Offset firebox charcoal basket size

[Chewey]

I got a new OK Joe Longhorn that I'm completing all the mods for before I fire it up (and it's KILLING me to wait until the mods are finished!). I'm down to making the charcoal basket and am wondering about size. I know bigger is usually better in most things (insert size joke here...) but I've noticed most of the baskets are 12x12x6 or smaller. The firebox opening is 15" wide and it looks like it would have no problem accepting a basket 14x14x8. Is there a reason to not make one that large? It would leave 1" between the walls of the FB on each side and because of the curve of the FB, it would obviously stay away from the front and back walls. I'd love to be able to get some long cooks with as little maintenance or refueling as possible so the larger basket makes sense to me.

I also thought about using the supplied rack as the bottom of the basket and just attach some sides to it.

Thoughts?

[JGo37]

I'm waiting to fire up a grill until I find the math behind proper chimney pipe lengths. I saw it once, and can't find it.

I don't currently have a COS, but the same might apply to a big rectangular C Grill with a fuel basket in it set to one side for an indirect cook. I'll be watching...

[Huskee]

Great question. I'm no engineer, but I always wondered why they don't make them baskets bigger, the firebox often has the real estate. My thought always was 'so the charcoal can stack deeper, being more confined.' But I don't know if that's correct, or beneficial in the real world. Never used a basket in mine, but I've done plenty of charcoal fuses in in when I first got it before secured a good wood source. My laymen reply is make it as big as you can while still being removable.

[Mr. Bones]

I bought a high quality charcoal basket fer my OK Joe Highland, but found that, at least in my initial efforts, I couldn't reach th temps I was wantin, on straight KBB.

I have not gone back to experiment with more coals initially lit, which I think was most likely th hurdle...
I went right to bed of kbb to light wood splits, a few yrs ago, an haven't looked back.
YMMV.
I will gladly share th source of my charcoal basket, should ya wish...

I am delighted with it, an th replacement coal grate I got from this seller, an would unreservedly recommend them to any Pit Member...

No, I am not affiliated, jus a Happy Customer, givin th Good Word, by Word of Mouth.

[Chewey]

Is this what you were lookin for Huskee?

http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html

I didn't know if the height of the fire needed to be below a certain level with respect to the crossover from the FB to the CC, or if there needs to be a certain amount of 'free air' in there? I'd be curious if there was a method to the madness.

Mr Bones, I'd happily take a recommendation. I'd like to go the log burn direction some day, but down here in mid FL it's tough to find anything other than oak. I just don't like the flavor of oak smoke. I much prefer hickory. I may have to take a drive north and pick up some hickory and cart it on down here sometime.

[Mr. Bones]

Roger yer last, stand by...

I'll retrieve what I have from th archives...

[Mr. Bones]

Here is one place I posted bout my coal basket, an fire grate....

Did I mention I was delighted with th quality?

[Chewey]

That's a heckuva grate! The basket looks industrial quality also. Looks along the lines of what I'm thinking.