Do you soak your wood?
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    This discussion was created from comments split from a hilarious place of elven magic.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • scoobscoob
    Posts: 16,617
    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use
    Jesus didn't wear pants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    chimney starter.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    they're like $10.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    jlw said:

    C_dubbs said:

    I'm going to have to watch some porn to get my Dick to come back out far enough to take a piss.



    Eew


    FromZwolle said:

    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    chimney starter.


    So you keep lighting it in the starter and dumping it in? Right? That makes sense. I started trying to light it in the fire tray from my other smoker, but that didn't really work.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    FromZwolle said:

    they're like $10.



    I'll be heading to Home Depot shortly. Too bad the firebox isn't designed with this in mind.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Second the chimney starter. Also love pork shoulders and pork butts for pulled pork BBQ. My favorite being eastern NC style.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    quit using charcoal! use it to get it started if you must, but let that go away before adding meat, then just feed wood into the fire.

    done and done.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    and don't be the idiot douche that soaks the wood in water.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    unless you want to steam your meat, which is bad, just an fyi
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    Lakewood said:

    jlw said:

    C_dubbs said:

    I'm going to have to watch some porn to get my Dick to come back out far enough to take a piss.



    Eew


    FromZwolle said:

    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    chimney starter.


    So you keep lighting it in the starter and dumping it in? Right? That makes sense. I started trying to light it in the fire tray from my other smoker, but that didn't really work.


    ayup.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    frydogbrews said:

    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    quit using charcoal! use it to get it started if you must, but let that go away before adding meat, then just feed wood into the fire.

    done and done.


    This too. Actually how I do it. Sometimes I will throw a lump or three of lump charcoal on but just use wood once it gets going.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    jlw said:

    frydogbrews said:

    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    quit using charcoal! use it to get it started if you must, but let that go away before adding meat, then just feed wood into the fire.

    done and done.


    This too. Actually how I do it. Sometimes I will throw a lump or three of lump charcoal on but just use wood once it gets going.


    I would stick to cured hickory if I could find a good source of logs around here. Best I can do is the home depots bags of chuncks. Those burn too fast to be useful as the base for a long smoke.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    jlw said:

    frydogbrews said:

    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    quit using charcoal! use it to get it started if you must, but let that go away before adding meat, then just feed wood into the fire.

    done and done.


    This too. Actually how I do it. Sometimes I will throw a lump or three of lump charcoal on but just use wood once it gets going.


    Lump mesquite charcoal is available to me. Cured mesquite or hickory, or really any other useful cooking wood, not so much.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    Now, pine, I can find that everywhere. Mmmm pine tar pork
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    Like licking a telephone pole.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    You can buy lump charcoal and smoking woods on line.
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    FromZwolle said:

    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    Smoker turkey is awesome isn't it? I might try to score a smaller leftover bird at the grocery to stash away for later use



    I'm going to try a pork shoulder here soon.

    I really need to figure out how to add more charcoal without generating cold sooty smoke though.


    chimney starter.


    This. Have one. Love it.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    jlw said:

    You can buy lump charcoal and smoking woods on line.


    Link.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Ill find it later and post.
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    http://www.charcoalstore.com/c4500/Wood-Chunks
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    I'll check it out. But wood chuncks I can get, but they burn fast
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    I'm looking for a place where I can buy half a cord of hickory that's been cured and split.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    Lakewood said:

    I'll check it out. But wood chuncks I can get, but they burn fast



    they should burn fast, they're wood.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    i add my own chunks of hickory every 30 minutes.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    at 20 minutes, the wood is mostly gone
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    dry wood is dry wood. don't overthink it.

    the chunks from home depot, assuming they are not rotten, should work just as fine as the hickory i use
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    frydogbrews said:

    dry wood is dry wood. don't overthink it.

    the chunks from home depot, assuming they are not rotten, should work just as fine as the hickory i use



    the chunks have more surface area than split logs, therefore burn hotter and faster. plus it ass raping expensive. looks like a few places around me have oak and almond by the 1/4 cord. hoping to get something for less than $140.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    i dont soak my wood.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.


