Adding wood during slow & low

Tier1Terrier

this is probably a really dumb question, but do you ever add more wood partway through a s&l cook and if so, how do you get the wood in?  There's the grid & plate setter - do you lift the meat, grid, and plate setter off or just the meat & grid and drop the wood in around the sides of the plate setter?

please feel free to share any other wisdom on how, when, and where to add wood at any time of a cook. I'm learning here so everything helps. 

Thanks!

Darby_Crenshaw

Wood for smoke, or do you mean lump as fuel?

 If the first, just drop chips down to the fire thru the grate.  If the second, fill it properly and there won't be a need to refuel

Tier1Terrier

 So I guess the chips are what you use once the grid is on since you are unable to add the larger fist sized chunks of wood.  Is that right? 

Carolina Q

I never use chips. I never add more during the cook either. Just use enough chunks to begin with and you won't have to add. Mix them in here and there so that, as the fire spreads, another chunk will start to smoke.

theyolksonyou

You can pull everything out and add if you want to. Just know where you're going to put everything down or you'll burn the piss outta your fingers. (At least that's what I've heard)

If you mix it in with your lump before lighting, with practice, you shouldn't have to add. 

theyolksonyou

From the other current wood thread. 

Darby_Crenshaw

and i never use chunks*.  see? either works.

the fire has no clue what shape the wood is in.


that sketch is mine.  i see it has not yet died a merciful death.

*(unless i have some on hand.  i'm not a complete idiot)

fishlessman

i slip a spatula down thru the grate and deflect the chips toward the center of the fire. depending how the fire is growing in the egg, sometimes you can slip them thru the lower vent, this works really well in the smaller eggs

Darby_Crenshaw

you can poke sticks (maple/oak twigs) or long strips of hickory bark down into the fire too.

Theophan

No, I've never even tried to add anything to the fire during a low and slow.  I just posted a comment on another discussion that might be relevant.

Cookinbob

I have done it.  If you have a Woo, just lift it and toss the chunks on top. With the Plate Setter, raise the edge of the cooking grate, and manipulate the chunk onto the fire with a set of BBQ tongs.  I have a woo with handles on my small, and it is a piece of cake, but I don't usually do low and slow on it.

With all that said, if you have mixed wood  properly with the lump, it should not be necessary