can give it a shake to sift the ash and coal out.

 

[Rusty James]

What about when the coals are extinguished? That's usually when you need the finer grate. That way you can give it a shake to sift the ash and coal out.

I made this from alloy mesh just for sifting sand, dirt, and charcoal, but I haven't used it in a while....

...however, most of the coals that are small enough to fall through the coal grate have no practical use for me. After last night's extinguish and cleanup, I sifted through the bowl by hand and saved a few handfuls of the smaller stuff and threw the rest away.

For what it's worth, the screen mesh, turned upside down, works great for a place to ignite a chimney. The air space underneath prevents damage to concrete surfaces.