    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.

    yes it helps prevent flare ups and also the chunks will not burnout quite as fast. Its a matter of preference. I usually use both soaked and dry. I tend to use the dry to get the heat up if needed and the wet to cool off or stop a flare up.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    jlw said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.


    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.

    yes it helps prevent flare ups and also the chunks will not burnout quite as fast. Its a matter of preference. I usually use both soaked and dry. I tend to use the dry to get the heat up if needed and the wet to cool off or stop a flare up.


    this is the perfect approach!
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.


    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.

    yes it helps prevent flare ups and also the chunks will not burnout quite as fast. Its a matter of preference. I usually use both soaked and dry. I tend to use the dry to get the heat up if needed and the wet to cool off or stop a flare up.


    this is the perfect approach!


    but requires you to soak some wood, which you explicitly forbid.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    Lakewood said:

    that seems pretty good. same price for cherry. i wonder if they would mix almond and cherry in the 1/4 cord...

    i'll still go over to home depot to get raped on wood chunks for the bigger flavor of hickory and mesquite.



    you end up with lots of tar and shit from fruit woods if you smoke purely with that.

    why not just use white oak? should be able to find that and its the most popular smoking wood in the world
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    that's not much of an argument. but WTF, i'll go with you on it.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    that's not much of an argument. but WTF, i'll go with you on it.

    My theory here is the temperature of the fire. If you choke the fire down then temp drops and you get more smoke. Wet wood has the same effect. Cooler fires are more inefficient producing a heavier smoke. Whether smoke from a dampened fire is good for your meat is a different discussion.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    that's not much of an argument. but WTF, i'll go with you on it.

    My theory here is the temperature of the fire. If you choke the fire down then temp drops and you get more smoke. Wet wood has the same effect. Cooler fires are more inefficient producing a heavier smoke. Whether smoke from a dampened fire is good for your meat is a different discussion.


    that relatively sound logic. it's likely true if the drying of the leaves is happening slowly and unevenly and is sucking away sufficient heat to keep the bulk of the fire below the open flame temp...
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    that's not much of an argument. but WTF, i'll go with you on it.

    My theory here is the temperature of the fire. If you choke the fire down then temp drops and you get more smoke. Wet wood has the same effect. Cooler fires are more inefficient producing a heavier smoke. Whether smoke from a dampened fire is good for your meat is a different discussion.


    that relatively sound logic. it's likely true if the drying of the leaves is happening slowly and unevenly and is sucking away sufficient heat to keep the bulk of the fire below the open flame temp...


    I like that you put "relatively" in the middle of "that's sound logic".
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    that's not much of an argument. but WTF, i'll go with you on it.

    My theory here is the temperature of the fire. If you choke the fire down then temp drops and you get more smoke. Wet wood has the same effect. Cooler fires are more inefficient producing a heavier smoke. Whether smoke from a dampened fire is good for your meat is a different discussion.


    that relatively sound logic. it's likely true if the drying of the leaves is happening slowly and unevenly and is sucking away sufficient heat to keep the bulk of the fire below the open flame temp...


    I like that you put "relatively" in the middle of "that's sound logic".


    :))
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.


    Ha ha, classic! This whole convo is sooo getting split to the open area.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.

    Prove it.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.

    Prove it.


    do you have a few years.....


    but ok, here you go.
    combustion needs to be efficient to produce clean smoke. if something isn't dry, it produces craploads way more tar. imagine smoking green tobacco or uncured "other smokables", loaded with junk and you'll need to throw away the outer layer as it will be soaked in gros ass creosote, but let's not even deal with that......

    you have a sidecar smoker, even if your fire is hot, the smoke will form inside the smoker chamber. if you burn lots of soaked wood, you are introducing water into the smoking atmosphere. you have probably heard of the word "pellicle" in reference to smoking meats, it is the dry, tacky layer that forms on the outer layer of meat that is ready to smoke. most meats need a rest after coming out of the brine, uncovered in the fridge, for 24 hours to properly form this pellicle. you can tell when its formed, its slightly iridescent.
    anyway, this sticky layer absorbs smoke. if you add in wet meat without the pellicle, the heat from the smoker will need to dry the meat before any smoke will be absorbed. you introduce steam from wet wood into this, and you have injecting your smoker with "anti smoke" that will stop your meat from absorbing smoke.

