The art of fire building.

Clay Q

<p />I’m the type that likes to mess around with fire building and I have learned that a good fire can go 18 hours + in the large egg. I’ve been reading here that fires have gone out during a low-n-slow cook. Maybe this is a good time to share some technique and methods for newbie’s or anyone BBQing briskets, butts, and ribs.
This forum and other sites have excellent how-to on fire building and I want to share what I have learned with a few pictures. Please add your comments/pictures /methods.[p] I like to lock in at 250 dome and I have found that my egg is reliable maintaining this temp with little adjustment to the draft over long periods of time. [p]I start with a clean egg, all ash removed. The unused lump from the previous cook goes into a chimney starter. I can fire up using other methods as long as the lump in the firebox is not disturbed.








Using good quality lump I place a large piece in the center of the grate then build around it by leaning other large pieces along each other being careful to leave the grate holes clear and open. I guess this method is called tipi style.





Next I add medium size lump, still being careful with positioning so I’m not blocking air flow.





Then I’ll add a few chunks of smoking wood and small lump to fill the firebox. I do not use very small pieces or dust from the bag.





To start the fire I take half a starter cube or some waxed wood chips placed on the lump, light, and carefully set the chimney over it. When the chimney has a good fire in the bottom I’ll dump it and this fills the firebox up past the fire ring a few inches. Spread the coals with the ash tool, set in the place setter if I’m using and I close the dome. The dome temp will approach target and before I over shoot, adjust vents and lock in. This fire has not failed me.
Any fire builders out there?
Clay[p]

RRP

Good morning Clay,[p]Say I can't help but notice in the first 4 pictures the perfect "crack" in your firebox. Then in the full pix it is even more evident. Did you just saw it in half? and if so, what did you use and would you recommend it to others?

ronbeaux

ClayQ,
I use this method each time I do a low and slow, just no chimney starter. It has never failed me. Only difference is I load all the lump in and place starter cubes down in the lump in two areas, one in back and one in front then light them. Within 30 minutes I have locked in the temp.

Smoked Signals

ClayQ,
Looks like Royal Oak and Wicked Good in your demo. Good pictures on a fire ... I'm sure its rock solid each time. [p]However, I'm a dump the bag and light the fire kind of guy. I can get 16-18 hours as well just make sure you fill up the egg (I go to the top of the firering (higher then you show). If I poke/stir the fire around that time I can get another 6 hours. I got 32 hours out of Wicked Good one time without reloading.[p]I used to build very nice charcoal teepee's, towers,or stack by lump size ... but not anymore (too lazy). Good charcoal and alot of it has been the key to me. With the egg I can always shut'r down at the end of the cook and keep the remaining charcoal. I don't worry about putting in too much.[p]I rely on my billy bar from Eggtoberfest to poke the fire (without lifting the grates) before I retire for the evening. I also rely on my Maverick probe to alert me of problems .. usually set it at 190 Min so I can catch a problem before it starts.[p]Not saying either method is better ... a newbie might not have all the other equipment so I'm sure your method will help them out quite a bit. [p]Eggsperience helps the most .. the more fires your build the better feel you'll have for your egg and how it cooks.[p]Doug

randomegger

ClayQ,[p]I have a similar method except I start by leaving the coals in it from the last cook. I may or may not clean the ash out from underneath or stir the used lump to shake out the small stuff. I then upend the big green bag of big green egg coal into my big green egg and wait for the dust to settle to see if I have enough in it. Using my right hand, I jam a starter cube into the middle of the pile somewhere and light it.[p]After review, I guess it's not much like your method but I've not yet had a fire go out either.[p]I will keep your method in mind should I ever attempt an overnight cook, though. Thanks for the thorough instructions![p]RE

Clay Q

RRP,
That's a two piece firebox, no cracks yet and I'll see how long this lasts. No, I don't recommend this, cutting ceramics is very tricky business.
Clay

EddieMac

ClayQ,[p]GREAT pictorial! Extremely useful and hope the newbies pay close attention to it...Great job!...Firebuilding is a bit of an art and something I'm always working on.....And I think I'm getting better every time out..I stack the really big stuff on the bottom....stack to keep good airflow from the side holes...and i go from there.....[p]HOWEVER.....[p]Last weekend I cooked some ABTs....and from there I wanted to do a low-n-slow overnight with 4 Boston Butts....And didn't feel like properly building a fire....So...I took my bag of lump...poured a big batch of it on the small amount of hot coals I already had....Rather hap-hazardly...and I got a 20-hour cook with no problem...and no scientific lump placement....extremely lucky![p]But I was glad to see your pictorial display and hope others see it and benefit....[p]Ed McLean....eddiemac
Ft. Pierce, FL

SuperDave

ClayQ,
When my firebox cracked, I contacted John Creel at BGE and he sent me a new firebox with the cut up the back side. This allowed it to flex without breaking and it works.
So now they cut them in two places?

SuperDave

eddiemac,
That's the way I always build a fire. Start the leftovers with starter cubes and pour new lump on top.[p] I've had one fire go out on a 22 hour low and slow, but I think it was because I didn't stir up the hot coals before starting the cook. It burned out all the lump on one side and went out.
Since, I always stir up the red hot coals to make sure it is evenly heating and it works fine for me.

Clay Q

SuperDave,
I did the surgery. I know nothing about other cut fire boxes.
Clay

stike

ClayQ,
the cut firebox was one of their prototypes. the one that ships now though is not sawn or split or in pieces, just made from some super duper ceramic (unobtainium?) that doesn't crack at our super-nuke temps. i have one, no cracks so far, and i'v heard they were tested at some ungodly temps

Dr_Redwine

ClayQ,
WHAT??!?!?!?! No dust??!! [p]You're missing out on a lot of excitement on those upper temperature cooks, Clay. Flashback to the extreme, that's the only way to go. [p]Just ribbin' ya.[p]From that precarious moment until now, I became a card carrying SALD member. [p]Sincerely,
Southerners Against Lump Dust
DrR