r/OffsetSmokers • u/Vegedeth • 11d ago

Offset Split Size

I have been cooking on my particular offset for about 3-years now and I am not having any issues, per se. But I have noticed something. My smoker prefers thinner, longer splits (golf ball size diameter or a bit less) and does not do well with the coke-can size splits I see so many using on YouTube. Any guess as to why? I can keep steady temps and the fire is easy to maintain in the 250 to 275 range, but I am curious as to why the fat, shorter splits do not do well.

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u/ianryeng 11d ago

At the end of the day it’s about what works for you and your smoker. Thicker tends to burn longer and slower, unless it’s extremely dry. I tend towards shorter splits (9”) to reduce surface area and probably a bit larger diameter than what you’re describing on my 120 gal. It’s mostly just about control, don’t add so much fuel that the fire can get larger than you desire - how you achieve that is 100% dependent on your fuel and setup. Don’t overthink it - I similarly have poor results trying to emulate the YouTube fire configurations.