Comments on: Start a Fire In A Horizontal Offset Smoker

By: George Jolley

George Jolley — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:33:15 +0000

The best way is use the chimmey starter, I want my fire hot fast so I use a wand that I made. Is’t attached to a propane tank light it stick it in the firbox when the wood is burning good simply remove it.

By: terry northey

terry northey — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:24:52 +0000

Hello I have a brinkmann smoker with a offset fire box and im having a tough time getting the temp to 225 degrees and holding it I have the damper and stack open all the way. What am I doing wrong? Im using charcoal for the fuel.

By: Arden

Arden — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:52:34 +0000

I use a chimney for a starter also. I also soak my chips for at least two hours prior to smoking a pork butt or brisket. While smoking, I spray the meat with apple/cherry frozen concentrated juice about every thirty minutes when turning or flipping the meat.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:41:49 +0000

What I normally do is this. Using a chimney starter, I start a batch of charcoal briquets. Then when they are done, I add my wood. I’m sure that it takes longer than your method, but it works just the same.

By: dbamsch

dbamsch — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:01:36 +0000

One trick I can remember my Dad using when we used an old dearborn heater many years ago. He would take a 1 lb. coffee can and fill 3/4 full of ashes. (cold ashes ,please) He then poured enough Kerosene into it to make a paste (just add a little at a time) When you get ready to start the fire build your starter pile, take a small stick and dab some of the ash paste on it, set it under the wood pile and light it. Worked really well as a fire starter.

By: Gene Smith

Gene Smith — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:02:30 +0000

I found a huge chunk of “heart pine” or “pitch pine”. I have it split into small pieces, this stuff lights super easy and burns like it was soaked it gas… And before I get blasted…yes I know you don’t smoke meat with pine. It only takes one slither of this wood to get a larger pile of other hardwood kindling burning; light a match to it and it takes off.
I keep and zip lock bag of it in my camping gear and grill and smoker “tender” box.
Like Jeff mentioned above, I keep the fire box open until I have a good bed of coals, so that smaal match stick oeice of pitch pine is long burnt off.