Thanks, you have answered my exact question.

Thanks again.

Ray

Brick wrote:
> On 6-Oct-2004, "Edwin Pawlowski" > wrote:
>
>
>>"Ray Steinhart" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>I have read many comments about not using whole wood for bbq, only
>>>charcoal. Yet I have visited many bbq joints and they all seem to use
>>>whole wood. How is this so? What makes their pits acceptable to the use
>>>of whole wood.
>>
>>The Brinkman is designed for charcoal. You can add small amounts of wood to
>>get additional smoke flavor though.
>>
>>The big pits have larger fire boxes that get plentyof air and a good hot
>>fire. Too much wood in the smaller units makes for cooker burning fires
>>that give off lots of creosote and other nasties. They require much more
>>tending also.
>>
>>Split some wood down to pieces about 1 x 1 x 12 and toss one in every half
>>hour or so on top of the charcoal.
>
>
> <purposely not snipped>
>
> Kinda what Ed said. I use an offset, albeit a lesser smaller one; NB Silver. I can
> use all wood, but it's a PITA. I have to use small wood, 2" or less and tend the
> fire constantly. The problem is that you have to have a lot of airflow to keep
> combustion at a high level to control the smoke. That means a lot of heat if
> the fire is the least bit too large. Mostly I use a single 3" log on top of a bed of
> burning lump. The log never really ignites and lasts though most of the cook.
> After the first couple of hours, I don't bother with any raw wood. It took me a
> good six months to get control of my offset cooker.I have visited BBQ joints
> that use all wood in big commercial ovens. They invariable have wide open
> draft where the wood can get all the air that it needs to burn cleanly. There's
> one right here in Tampa, (Well Brandon). Their ovens are about 6 feet wide
> and 18" high lined with fire brick. They build the fire on the far right side and
> cook the meat on the rest of the surface. You can see the fire from the
> serving counter and it is a bright active fire. But sizewize it isn't very big.
> Maybe 18" in dia. and 3" deep. (First Choice Barbecue, Brandon Town
> Center, Brando, FL)