Smoker Design: Should You Have A Log Rack Or Can You Burn On The Bottom Of Your Fire Box

If you're trying to figure out if you need a log rack for your fire box or not, this video is for you!
I explain how I determine if I need one and if I do then where I place it.
Air flow through your fire box and your coal bed is very important!
After watching this video I'm sure you'll have the information you need to decide once and for all.
If you find this video helpful, please share it with your friends and other groups your active in so others can benefit also.
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If you're ready for that new smoker but need help deciding to build it yourself or have me build it for you please visit smokerbuilder.com and I'll help you decide!

[@SmokeNGunsBBQ]

I rack mine until it burns to embers, then get a couple splits started and get cooking. By then the smoker is preheated and the fire is going to burn consistent.

[@igotJesus88]

Completely agree with you! I noticed that I could not keep low temps with a fire basket. Also I built my own pit and added a tel tru. It was 50 higher than my fireboard thermometer on the grate.

[@SmokerBuilder]

🔥🔥🍺🍺

[@jmarj5638]

Thanks for this I've been messing around with both and i seem to get different results. Havent figured out which i like better though.

[@SmokerBuilder]

You bet! I personally like my results better on the bottom

[@BRAND-ON-BARBEQUE]

Thank you for the information Frank. I've wondered about getting a V shaped log rack or not for my next pit and if it would be beneficial for fire management.

[@SmokerBuilder]

I have made a few of those for our competition Pitts I’ve built for customers. Those guys really like to load up the charcoal with minimal wood Seems to work well for them but it’s really clean smoke hotter fires

[@dougmason7467]

good stuff. Thanks Frank- DM aka tinspark!

[@SmokerBuilder]

you bet bro!

[@billbryant1288]

Suggestion for a new episode: Can the theme music for a KZbin BBQ channel the anything besides rock ‘n’ roll or country?

[@SmokerBuilder]

Hahaha that’s a good one!

[@tRdoc21]

Built mine on two pits on the bottom now - works just fine for me in the smaller one, the larger pit will be done today or tomorrow and will fire it up and let you know! lol I like the bottom, though, I like managing with a shovel, rearranging the fire and coal bed, etc. To me, this is also part of the smoking process - managing the pit. It's not like it's a lot of work, but it's helped me learn and gain more experience with the management of the fire. So my vote is on the floor. These are round pipe fireboxes, BTW, not square flot-bottomed ones, although I may do some of those in the future as well.

[@SmokerBuilder]

Awesome! I’ve built a few with angled plates left and right of the door for containment of the coal bed. Seems to work really well

[@amiradib1007]

I just started burning on the bottom and really prefer it. The coals being surrounded in ash restricts airflow and makes the coals last linger and helps build a bigger bed of coals. Rather than falling through a grate and just burning up.

[@SmokerBuilder]

🔥🔥👍

[@TheDawgfathasBBQ]

Great conversation here! I've never ran a fire on the floor of my pit but have been intrigued to do so. Can you actually have similar results burning a fire on a flat bottom fire box as you do on a curve?

[@SmokerBuilder]

Yep! Biggest thing is to make sure air has a direct path to the coal bed. If there’s a tall lip it can prohibit air flow to the coal bed

[@igotJesus88]

I have a flat bottom fire box also. I welded 4 small pieces of round bar to prop 2 plates in each side. This made a like a U in the firebox. It works well to cook on the bottom of it now. My coals were going everywhere. Hope this makes sense.

[@SmokerBuilder]

@@igotJesus88 yep! It does 👍

[@TheDawgfathasBBQ]

@@SmokerBuilder Thanks. I guess a test burn is in order this weekend.

[@igotJesus88]

Hey Frank, serious question here. Forgot to ask you yesterday. Should I drill any holes in the bottom of my firebox to be able to wash it out with water? I have a small inch gap on the bottom of the door. Makes it hard to scoop stuff out.

[@SmokerBuilder]

In the past I’ve washed out with water to test it out and I really honestly don’t think it really matters to get it that clean. Now I just use a piece of sheet metal the shape of the bottom of my firebox. Then shop vac the rest outonce the fires out or you could just remove that 1 inch lip and add it to your door so the bottom can be swept out

[@igotJesus88]

@@SmokerBuilder that makes sense. Thank you!!

[@igotJesus88]

I have a random question, what is the benefits of starting coal bed with logs vs charcoal?

[@SmokerBuilder]

There actually is no benefit at all