Wood Chunk Questions

nestler

I have a few questions about using wood chunks.[p]1. soak them or not?[p]The front of the bag of wood chunks says to soak them for an hour before use. However, I have seen a number of posts that say not to soak them at all. Is there a consensus on whether or not soaking is a good idea?[p]2. chunk placement for long cooks[p]I have always added the wood chunks on top of the lit coals (after the starter has burned out). However, the thin blue smoke column always seems to stop after an hour or two into the cook. I have also noticed that the fire seems to grow down (instead of sideways), so maybe I should bury a chunk a couple of inches below the starter cube to prevent the smoke from stopping so early?[p]Thanks

BobS

nestler,
No need to soak the chunks in a BGE. The reason you can control temperature (air flow control) is the reason that the smoking wood will not actively burn. [p]I had not thought about putting the wood vertically into the lump, but that would be worth a test.

Michael B

nestler,[p]Don't soak them[p]Start the lump in more than one place. Three places off center is good.[p]Bury the chunks near where you will be lighting the lump[p]Don't worry about the visable smoke disappearing. Go by flavor. Smoke flavor builds throughout the cook.

BENTE

nestler,
no need to soak them!![p]i usually place some lump in then some chunks and then some lump then some chunks. and keep doing that until you have your egg loaded as much as you want.[p]so i just place them throughout my lump.[p]
happy eggin
tb