My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped one unlit
chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of lit coals on
top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny fraction at
most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top grate at 240
ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of the lump was
gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the perimeter of the
fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more hours this way,
and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our burn time, due
to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we are hoping
to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents closed down. Any
help?

phyteach wrote:
> My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the
> "get to know
> your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump
> instead of
> briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped
> one unlit
> chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of
> lit coals on
> top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny
> fraction at
> most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top
> grate at 240
> ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of
> the lump was
> gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the
> perimeter of the
> fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more
> hours this way,
> and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our
> burn time, due
> to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we
> are hoping
> to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents
> closed down. Any
> help?
>


WSM owner here. I don't measure my lump into the fire ring.
The first couple of cooks I did, I didn't use enough lump. I
fill the ring about 1/2 - 2/3 full and then dump a full
chimney of lit lump on top. That much will burn all day. You
can cut back a bit if your fire is too hot.
I use a bit less when cooking without the water pan. The
good part is you can save the lump and use again!

HTH DG-

Check this site if you haven't yet.


http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
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This site was very helpful to me. http://www.wiviott.com/index.html


"DavidG" > wrote in message
...
> phyteach wrote:
>> My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the
>> "get to know
>> your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump
>> instead of
>> briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped
>> one unlit
>> chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of
>> lit coals on
>> top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny
>> fraction at
>> most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top
>> grate at 240
>> ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of
>> the lump was
>> gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the
>> perimeter of the
>> fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more
>> hours this way,
>> and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our
>> burn time, due
>> to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we
>> are hoping
>> to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents
>> closed down. Any
>> help?
>>
>
>
> WSM owner here. I don't measure my lump into the fire ring.
> The first couple of cooks I did, I didn't use enough lump. I
> fill the ring about 1/2 - 2/3 full and then dump a full
> chimney of lit lump on top. That much will burn all day. You
> can cut back a bit if your fire is too hot.
> I use a bit less when cooking without the water pan. The
> good part is you can save the lump and use again!
>
> HTH DG-
>
> Check this site if you haven't yet.
>
>
> http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/
>
> Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.usenet.com

"phyteach" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
> your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
> briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped one unlit
> chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of lit coals on
> top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny fraction at
> most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top grate at 240
> ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of the lump was
> gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the perimeter of the
> fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more hours this way,
> and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our burn time, due
> to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we are hoping
> to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents closed down. Any
> help?

I just fill the fire ring about 2/3 full with unlit lump, then add one
chimney of lit lump to the top. This burns all night easily - I've had 14
hour cooks out of the WSM this way without having to add any more coals. My
bottom vents are normally about 1/3 open and the top vent at about 1/2 -
depends on the weather.

phyteach wrote:
> My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
> your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
> briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped one unlit
> chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of lit coals on
> top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny fraction at
> most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top grate at 240
> ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of the lump was
> gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the perimeter of the
> fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more hours this way,
> and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our burn time, due
> to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we are hoping
> to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents closed down. Any
> help?
>
I always filled my WSM with as much lump as it could hold, including the
lit chimneyful. For a 250 cook, I set the bottom vents 1/4 open and the
top all the way open. When the cookings over, just close all vents
saving the unburned coal for next time. -RP

Randy wrote:
>
>
> phyteach wrote:
>
>> My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
>> your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
>> briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped one unlit
>> chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of lit coals on
>> top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny fraction at
>> most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top grate at 240
>> ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of the lump was
>> gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the perimeter of the
>> fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more hours this way,
>> and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our burn time, due
>> to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we are hoping
>> to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents closed down. Any
>> help?
>>
> I always filled my WSM with as much lump as it could hold, including the
> lit chimneyful. For a 250 cook, I set the bottom vents 1/4 open and the
> top all the way open. When the cookings over, just close all vents
> saving the unburned coal for next time. -RP
>