    like jlw said though, wet wood is really good for emergency regulation, but it should not be viewed as a method of "creating" more smoke any more than banging your head on a wall is great way to get a high.

    highly suggested reading material for your perusal before you come back here to play:
    http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Smoking-And-Smokehouse-Design/dp/0982426704/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

    http://www.amazon.com/Home-Production-Quality-Meats-Sausages/dp/0982426739/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Quick-Easy-Smoking-Food/dp/0832904627/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4

    http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Spice-Cooking-Real-Barbecue/dp/1558322620/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    frydogbrews said:


    combustion needs to be efficient to produce clean smoke. if something isn't dry, it produces craploads way more tar. imagine smoking green tobacco or uncured "other smokables", loaded with junk and you'll need to throw away the outer layer as it will be soaked in gros ass creosote, but let's not even deal with that......


    Ayup. The original argument here was whether or not wet wood produced more smoke. To which you said,
    frydogbrews said:


    it will produce steam, not smoke.


    I argued that it will, in fact, create more smoke. To which you said,
    frydogbrews said:


    false false false


    So does it create craploads of tar and gross ass creosote or just steam?

    And about the quality of the smoke...
    C_dubbs said:


    My theory here is the temperature of the fire. If you choke the fire down then temp drops and you get more smoke. Wet wood has the same effect. Cooler fires are more inefficient producing a heavier smoke. Whether smoke from a dampened fire is good for your meat is a different discussion.


    So yeah, you said it more completely and with references, but this ^^ right here ^^ was the first mention of smoke quality.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.

    Prove it.


    do you have a few years.....


    but ok, here you go.
    combustion needs to be efficient to produce clean smoke. if something isn't dry, it produces craploads way more tar. imagine smoking green tobacco or uncured "other smokables", loaded with junk and you'll need to throw away the outer layer as it will be soaked in gros ass creosote, but let's not even deal with that......

    you have a sidecar smoker, even if your fire is hot, the smoke will form inside the smoker chamber. if you burn lots of soaked wood, you are introducing water into the smoking atmosphere. you have probably heard of the word "pellicle" in reference to smoking meats, it is the dry, tacky layer that forms on the outer layer of meat that is ready to smoke. most meats need a rest after coming out of the brine, uncovered in the fridge, for 24 hours to properly form this pellicle. you can tell when its formed, its slightly iridescent.
    anyway, this sticky layer absorbs smoke. if you add in wet meat without the pellicle, the heat from the smoker will need to dry the meat before any smoke will be absorbed. you introduce steam from wet wood into this, and you have injecting your smoker with "anti smoke" that will stop your meat from absorbing smoke.

    like jlw said though, wet wood is really good for emergency regulation, but it should not be viewed as a method of "creating" more smoke any more than banging your head on a wall is great way to get a high.

    highly suggested reading material for your perusal before you come back here to play:
    http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Smoking-And-Smokehouse-Design/dp/0982426704/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

    http://www.amazon.com/Home-Production-Quality-Meats-Sausages/dp/0982426739/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Quick-Easy-Smoking-Food/dp/0832904627/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4

    http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Spice-Cooking-Real-Barbecue/dp/1558322620/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9


    I think you're both right here. I would think that there probably is 'more' smoke, but that the smoke is total crap. The food would not benifit from the tarry mess you would create.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    Lakewood said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.

