Fire Management: 3 Reasons Your Offset Smoker Won't Get Hot Enough and How To Fix It

[@danbalser6429]

Thank you very much! Your advice on wind direction should solve my frustration. You are the first person I have heard to give that advice.

[@SmokerBuilder]

Awesome! Could I develop the topic a little more?

[@chriscarter7182]

@@SmokerBuilderYes, please do talk more about wind. Wind, for me, comes mostly from the south. My smoker is south to north with the firebox on the north end, and is aligned parallel to the front of my garage, which is about 6 feet east of the smoker. My firebox is completely burned out and I need to replace it. I want to turn the firebox so that it opens to the front, rather than on the north end, so I can watch the fire while I am under the cover of the garage. It’s a Frankenstein idea, but should the orientation of the firebox be critical as long as I adhere to the airflow calculations based upon your pit calculator?

[@cobraT53]

I have my firebox lined with brick and it works the best for me. You can get good coals and easy to maintain temps .

[@jg9693]

I really can’t thank you enough. By simply moving the smoker in another direction I now keep my heat. ( this problem has been going on for a year btw ) 😂.

[@SmokerBuilder]

@@jg9693 awesome! So glad I could help!

[@Mightiflier]

Happened this afternoon, first try with my new used offset smoker. I'll know how to fix it next time.

[@Mightiflier]

I did put the next pieces of wood on top of the firebox, however, left for a few minutes. When i returned, they were on fire and had burned the paint off the burn box. 😒

[@PFLP024]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Reason #1 was my problem!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@SmokerBuilder]

Glad I could help!

[@HogMan2022]

Great video! 🙋👍 I like to brick line the bottom of the firebox and burn on the floor. That keeps years and years of direct heat off of the steel and will preserve it for a long, long time.

[@michaelbenson2024]

Pit Master 101 Frank Thanks for the tutorial. Knowledge is king no need to reinvent the wheel.Have a millwright background am anxious to build a portable smoker. Thanks

[@SmokerBuilder]

Sounds awesome! 👍 glad you enjoyed the video

[@CoolJay77]

Very informative, thank you. Goldee's just demonstrated their new backyard smoker, with a pipe connection from the firebox. From the video view on the interior, it looked like the fire has been choked down. It looks like a half moon opening, half the size of the pipe connecting the cooking chamber to the firebox.

[@patrickbishop6296]

Hello, good information. I have a 1000 gallon, firebox throat is 12 in round, the stack has a12 inch 90 with a 10 in pipe. The stack from the ground to the top is 10 ft. At times the chamber is even temps across the grates, other times I can't get the last 2 doors to steady. Not sure if my set up for size of firebox throat to stack hole

[@TheOne-yc1wt]

This wind effect definitely applies to the Traeger Tailgater with the 2 vent holes on the back, combatted this problem by riveting a piece of aluminum over each vent hole and purchased a smoke stack off amazon, cut out the hole and bolted it on, i did add 2 additional nuts and bolts to the stack to help secure it even better and has been running dang near flawless since

[@gabrielbennett5162]

I have a Char-Griller 2828 Smokin' Pro I got as a wedding gift ten years ago. I initially struggled with getting it up to temp until one day I got distracted and accidentally left the stack damper wide-open. That proved to be a "Eureka!" moment. It came up to temp easily and stayed there. I eventually had to back it off. Also, I highly recommend trying the "Flying V" grate method (see link below). I set it up in mine using a couple of extra grill grates that came with my side firebox and was shocked at the difference in performance. It held a steady temp between 250° - 275° for close to 3 hours, using just the initial chimney of coals, no other fuel added, other than hickory chunks for smoke. My wood chunks lasted longer, too; only had to burn about 1 or 2 an hour to keep the smoke rolling. It did a lot to mitigate ash build-up, too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHWcgYSNl9SFh80si=2h20lIfLS2oVg6eO

[@rmorris4674]

Thanks a lot! I rotated my Brinkmann Smoker and almost immediately the temperature started to rise. problem solved. It was early enough to salvage the cook.

[@ChickenFarmer420]

Holy crap thank you for this. Only wish I would've watched 4 hours sooner haha

[@dustinscroggins3382]

I have a oklahoma joe reverse flow and i always felt the firebox isnt big enough. Also i had a basket i used to use and always had to fight to keep fire going, i quit using it and just burn on the bottom of firebox and works very well for me much less fighting

[@Keasbeysknight]

i have a feeling this is what happened on my cook this last time. i have an OLD brinkmann 1/4" steel offset and i couldnt get it above 210. ill have to rotate it around. thanks for the tip!

