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Firebox Door on the Side

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    Firebox Door on the Side

    I love my Lang 36” but the only gripe I have is the placement of firebox door. Fuel-wise I start with a chimney of coals topped with large wood chunks. As the coals die down I use 1/4 splits the rest of the cook.

    That said, getting a chimney of lit coals into a firebox with a side door isn’t easy. I basically "throw" them in using the chimney handle which causes the coals to scatter. Ideally I would have a nice even mound of coals.

    Anyone have a technique or work around to make this process easier? Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas (Eve)!

    #2
    You might try dumping the hot coals in a shovel and then transfer to the firebox. Another option would be to make a sheet metal slide so you could dump the coals on the slide where they would slide into the firebox.

    Comment


    • ecowper
      ecowper commented
      Editing a comment
      LOL check out my comment Ron

    #3
    Similar issues with a WSM or a Hasty-Bake (which I have both) when trying to refuel with lit coals ..... two different techniques I use. First is to pour the coals onto a flat shovel and then load them into the cooker. The other is to use the door of the WSM as a slide, so to speak. The third technique, flinging them out of the chimney, I stopped using for the very same problem that you have. You might also get a charcoal rake, and once the coals are in the firebox, you could use the rake to arrange them in a pile.

    Comment


    • MTurney
      MTurney commented
      Editing a comment
      You and RonB are clearly on the same page lol. Love the shovel idea and will definitely try that next cook 👍. My original thought was to find a basket that I can tilt or lean out of the firebox but the shovel sounds much easier

    #4
    I ran into the same issue as ecowper with adding lit coals to my WSM, and I didn't trust the door slide method to not dump coals outside the charcoal basket. Then I remembered I had one of these:

    Click image for larger version  Name:	download.jpg Views:	0 Size:	17.6 KB ID:	961753

    The head is small enough to scoop directly from the chimney starter. The fact that the finish on the head makes it behave like a torch on the first use is either a pro or con, depending on how easily entertained you are.
    Last edited by Steve R.; December 24, 2020, 11:02 AM.

    Comment


    • ecowper
      ecowper commented
      Editing a comment
      Me being the lazy butthead that I am, I just grabbed the "yard shovel" I keep near the porch and used it.

    #5
    If you are only using coals in the beginning to start the fire, then why not just pile the unlit coals onto the fire grate and use a starter cube, tumbleweed, etc. to start the fire right in the firebox and bypass the chimney altogether. That's how I start the fire in my homemade tandoor.

    Comment


    • MTurney
      MTurney commented
      Editing a comment
      The only option to pile the unlit coals would be to use my hands which I’d like to avoid if possible

    • bbqLuv
      bbqLuv commented
      Editing a comment
      Now that is a simple answer.

    #6
    SNS has a charcoal cherry picker that works really well!!

    Whether stirring up coals for a Cold Grate sear, or pushing remaining coals to the side to add more charcoal during a long cook, this tool executes with ease.

    Comment


    • scottranda
      scottranda commented
      Editing a comment
      This would get the stray charcoal back to the pile.

    #7
    Perhaps I’m missing something, but why don’t you place the charcoal in the firebox and _then_ light it, when it’s already in place?

    Comment


    • MTurney
      MTurney commented
      Editing a comment
      It’s the actual placing of the coals that’s a challenge. I could glove up and place them in a pile with my hands and use a tumbleweed or starter but that’s a lot of trouble and messy compared to say my kettle or a firebox with a top-side door where you simply dump the chimney. I think dumping the chimney on a shovel makes the most sense at this point

    • Henrik
      Henrik commented
      Editing a comment
      I see, the shovel seems like an easy solution.

    #8
    As I wait (im)patiently for my LSG I have given this some thought as well. I have the small Weber chimney and was thinking this might be a good solution. I use it for a bed of coals for splits in my Santa Maria grill and it works well.

    Comment


      #9
      I get dirty hands using a chimney for any smoker!!

      Comment


        #10
        Click image for larger version

Name:	0293FEB9-A58F-4FBE-AD57-CE564DD7DCFE.jpeg
Views:	258
Size:	106.7 KB
ID:	961863 I’m thinking something like this. It is short but fat. Gives you room to lift and dump but looks like it holds a good amount of charcoal because it is fatter than average. This is from the Walmart site.

        Comment


          #11
          Originally posted by tbob4 View Post
          Click image for larger version

Name:	0293FEB9-A58F-4FBE-AD57-CE564DD7DCFE.jpeg
Views:	258
Size:	106.7 KB
ID:	961863 I’m thinking something like this. It is short but fat. Gives you room to lift and dump but looks like it holds a good amount of charcoal because it is fatter than average. This is from the Walmart site.
          The best kind

          Comment


          • tbob4
            tbob4 commented
            Editing a comment
            Hahahahaha

          • ofelles
            ofelles commented
            Editing a comment
            Hey is that a fat joke. I'm sensitive you know!.

          #12
          Click image for larger version

Name:	0E305538-9A1A-45DA-8792-BD3263D0F188.jpeg
Views:	248
Size:	91.6 KB
ID:	961921 A piece of aluminum pipe.

          Comment


            #13
            Pit Barrel Cooker has a small chimney, also.
            Last edited by JimLinebarger; December 24, 2020, 03:31 PM.

            Comment


              #14
              I loved me some garden spade for placing coal and moving sticks around; I felt like a fireman (on a very small boiler).





              Attached Files

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                #15
                I don’t know how tall your firebox is but how about the char griller chimney where you pull the handle and the coals fall out the bottom?


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