    Prove it.


    do you have a few years.....


    but ok, here you go.
    combustion needs to be efficient to produce clean smoke. if something isn't dry, it produces craploads way more tar. imagine smoking green tobacco or uncured "other smokables", loaded with junk and you'll need to throw away the outer layer as it will be soaked in gros ass creosote, but let's not even deal with that......

    you have a sidecar smoker, even if your fire is hot, the smoke will form inside the smoker chamber. if you burn lots of soaked wood, you are introducing water into the smoking atmosphere. you have probably heard of the word "pellicle" in reference to smoking meats, it is the dry, tacky layer that forms on the outer layer of meat that is ready to smoke. most meats need a rest after coming out of the brine, uncovered in the fridge, for 24 hours to properly form this pellicle. you can tell when its formed, its slightly iridescent.
    anyway, this sticky layer absorbs smoke. if you add in wet meat without the pellicle, the heat from the smoker will need to dry the meat before any smoke will be absorbed. you introduce steam from wet wood into this, and you have injecting your smoker with "anti smoke" that will stop your meat from absorbing smoke.

    like jlw said though, wet wood is really good for emergency regulation, but it should not be viewed as a method of "creating" more smoke any more than banging your head on a wall is great way to get a high.

    highly suggested reading material for your perusal before you come back here to play:
    http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Smoking-And-Smokehouse-Design/dp/0982426704/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

    http://www.amazon.com/Home-Production-Quality-Meats-Sausages/dp/0982426739/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Quick-Easy-Smoking-Food/dp/0832904627/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4

    http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Spice-Cooking-Real-Barbecue/dp/1558322620/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9


    I think you're both right here. I would think that there probably is 'more' smoke, but that the smoke is total crap. The food would not benifit from the tarry mess you would create.

    Agreed. Does this mean with both get a trophy?
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    Lakewood said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.

    Prove it.


    do you have a few years.....


    but ok, here you go.
    combustion needs to be efficient to produce clean smoke. if something isn't dry, it produces craploads way more tar. imagine smoking green tobacco or uncured "other smokables", loaded with junk and you'll need to throw away the outer layer as it will be soaked in gros ass creosote, but let's not even deal with that......

    you have a sidecar smoker, even if your fire is hot, the smoke will form inside the smoker chamber. if you burn lots of soaked wood, you are introducing water into the smoking atmosphere. you have probably heard of the word "pellicle" in reference to smoking meats, it is the dry, tacky layer that forms on the outer layer of meat that is ready to smoke. most meats need a rest after coming out of the brine, uncovered in the fridge, for 24 hours to properly form this pellicle. you can tell when its formed, its slightly iridescent.
    anyway, this sticky layer absorbs smoke. if you add in wet meat without the pellicle, the heat from the smoker will need to dry the meat before any smoke will be absorbed. you introduce steam from wet wood into this, and you have injecting your smoker with "anti smoke" that will stop your meat from absorbing smoke.

    like jlw said though, wet wood is really good for emergency regulation, but it should not be viewed as a method of "creating" more smoke any more than banging your head on a wall is great way to get a high.

    highly suggested reading material for your perusal before you come back here to play:
    http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Smoking-And-Smokehouse-Design/dp/0982426704/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

    http://www.amazon.com/Home-Production-Quality-Meats-Sausages/dp/0982426739/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Quick-Easy-Smoking-Food/dp/0832904627/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4

    http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Spice-Cooking-Real-Barbecue/dp/1558322620/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9


    I think you're both right here. I would think that there probably is 'more' smoke, but that the smoke is total crap. The food would not benifit from the tarry mess you would create.


    depends entirely on your definition of "smoke" i think. i don't consider 70% water vapor to be smoke, but what do i know......i only smoke about 300 lbs of meat a year......
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    50 lbs of which is bacon, so i get the trophy!
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    frydogbrews said:

    50 lbs of which is bacon, so i get the trophy!


    Oh yeah. That's worth a couple trophies.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,069
    frydogbrews said:

    Lakewood said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    frydogbrews said:

    jlw said:

    also soaking the wood overnight will help slow the burn down a little and produce more smoke


    it will produce steam, not smoke.

    soaking wood is only good if your fire gets too hot and you need to cool it down. otherwise, the wood will just steam and steam for awhile before it will ever start smoking and burning.

    And it also creates more smoke because the wood is smoldering instead of full on burning.


    false false false

    as soon as it dries the wood and quit making steam, it burns up like anything else

    Bah. What about wet leaves? Wet leaves smoke like a bitch. They may not even ever put off a flame, but they'll all turn to ash.


    is it smoke or steam... or steamy smoke, or smokey steam?

