When adding charcoal on a long smoke?


 
F

Frank B

New member
Just wondering what the group likes as the quickest and cleanest way to add charcoal to a long cook.

Butts and brisket will usually go beyond the limit of the ring in my 22.5.
 
I have not had to refuel during brisket and butt cooks with temps at 275. Fill that ring up good and you should be OK. Unless its 28 degrees out and windy.......

Simply open the aluminum door and toss the unlit charcoal on top of the burning charcoal. I use a small coal shovel I used to use with my off-set for adding to the WSM......
 
A full ring of coal on my 18.5" usually gets the job done.
If I had to add more fuel, than a coal shovel like Scott uses will work, or if you add handles to the mid-section, than just lift it off and add coals as needed.

Tim
 
For quick heat I just light part of a chimney's worth and dump the lit coals in the middle of the ring with a shovel. And you don't have to use a small camping or fireplace shovel with the big 22.5", either. If temps are still looking good but the coal bed isn't, I'll start adding a couple handfuls of unlit lump in every so often.
 
A full ring of coal on my 18.5" usually gets the job done.
Click to expand...

Not on a 22.

I don't like the ash that starts coming up when your stirring or adding coals so if I have to ad I take the meat right off for a minute or so.
That's just me. With the 18.5 and handles lifting if off solves those issues. It settles back in pretty quick
 
Originally posted by Gary S:
I don't like the ash that starts coming up when your stirring or adding coals so if I have to ad I take the meat right off for a minute or so.
Click to expand...

Most of the time, my meat will already be all foiled, but if not, I just shut the top vents when opening the door to add fuel. I won't use any charcoal like Kbb, though, or any other that is notorious for requiring stirring of the coals.
 
Originally posted by ScottE:
I have not had to refuel during brisket and butt cooks with temps at 275. Fill that ring up good and you should be OK. Unless its 28 degrees out and windy.......

Simply open the aluminum door and toss the unlit charcoal on top of the burning charcoal. I use a small coal shovel I used to use with my off-set for adding to the WSM......
Click to expand...

I like the coal shovel. Thought about that but I have not found one for sale. Yet.
 
Originally posted by Dave Russell:
For quick heat I just light part of a chimney's worth and dump the lit coals in the middle of the ring with a shovel. And you don't have to use a small camping or fireplace shovel with the big 22.5", either. If temps are still looking good but the coal bed isn't, I'll start adding a couple handfuls of unlit lump in every so often.
Click to expand...

This is what I have done, but always look for another way. The charcoal soot isn't my idea of the way to go.
 
Originally posted by Gary S:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">A full ring of coal on my 18.5" usually gets the job done.
Click to expand...

Not on a 22.

I don't like the ash that starts coming up when your stirring or adding coals so if I have to ad I take the meat right off for a minute or so.
That's just me. With the 18.5 and handles
lifting if off solves those issues. It settles back in pretty quick </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I haven't decided to put handles on the mid-section yet, I figured it would interfere with my beer and banjo. We usually have 4 or more pickn and hungry guys lookin on. Handles may be the way, but not ready for that yet.
 
Originally posted by Bob Mann:
Hi Frank and welcome aboard.

Bob
Click to expand...

Thanks Bob and everyone who answers.
I have always fully supported Ben Franklin, he was one wise old man.
icon_smile.gif
 
Originally posted by Dave Russell:
For quick heat I just light part of a chimney's worth and dump the lit coals in the middle of the ring with a shovel. And you don't have to use a small camping or fireplace shovel with the big 22.5", either. If temps are still looking good but the coal bed isn't, I'll start adding a couple handfuls of unlit lump in every so often.
Click to expand...

I don't use lump, but I do have a bag sitting around, may not be a bad idea to keep a little next to the firebox. Thanks
 
Originally posted by Dave Russell:
For quick heat I just light part of a chimney's worth and dump the lit coals in the middle of the ring with a shovel. And you don't have to use a small camping or fireplace shovel with the big 22.5", either. If temps are still looking good but the coal bed isn't, I'll start adding a couple handfuls of unlit lump in every so often.
Click to expand...

Frank, I was thinking about this sometime after posting. Anyway, I don't know why you couldn't add unlit and lit at the same time. I mean, if you add only unlit, that temporarily takes some btu's away until they're lit. Add only lit though, and the heat will only go down.

So why not take my flat head shovel to add a partial chimney of lit briquettes, and then lay a couple handfuls of unlit lump on top of that?
 
Originally posted by ScottE:
I cant remember where I got my shovel from but I know it was an on-line fireplace outfit....
Click to expand...
While fireplace or camping shovels work ok for my 18.5", I prefer a much larger one for my big wsm. With my square headed shovel I can add as little or as much as I want, and can easily reach through the door opening to add coals all the way to the opposite side of the ring if needed.
 
Originally posted by Dave Russell:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ScottE:
I cant remember where I got my shovel from but I know it was an on-line fireplace outfit....
Click to expand...
While fireplace or camping shovels work ok for my 18.5", I prefer a much larger one for my big wsm. With my square headed shovel I can add as little or as much as I want, and can easily reach through the door opening to add coals all the way to the opposite side of the ring if needed. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What is the size of your shovel.
Sounds like what I'd like to find.

Thanks for the added info.
 
Originally posted by Frank B:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dave Russell:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ScottE:
I cant remember where I got my shovel from but I know it was an on-line fireplace outfit....
Click to expand...
While fireplace or camping shovels work ok for my 18.5", I prefer a much larger one for my big wsm. With my square headed shovel I can add as little or as much as I want, and can easily reach through the door opening to add coals all the way to the opposite side of the ring if needed. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What is the size of your shovel.
Sounds like what I'd like to find.

Thanks for the added info. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

My shovel is just a typical full-size digging shovel. The length and width of the door opening, as well as the distance from the coal grate to the pan, is over 12". No problem.
wsmsmile8gm.gif
 
Originally posted by Dave Russell:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dave Russell:
For quick heat I just light part of a chimney's worth and dump the lit coals in the middle of the ring with a shovel. And you don't have to use a small camping or fireplace shovel with the big 22.5", either. If temps are still looking good but the coal bed isn't, I'll start adding a couple handfuls of unlit lump in every so often.
Click to expand...

You are probably right as long as I have let the fire get down that far.
So far, I have been on top of the fire and the need for lit charcoal being added has not been necessary.
I set the Que off at about midnight and it was in good shape until early hours when I added more unlit. Used about 25 more briquettes at that point and it worked out just right.

I'm looking for a mid-sized flat head shovel which seems to be about what will work best for me.
Most of the pit guys I know use a full size shovel when they tend their pit, but there they are using a lot of wood to build up a bed of coals and need to move it occasionally from place to place.
That would be a bit of overkill for my setup, but will certainly do what you say.
Thanks for the continued thought on the subject.

Frank, I was thinking about this sometime after posting. Anyway, I don't know why you couldn't add unlit and lit at the same time. I mean, if you add only unlit, that temporarily takes some btu's away until they're lit. Add only lit though, and the heat will only go down.

So why not take my flat head shovel to add a partial chimney of lit briquettes, and then lay a couple handfuls of unlit lump on top of that? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
 
The shovel that ScottE has is just like mine, I got it a Home Depot at the end of the season three years ago. I paid something like $2.00 for it, so I bought two.
 
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