Fire smolders when no wind is blowing

[Bruceski44]

Just checking to see if anyone else has seen this, or perhaps I'm doing something wrong. (The horror!)

When the air is calm, and there is little to no breeze, I've found that the fire smolders unless I remove the firebox lid. I'm burning seasoned apple wood which burns nicely and ashes well when there's a breeze or with the lid off. Apple doesn't spilt into uniform "smaller than a coke can, larger than a red bull can" pieces, but my splits are pretty small. Anyone else see this with their rig?

Thanks and best regards,
b

[Dr. Pepper]

Can you post some photos or video, so we can see what your fuel and firebox look like?

[Bruceski44]

Sure! Shown on the red stool is about the largest sized-piece I use. That puppy just won't split! With the branch coming out the side, there's a change in the grain. There's a good coal bed, so it doesn't go out, but doesn't really burn cleanly.

The wind is up now, but I started at 8:30 am and it's been still all morning.

[Dr. Pepper]

First a disclaimer: ComfortablyNumb. Spinaker. Huskee etc have much greater experience than me. So, feel free to disregard!
The wood is fine. I think you need to fill your firebox about â…” full at the minimum. Don't cover when you first fire up until there is a good 2-3" of glowing coals over the ENTIRE base plate. Then cover. Then I set my watch timer to 20-25 minutes each time I reload.

My best guess is that you aren't loading your firebox sufficiently.

Daniel

[Bruceski44]

Thank you! I usually load up every 20 minutes as well, after stirring the coal bed. I'll add more wood each time per your guidance. I appreciate your suggestions.

[Dr. Pepper]

Re: 'Stirring'. I turn off the fan for a moment using the on/off switch which others here have recommended, just poke the wood/coals down a little, then fill to ⅔ or ¾, cover, turn the fan back on. You don't have to do too much.
BUT, don't do like me, and forget to turn the fan back on. Come out 25 minutes later when my watch dings me, and wonder why the cook box is cold!! Damn. (I'd catch it earlier if I had an air probe, but I'm now just monitoring meat and using the white therm on top.)

[Spinaker]

You are totally fine. Any smoke that is entering the cookbook is cleaned once the fan kicks back on. When the fan is pulling, it is burning clean.

Another option is to cut the wood into smaller splits. I can see in that picture that you might need a smaller split. , Especially with logs that are at the bottom. This will help your coal bed and allow you to put more wood in the firebox.

As Dr. Pepper said, make sure your firebox is loaded up. I always keep it plumb full, even if it means that I can't put the lid on top. And if I am using big pieces of wood that wont split, I leave the lid off totally and let it burn. Also, try to avoid having logs with knots, that severely limits the size of the splits you can produce.

I dont have the kill switch. I know for a fact I would leave it off. I just fluff up the coal bed when the fans are on the off cycle. Never had any problem.

[Bruceski44]

Bonus points to anyone who can find the piece with no knots

Just kidding. It is what it is, and I will work towards smaller splits. I use a kindling cracker XL and 8 lb. sledge hammer and every piece takes at least 5 full swings. It's been seasoning for over a year now.

In Idaho there's no oak and no hickory. There are locust and maple hardwoods, but I wasn't sure how well they'd produce coals. I felt lucky to get a cord of apple delivered.

Thanks to your posts, it sounds like smaller splits and leaving the lid off when necessary will work. This morning, when there was no ambient wind, the splits were just smoldering, which put me behind the coal curve.

[bbqLuv]

Wood stacking up against the house and fence is asking for pest problems. May also be considered a fire hazard. Just saying.
Live Long and BBQ

[Bruceski44]

Thanks for your comment. I have a rack which will go next to my outdoor cooking area, but the ground needs to be prepared and winter interrupted my plans. I was out there yesterday doing some of it and it's a priority to get done soon.