Same here. I fill the ring almost full of unlit, then a full chimney
of lit coals on top. Set the vents to about 1/3 or so open, and go
to bed. I've got 13hrs of steady temps using briquettes. Lump burns
up a bit quicker, and tends to need a stir up or two during the cook.
Can't beat the WSM, as far as bullet smokers are concerned.

phyteach...

i've had my wsm for about 4 months now. at the same time i got it, i
converted totally to royal oak lump.

i've pretty much stayed with this guy's lessons while learning how to
work the thing.

http://www.wiviott.com/

from what you described, it sounds like you didn't have enough fuel in
the ring to begin with. one chimney load of unlit lump sure wont last
long.

pretty soon i'm going to branch off this guy's site/rules and learn how
to do one of those overnight burns. i'd like to have brisky or butt
ready to eat for a late lunch instead of a 7pm dinner.

let us know how it turns out...

scott

adm wrote:
>

> I just fill the fire ring about 2/3 full with unlit lump, then add one
> chimney of lit lump to the top. This burns all night easily - I've had 14
> hour cooks out of the WSM this way without having to add any more coals.

14 hrs with Lump? I can get that out of the processed stuff but not
with lump

"adm" > wrote in message
...
>
> "phyteach" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> > My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
> > your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
> > briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped one unlit
> > chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of lit coals on
> > top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny fraction at
> > most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top grate at 240
> > ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of the lump was
> > gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the perimeter of the
> > fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more hours this way,
> > and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our burn time, due
> > to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we are hoping
> > to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents closed down. Any
> > help?
>
> I just fill the fire ring about 2/3 full with unlit lump, then add one
> chimney of lit lump to the top. This burns all night easily - I've had 14
> hour cooks out of the WSM this way without having to add any more coals.
My
> bottom vents are normally about 1/3 open and the top vent at about 1/2 -
> depends on the weather.
>

Did you manage to track down that Big K charcoal? I've had burn times
similar. Good lump and I will never use anything else again.

Graeme

"Graeme...in London" > wrote in message
...
>
> "adm" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "phyteach" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>> > My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
>> > your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
>> > briquettes. Tonight doing a rack of baby backs, we dumped one unlit
>> > chimney into the fire ring, and then put a 1/2 chimney of lit coals on
>> > top. All three bottom vents were closed, or open a tiny fraction at
>> > most. The fuel was Royal Oak. We kept a temp at the top grate at 240
>> > ish (230-250). After approximately 3 hours, almost all of the lump was
>> > gone, save for a bit that hadn't burned around the perimeter of the
>> > fire ring. We have heard of WSM's getting 12 or more hours this way,
>> > and Brian feels that using briquettes would lengthen our burn time, due
>> > to their size and composition uniformity. Bottom line, we are hoping
>> > to get more than 3 hours out of a WSM with the vents closed down. Any
>> > help?
>>
>> I just fill the fire ring about 2/3 full with unlit lump, then add one
>> chimney of lit lump to the top. This burns all night easily - I've had 14
>> hour cooks out of the WSM this way without having to add any more coals.
> My
>> bottom vents are normally about 1/3 open and the top vent at about 1/2 -
>> depends on the weather.
>>
>
> Did you manage to track down that Big K charcoal? I've had burn times
> similar. Good lump and I will never use anything else again.

Well - yes and no.

I got in touch and tried to buy half a tonne, but we couldn't come to terms
on delivery so I left it for the time being. Basically, I need to borrow my
mate's van and go pick up a full load.

On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 19:55:38 +0100, "Graeme...in London"
> wrote:

>
>"adm" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> "phyteach" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>> > My buddy (Brian) has a WSM and we are going through the "get to know
>> > your pit" phase. At my insistence he is using lump instead of
>> > briquettes.

snippage
>
>Did you manage to track down that Big K charcoal? I've had burn times
>similar. Good lump and I will never use anything else again.
>
>Graeme
>
I thought you grew your own trees chopped them with your bare hands,
and then made your own charcoal, Graeme.

Harry