New here from CA and looking to learn to use wood!

[ATRSmoker]

So I bought an Oklahoma Joe Highland since it was all I could afford and they don’t sell the old country smokers in CA. Was going to build one, but was too impatient.

Fast forward a week....
Welded the Whole thing up. I could not control my fire. Still couldn’t control it. I took the darn elbow everyone says to put in the The CC to bring exhaust to grate level and it worked better. I no longer needed a fan to keep my fire going.

Fast forward a week.....
I have been obsessing over building a good smoker. I can’t find a tank. I decided to do an Aaron Franklin style 4” smoke stack to my OKJ. I also added in a diffuser and chocked the firebox opening a little.

Wow! She pulls one heck of a draft and temps are much more even. The grate level and lid level temps are very close!

I still can’t control a wood fire!!!!! I can get her to stay at 250 on charcoal for 5 hours! I burn a basket of coal switch over to wood since I am now feeling confident and bam up and down temps. Almost a 100 degree swing.

I can maintain transparent smoke no problem, but I can’t fast transparent smoke in my meat. I have decided I need to figure out how to keep a coal bed going add wood on top and try to keep the smoke slightly white.

[GTR]

Welcome from Texas.

What size splits are you trying to run? While size matters, bigger isn't always better.

[Rambo]

welcome

[OldUsedParts]

Howdy and Welcome

[Papa Tom]

Welcome aboard sounds like you are on the right path learning how to make a pit work. Been there....

I have gotten old and use pellet cookers now.

[spacetrucker]

welcome from another used to cook on wood guy....
pellets are so simple
like GTR says the size of the wood split does effect your temps...