BBQ 101 - How to Build a Fire in your Offset Smoker Firebox and Temperature Management  

Tony this vid showed me more in 30 minutes than I could imagine, thank you so much, I'm learning how to use my new offset smoker (char-broil) and wow, thank you so much again. This teaching was vital to bringing my grilling up immensely.

Im a total noob! I got my smoker for christmas,watching these videos has me kind of intimidated

Excellent detailed explanation on controlling a fire for a smoker. Bravo!

The best video for fire management. You were simple informative and made sense!

I've been fighting with temperature management since I bought my smoker. Wish I'd found this video a while ago. Thanks so much!

Ur a life saver. I have watched so many off side smoker how to videos and INFORMATION OVERLOAD. urs I was able to get the most important easy info and n how to use my very first offset smoker. Thank u so much.

THIS is the one I needed to See! Quick Crash Course, nothing fancy, just simple. LOVE IT! Thanks!

Thanks really much, is the first video where i have understand how to use this tipe of bbq, clear, without music and simple. Thank you again.

Tony I've had my smoker for quite awhile now and I consider myself to be a novice when it comes to smoking meats but this was truly an eye opener for me. It showed me a few things I've been doing wrong as well as the correct way to smoke meats. Thank you so much for all your content and taking the time to put these videos together. They're really helpful.!!👏🏿👏🏿♨️♨️♨️

About time someone shows how to build a fire in the hot box and maintain the temperature, Thank you so much.

I just got this grill and I can't thank you enough for this video! It really helped me fully understand the pacing and set up of an offset smoker! Also is that a GameBoy text message tone I heard? Genius!

My first class on pit smokers and I got a lot of importaant concepts and tips. Thank you very much for the video!!!

Thanks you definitely broke it down alot better than anyone else.

Good info and techniques! I just bought an Oklahoma Joe Offset, I've watched 3 different videos and your techniques seem to be the most efficient!

Best video on heat management I’ve seen especially for a chargrill

Best video I have ever seen for fire management in a smoker. I am a "newbie" to offset smoking even though I have been doing backyard BBQing for 20 years on and off. I have the OKJ Highland. I did the seasoning yesterday and will do my first cook in a few days.

I just received a smoker grill as a present and I didn’t want to disappoint . This video had me feeling a pro in no time!

I have the same brand stuff but slightly smaller cooking chamber. And I have to say after I wasted so many hours watching tips and guides over the internet, I finally found the answer. The info u shared is truly amazing, thank you so much!

Literally the best fire management video on youtube.

I'm about to use my first smoker for the very first time. Shotgun Shells and smoked bologna. Thanks for all the great fire control tips. Much appreciated.

Just picked up one for 30 bucks . Same size. Just the video i was looking for. I appreciate it.

Thank you so much. I’m just starting to smoke food in my offset. I’m new, a brilliant video for beginners. Thanks again! 👍👍👍

Great video 👌🏾 I have the exact same offset smoker. I actually went to home Depot and put two more gauges on it left and right of the middle.

Just got a smoker and I really enjoyed this video, very informative!

This is an awesome video brother I appreciate how thorough you were in your explanation

Awesome 👏🏽 tutorial man! Straight home grown style!

Awesome video, I learned very much from this. I can’t wait to start my smoking journey. Thanks so much for this!

Just attached my offset to my grill yesterday, appreciate the lesson.

Stumbled upon this video today. I have the Char Griller Texas tro, which has the same fire box but the cooking surface is half the size. Currently in the middle of smoking some chicken with your method and this is the most consistent temperature I have gotten so far with this smoker! Keep up the great content!

I've been smoking a couple years now and some cooks are easy and some a pain in the ass! Then you talked about ambient temp & weather and it hit me .... thx man great video. Lol

Great break down! You make it sound easy.

Thanks for the pro tip on setting additional wood adjacent to fire!!

