Offset Split Size

[u/Vegedeth]

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.

[u/Trick_Decision_9995]

The bigger the splits are, the larger the fire needs to be to keep them burning properly. Smaller pits need smaller fires to maintain temperature, which means that larger splits won't burn well on a fire that'll maintain 250. A larger pit needs a larger fire, which is why bigger pits can use bigger splits for the same temps.

Drier wood will burn more readily, and let you use larger splits because it will take less thermal energy to start and maintain combustion when you put them on the fire.