[@patrickmacleod2415]

I live in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland which is windy most of the time. I do position it you do here, but with high winds is sometimes just too much, so I built a wind block of two pieces of plywood, hinged together, and lined with a welders blanket. I smoked a turkey on Thanksgiving in 30-40 mph winds. It still wasn’t easy but it was manageable.

[@michaelcompton4147]

I was so aggravated Thanksgiving day...I just recently had a reverse flow 500 gallon smoker built and had quite a few orders to fulfill and couldn't get the temp above 200...I thought of you LOL! I have had several 500 gallons even a 1000 gallon...not new to cooking but nearly all of my smokers just fail miserably when windy...I always dread cooking in the wind...I thought maybe this new 500 reverse flow had some design flaws but it seems to cook fair when no wind...any suggestions? 36inch diam x8ft long tank...36inch diam x 41 inch long pipe firebox...10 inch x5ft tallstack

[@VernBigDaddy]

What about Throat location on the back wall of the firebox? Cube firebox on tank smoker? All the way to the top of the back wall of the box?

[@addamochs]

How much wind would it take to affect the Mack offset smoker? I moved to a pretty windy part of the country. Western South Dakota. 20mph is normal. 30 gusting to 50 is pretty regular when it's a slightly higher winds situation. Seen 30 with gusts of 40 within the last week.

[@SmokerBuilder]

I’ve actually cooked on my Mack up there back in the day. As long as you keep the direction quartering towards the firebox you’ll be fine. Those winds are still challenging though. Once you run it a few times you’ll have it figured out 👍

[@patriotsyndicate9532]

Hey I’m a big fan. Currently building my first 250 gallon offset. Thought about doing a Goldees design. Can you explain why there design supposedly works so well. I already built a 120 off an air compressor tank with an open throat. It works well. Just curious what you think. Thanks Frank!!

[@OmarDMarin]

I never had problems getting my smoker up passed 250 and would struggle to maintain it under 300 but when I tried to make chicken wings yesterday, I could barely get it over 225! It was so frustrating. This caused me too cook the wings way too long and I feel they are way to smokey. I'm guessing it was the wind. I was using more lump charcoal than I have ever used before and it still wouldn't get up there. I thought it was my thermometer probes. Maybe it was. More testing needed but I thing it was the wind.

[@metal75801]

I'm building an offset out of a 150 gal 24" dia propane tank. I have a 4' section of 6" 11ga pipe I want to use as a chimney. Is it too big?

[@slabridalogisticsllc.2627]

I recently received my plans for my offset 250 from you thanks. My question is, the trailer mounted offset rig behind you I'm interested in converting my 250 with a vertical warmer like that. Do you have any videos on it.

[@patriciagraves486]

I got me a new smoker I cannot get the vents situated at all I have the bottom vent open and the smokestack halfway and it still can't get to temp do you have any suggestions for me

[@SmokerBuilder]

@@patriciagraves486 howdy! In order to answer your question better I’d need to see some pictures and how you’re building your fire. If you could join it private community you can post pictures there and get more support. Go to SmokerbuilderU.com There’s also a free fire management course there that will likely answer all your questions!

[@chadwallace3598]

The legend link doesn’t work. Any other way to see the 100 gallon or other options?

[@SmokerBuilder]

@@chadwallace3598 I actually discontinued the Legend Smokers when I launched the new solution offset pit with @MadScientistBBQ www.patreon.com/collection/437394?

[@09jamesfamily]

I purchased a custom smoker off set .. firebox is square n top load really struggling with temps n fire management any would be helpful.

[@pinocolada4254]

I've built 5 square firebox offsets and 1 reverse. Check the dimensions and volumes of your smoker via the online Feldon bbq pit calculator. If any of the dimensions or volumes is off (to small) draft is an issue. *Firebox volume (+-30% of cooker) Chimney volume (5% of firebox) * Air inlet size(s) * Firebox to cooker hole size. Take a taoe measure, add your measurements to the online tool and it tell you what you need so you know if its allrigth or off. Have it fixed, fix it or contact supplier. What i always do just to make sure, 10-20% extra firebox volume, you lose volume because of the fire rack. Sligthly extra air inlet volume as you can easily close of the extra. Built my chimney sligthly to high, i can cut off exes if draft is off. Welding on an extra piece is a no go to buyers and myself. Also remember, a high and narrow chimney cools down to fast and destroys your draft. You'd prefer a stubby, shorter chimney with the correct volume.

[@michaelhooks3644]

how do you match your chimney/firebox?

[@SmokerBuilder]

@@michaelhooks3644 I have a free calculator you can use at bbqpitcalculator.com Also we have over 240 sets of diy plans that already have the math done for you if that would help? See them at smokerplans.net