He very informative I see the problem I was creating by filling the firebox with charcoal and the just throwing my wood on top of it and just letting go.I have the base model CharGriller with firebox,and I’m new at using side box.And it has been a real struggle so this has been very helpful.

Love this!! Thank you for all the wonderful information.

Great video I have had the same smoker about two years just learned things about it I didn't know from your video

Great point about the weather temperature. Wind can also be a factor.

Thank you so much for the time you took to explain this. This was extremely helpful for me. I appreciate your thorough review.

Thanks for this video I just got a grill like this and have never used one before this was a big help

Love the video! I use basically the same process except I use wood chunks instead of splits and I have carpenters square I use to prop open the fire chamber lid at different heights to keep the temps and fire regulated.

Cheers for the video 👍 Just started using the offset smoker for smoking my meats and this was very helpful

Thank you very much for the transferred knowledge, it's great. I greet you and have a good grilling

Awesome video i have the same smoker and i have been looking for a better way to control the temperature thank you 🙏🏼

Great video. This is the stuff you need to know but don't see too many videos about it. Can't wait for the weekend to do my ribs. Thanks

Just bought my first offset smoker grill thanks for your channel

Great video, just got my offset so lots to learn.

2 thumbs up Tony! There's lots of other maintain-firebox-temp videos, but this one covered it very completely, I totally understand what to do now when that temp gets up high to 400+.....just let it burn down. And also to open the main chamber lid if temp gets a little above what it should be. Thanks sir.

This was awesome for being two year old, thanks for this, just learning how to use an off set and the tips was very good.

Attempting my first big cook today ... great information and I hope for good results with my fire.

Very helpful. Thank you! ESP the standby firewood

Thanks great tips. I just got my first off set I'm looking forward to smoking.

It was really clear, well explained, thank you!

Did my first smoke ever today on this same smoker grill at my friends house. Smoked a whole chicken. However the grill is not sealed and it was tricky keeping the temp high and steady. It actually came out pretty good in the end. I wish I would have watched this video first though because I learned so much from it. Subscribed and looking forward to learning more from this channel.

Thank You Tony for the video, I never used the smoker on my grill, or a chimney coal stack... learned A Lot....!!!

Lovely video. Left no stone unturned. 👍👍👍👌👌👌

Thanks for the video, I have the same grill...this was very informative

Tony, THANK YOU BROTHER! I added too much coal initially, still waiting for it to burn down so my fire will last. Thank you sir.

Thank you! 🙏🏽 very informative

I'm new to this. I've been terrible at fire management. This video was beyond helpful.

I just built my second offset, 50 gallon propane tank& 12”pipe. First one was two old bbqs, too much air contamination. Thanks for the info.

Again thanks for the response I’ll head to Amazon and start my search.

Big Thanks Too SIR!!! I know there will be trail and error to come. After taking your (class) I feel as if I will be better as to know what to look for and can expect. I Appreciate the time and knowledge you shared with us!!! Best video I have seen!!! YES SIR!!!!

Enjoyed your video… it’s straight forward I learned a lot.

Mate this was a great informative video. I'm considering buying a Texas triple BBQ that has an offset smoker along with charcoal and gas grills. You've demystified smoking for me a little I think. The tip about heating your next piece of wood is a great tip. Thanks.

very informative......today was my first time smoking, and your video helped

Fantastic video. That really was informative. Thank you.

Excellent video from a seasoned competition BBQ chef.

Just the video I've been looking for! I bought a dual fuel Char-Griller that has the option of attaching the offset smoker. I'll refer to this video often, I imagine.

Best video I’ve seen on fire management

Awesome video I am from South Africa and have a similar smoker . J hve this smoker for years never used it for smoking. Thank you gonna use mine today

Thank you so much sir. Tomorrow will be my first time smoking anything and I was trying to find more tips and you sir are the man. This is exactly what I needed to watch and I honestly feel so much better and more comfortable with tomorrow. Seriously brother thank you so much. I'm definitely subscribed so I can get more tips from you. Will you do a video on how to smoke a pork shoulder roast please. That is what I am smoking tomorrow and I feel like I'm going to mess everything up and I'm feeding 7 people. Going to be very embarrassing probably.

