Offset smoker efficiency..

[Steve-W]

Ok Guys, I have been using my offset smoker for over 3 years now, but recently found this forum, so I want to ask you a question.

Are those of you who are using an offset smoker, also experiencing extreem high coal usage? let me elaborate:
If I cook a 12 pound pork butt, I'll go neatly through 10 pounds of coals..and my cooker temperature never exceeds 250 F.

I'm loosing so much energy in every direction but the right one..how can I fix this.
to give you some more info, it's a cheap thing (german made Oklahoma Joe wannabe) so as far as being airtight...hmmm not so much.
If i compleetly close the vents and the exhaust,,the damn thing will continue to burn until it has consumed it's last coal.
that, in my opinion, is not normal..but I'd love to hear your experiences and tips how to improve efficiency.

[thelawnet]

Not sure if you've read this.

http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_techniq ... okers.html

Unfortunately the message seems to be 'get a better smoker'.

[aris]

Insulate

[Steve-W]

Not sure if you've read this.

http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_techniq ... okers.html

Unfortunately the message seems to be 'get a better smoker'.

great article and very true comment

the article speaks about learn your pit, well that's not the issue because I cook briskets and pp's with great result, I was just wondering if I could modify it so I'm not having to fill up coals every 3 hours.
Insulate would do the trick, so I'm going to take it apart this summer, lets see if I can create a dubbel lining or something.

[Del A]

As a quick fix maybe a survival blanket over the food chamber would help.

For the amount of charcoal used heaat beads last a fair while longer,usually 4-5 hours between loads.

[keith157]

Presumably if his offset is burning coals quicker than expected it would burn heat beads just as quickly and they are more expensive. Granted on a fully balanced and correctly working smoker/bbq heat beads are grate (pun intended ) and once he has solved the imbalance and potential lagging poroblem they will work wonders as usual.

[stretchie_]

Where are mate? There might be a local who can help out and you can compare similar smokers.
I don't have an offset so no idea about how it takes to use X kg of coals but maybe using fire rope around any door areas that leak smoke could help



Good luck

[Steve-W]

Where are mate? There might be a local who can help out and you can compare similar smokers.
I don't have an offset so no idea about how it takes to use X kg of coals but maybe using fire rope around any door areas that leak smoke could help



Good luck

of course I have local resources,,but you guys live on an island, so perhaps you do things differently
but as as I said before; cooking is not the problem, i just was looking for ways to make my smoker a bit more economic with coals per brisket
soon I'll have 2 UDS's so then the offset will be reduced to "oh my god..i need more space" type of appliance

[keith157]

We probably do do things differently, we offer assistance from someone who may be able to help, being an island we tend to live close to one another (relatively speaking) so the chances are good that someone who lives close to you may have been able to assist with any modifications that work.

[Steve-W]

We probably do do things differently..

my remark was a feeble attempt to a joke..