    Some of both I'm sure.

    if you could remove the steam fraction from the smoke fraction, would there be more smoke than you get when burning the leave dry?

    My argument is yes. But I'm not going to try to prove it.


    your argument is wrong.

    Prove it.


    do you have a few years.....


    but ok, here you go.
    combustion needs to be efficient to produce clean smoke. if something isn't dry, it produces craploads way more tar. imagine smoking green tobacco or uncured "other smokables", loaded with junk and you'll need to throw away the outer layer as it will be soaked in gros ass creosote, but let's not even deal with that......

    you have a sidecar smoker, even if your fire is hot, the smoke will form inside the smoker chamber. if you burn lots of soaked wood, you are introducing water into the smoking atmosphere. you have probably heard of the word "pellicle" in reference to smoking meats, it is the dry, tacky layer that forms on the outer layer of meat that is ready to smoke. most meats need a rest after coming out of the brine, uncovered in the fridge, for 24 hours to properly form this pellicle. you can tell when its formed, its slightly iridescent.
    anyway, this sticky layer absorbs smoke. if you add in wet meat without the pellicle, the heat from the smoker will need to dry the meat before any smoke will be absorbed. you introduce steam from wet wood into this, and you have injecting your smoker with "anti smoke" that will stop your meat from absorbing smoke.

    like jlw said though, wet wood is really good for emergency regulation, but it should not be viewed as a method of "creating" more smoke any more than banging your head on a wall is great way to get a high.

    highly suggested reading material for your perusal before you come back here to play:
    http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Smoking-And-Smokehouse-Design/dp/0982426704/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

    http://www.amazon.com/Home-Production-Quality-Meats-Sausages/dp/0982426739/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Quick-Easy-Smoking-Food/dp/0832904627/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4

    http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Spice-Cooking-Real-Barbecue/dp/1558322620/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9


    I think you're both right here. I would think that there probably is 'more' smoke, but that the smoke is total crap. The food would not benifit from the tarry mess you would create.


    depends entirely on your definition of "smoke" i think. i don't consider 70% water vapor to be smoke, but what do i know......i only smoke about 300 lbs of meat a year......

    70%? Did you measure that with your water vapor to smoke concentration meter? (WVSCM, for short)
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    as a matter of fact i did. embezzled from work. handy.
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,691
    I'm going to side 100% with Fry on this. I've soaked my wood before, but that was only to keep temps in check in less than ideal situations; and it was never quite right.
    image
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    I use a cylinder smoker ..... I put hickory chunks on to soak right before I get my two chimney lighters going with charcoal. Never had any problems
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    And around here .... hickory is free ....
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    ceannt said:

    And around here .... hickory is free ....



    yup
  • scoobscoob
    Posts: 16,617
    I have used both soaked and dry wood chunks, lately I have been just using dry logs, with the intake vent closed enough, it burns slow enough I can control temps pretty well, when I started using my smoker I used soaked chunks but too often I had really low temps after adding the wood.
    Jesus didn't wear pants
  • scoobscoob
    Posts: 16,617
    ceannt said:

    And around here .... hickory is free ....



    I'm stuck with loads of mesquite and pecan, mesquite is everywhere, and there are vast groves of pecan trees that get trimmed, cut down, etc. I just hit up Craig's list and find someone giving it away.
    Jesus didn't wear pants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    azscoob said:

    ceannt said:

    And around here .... hickory is free ....



    I'm stuck with loads of mesquite and pecan, mesquite is everywhere, and there are vast groves of pecan trees that get trimmed, cut down, etc. I just hit up Craig's list and find someone giving it away.


    i can find eucalyptus for free... but no thanks.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    Lakewood said:

    azscoob said:

    ceannt said:

    And around here .... hickory is free ....



    I'm stuck with loads of mesquite and pecan, mesquite is everywhere, and there are vast groves of pecan trees that get trimmed, cut down, etc. I just hit up Craig's list and find someone giving it away.


    i can find eucalyptus for free... but no thanks.


    Its awesome wood though .... I miss it .... but I agree on smoking with it ..... eewww
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
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