"M&M" wrote in message
...

On 21-Apr-2004, "Graeme... in London"
wrote:

've been using whisky cask staves to produce my "smoke" over recent
months. I have been soaking them in water for an hour or two and double
wrapping
them in strong foil with small pin holes. The problem is that after
about
an
hour of smoking the stave ignites. I've not had any mishaps as yet as I
can pull the wrapped stave out the smoker and toss it.

I have been using 4" x 4" lengths of stave. Is this where the problem
lies? Are the pieces to big or is it the whisky igniting the wood?

Graeme, as written, your experience with double wrapped wood is a
mystery. I've read the rest of this thread and I don't disagree with
Monroe
or Jack, but I don't understand how a piece of wood can ignite in the
absense of oxygen. When I double wrap a few pieces of wood in
Reynolds aluminum foil and throw them on top of burning lump, I
usually end up with lump charcoal inside the foil. In one or two cases
the foil burned through because I let the fire get way to hot. In those
cases the wood burned to ash as expected. Some folk have put
chunks in a metal container in place of the water pan. In that case
the chunk container would not be in direct contact with the hot coals
and less likely to burn through.
--
M&M ("When You're Over The Hill You Pick Up Speed")

Thanks for the replies,

Upon checking, I think my foil is probably of a sub-standard quality. I
think it is burning through too quickly. I still think that the presence of
the whisky has a part to play as I've wrapped lengths of oak and pear in the
same foil and never had a problem. I am really wary when it does flare as
the flames are sizeable, and the inside of my (bullet) smokers aren't as
clean as they could be!

I'll try a different, higher grade foil, dry stave and half size pieces and
report the findings.

Graeme