Split wood - offset

[RUBYRW]

If it toss a dry split in my offset I get dirty thick white smoke. So i usually always pre-burn them before adding. I just some how feel like I'm wasting some wood doing this.
It is an Oklahoma Joe, so it's not a huge firebox with a roaring fire to add splits and expect them to instantly burn clean...?
What does the majority do?



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[limey]

Leave your firebox door open a bit till the split burns cleaner, couple of minutes does the trick.

[txsmkmstr]

I pre-HEAT my sticks in the (large) square firebox but if you have a round one you could try and balance one split lengthwise on top. Just be mindful that eventually it will catch on fire up there.

[RUBYRW]

I have a flat top over my firebox, I can try heating them first. If I toss the split in the box and leave side door open, my temps jump up fairly high.
On my Oklahoma joe, what size splits are recommended?


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[txsmkmstr]

No OKJ experience but I used to own a very small offset and even my current pit (insulated f/b) requires "small" splits. I like to have pieces about the diameter of a beer can and about 9" long. So, an 18" log cut in half and then split to diameter is what I typically use. I like to maintain most temp control with the fire size running all vents wide open so opening the door is not a big issue. Pre-heating the wood on the flat top will definitely help some. Keep a couple of pieces up there and rotate out as needed.

[5DPatrick]

Preheat the splits for sure, and use splits that are not longer than the coal bed. white smoke spews from the ends of the splits, so if they are over hot coals, the heat will help burn the smoke as it is produced.

[txsmkmstr]

If the flat top doesn't get hot enough and you don't use the flat top for warming sides (beans, etc.) then you could cut the flat section off and leave the sides making a cradle for the wood to pre-heat on. Again, you'd want to keep an eye on things because they can catch on fire after a period of time.