All this makes really good sense. Thanks

Thanks man!! I really learn a lot with this video!

Thank you man!!!! I appreciate your knowledge

My smoker grill looks like yours hope I can learn something new 👍🏻 P:S thanks for responding to everyone's comments that usually unheard of! Believe me I read the comments and read your response great information 👍🏻

Thank you very much. I feel very confident going to my smoking session friday, i caint wait. I got wood chips instead of wood chunks lol. I have the exact same model to BTW.

Very thorough video. Thank you!

Great video definitely earned a like and subscriber! Definitely worth the watch and is nice and insightful!

Good info. I have same smoker, and have found fire management is easier with the fire on the left side, put one of the grill grates in for a shelf to warm the wood. 7x2 inches ideal wood size. One for 235f, two for 255 and three about 280f. Add fuel about 30 minutes. Smoke well everyone.

Nice Video! just starting to get into smoking and not once video goes into this much detail on fire management. i have been having trouble and would have never thought of any of this!

Great video brother, I learned a lot.

Thank you Tony tone I’m going to try this method on some ribs tomorrow

Excellent video. I’m preparing to get an offset. This is the most straight-forward, to the point explanation I’ve see so far. Thanks for making this video. I feel less intimidated by the whole process. I plan on making a Turkey at some point. Any tips?

Great video and explanation. I have an OKJ Highland that I purchased last year and I bought a baffle plate and a charcoal basket for it from BBQ Smoker Mods. The charcoal basket is great for fire management and I do the same thing as you when starting my fire except I no longer use paper in the chimney or at times I may not use a chimney at all since I have a torch similar to yours. I also use lump charcoal instead of briquettes and warm my wood splits on the top split warmer instead of inside of the firebox. The baffle plate’s selling point was to keep temps more even on both sides but that is usually not the case. I still get a temp variance of 25 or more degrees per side at grate level (I have the same ThermoPro remote thermometer you have) but the top lip of the plate that covers the hole between the chamber and the firebox helps with keeping the fire from jumping into the main cooking chamber. Again, great video. It’s really nice to see big box store offsets being used in these videos as they are much more financially attainable to the masses vs the Yoders and custom guys….although I most definitely plan to get a Lone Star Grillz 24x36 pipe smoker or cabinet offset one of these days.

Thanks brotha much needed video!

It still mystifies me as to why offset manufacturers still insist on putting temp gauges at the top of cook chamber, why not just put then lower at grate level where they would be more effective! Great up load. I'm in the UK and drove 824miles to collect a Oaklahoma Joe Highland, that was a month ago I still haven't used it, waiting for all my gadgets!!!

Pick up a used OK Joe 3-1 Combo. Thank you for this great video on firebox fire mgmt.

Thank you for the great fire management info. I'm missing that longer fire grate for the pull out tray. All I have are the two smaller grates.

Tks for all the info. GREAT

Very good video sir, this a very awesome lesson. 🙂👍🏾🔥💯

Thanks for the video.. helped me out alot 💯

Appreciate it Man

I was going to legs and thighs on my Weber but now I'm going to dust off the old Brinkman offset and use her for the first time in a longtime. My weber kettle is as good at smoking as the offset but I miss the offset. I also have a huge trailer smoker which I can do whole hogs on. Should be fun. Great video BTW for people learning. I enjoyed it.

Thanks for the replys

This is a great video man gave a lot of knowledge good content 👏🏿

Super helpful! Thanks! 👍

Good video.made every thing easy to understand.lot of good information

Great tips, made my life a little easier

Amazing video. Thanks!

Thank very much for this

Thanks for the video I'm a beginner so video help me out a lot. God bless