Finally got my burn in on my chargriller competition pro. I added firebricks to my firebox. Didn’t know how I wanted to align them
by Ok_Neighborhood_8609
10 Comments
Meatloafninja
Looking good! I originally lined the firebox with these as well on my grand champ. However I realized fairly quickly I missed having a gap under my fire so I put the grate back in and placed a few less fire bricks in the firebox. I’ll add a pic to show you. I still have way better fires but I think having the ability for the fire to breathe is better than 3-4 extra bricks.
This picture shows how amazingly hot of a fire you can get with only 5 fire bricks and the original grate.
Zenos17
I haven’t had the pleasure of using an offset yet but may I ask what’s the advantage of having those bricks there.
edfie_1878
I arrange mine all lengthways forming a u shape going up the front and back with one below the hole which feeds into the cooking chamber (you have one there already). Works well. This way allows for a gap between the grate and the brick for airflow.
TBaggins_
If you’re burning logs, you won’t have a single issue retaining heat. Infact, you’ll be fighting keeping it below 275-300f while also making sure you don’t accidentally let the fire go out.
The issue with small offsets and burning wood is, you can’t use *too* small of splits or you won’t get a coal bed from them. But yet you can’t use full size splits because the chamber is too small to have a raging fire big enough to properly combust such a large piece of wood. So you kind of have to find the perfect size split for your firebox. But again, once you get a coal bed that’s hot enough to continually burn new splits, you are fighting not allowing temps to really climb out of the range you want. So you try to let it cool down just a little. Maybe you go a little too low and you start to lose your coal bed and then the next log you add is just a smoldering mess. There’s a fine line with these small units. But not getting hot enough with wood just isn’t their problem.
I can’t speak to using charcoal and chunks. That’s just not why I bought an offset.
Firm-Garlic-1924
I understand that desire to have gaps in the bricks to maximize airflow. You will get tired of pulling the bricks out to clean the ash between there.
Alternatively, you can lean the splits against the side of the bricks that line the side of the firebox. Then you control temps by moving the splits up the side to increase flow and lower the spilts to decrease air flow
bandit8623
i use for my upright., its so useful for blocking direct heat along with holding temps when you need to refuel
hippieswithhaircuts
I have them in my Traeger. I cook all year round and although I don’t need them In the summer, they make a difference in the cold and wind.
LogicalSympathy6126
What do you use for fire bricks? Pavers?
collector-x
Brinkmann used to sell firebox liners. They came in a 2 pack. 1/16″ rolled steel sheets.
I’m thinking if you made a cardboard template pattern of the curvature of your firebox ( then take this to a metal shop they can probably cut you something from their scrap metal for like $20-40
PancakesandScotch
I’d start by taking them right back out. Then use the brick money to extend your stack.
But before you do any of that, cook on it.
No sense trying to improve symptoms you haven’t seen.
10 Comments
Looking good! I originally lined the firebox with these as well on my grand champ. However I realized fairly quickly I missed having a gap under my fire so I put the grate back in and placed a few less fire bricks in the firebox. I’ll add a pic to show you. I still have way better fires but I think having the ability for the fire to breathe is better than 3-4 extra bricks.
https://preview.redd.it/b2ygg6swegpg1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=574ed26ca54d219eb5a3fe539140579834b2464a
This picture shows how amazingly hot of a fire you can get with only 5 fire bricks and the original grate.
I haven’t had the pleasure of using an offset yet but may I ask what’s the advantage of having those bricks there.
I arrange mine all lengthways forming a u shape going up the front and back with one below the hole which feeds into the cooking chamber (you have one there already). Works well. This way allows for a gap between the grate and the brick for airflow.
If you’re burning logs, you won’t have a single issue retaining heat. Infact, you’ll be fighting keeping it below 275-300f while also making sure you don’t accidentally let the fire go out.
The issue with small offsets and burning wood is, you can’t use *too* small of splits or you won’t get a coal bed from them. But yet you can’t use full size splits because the chamber is too small to have a raging fire big enough to properly combust such a large piece of wood. So you kind of have to find the perfect size split for your firebox. But again, once you get a coal bed that’s hot enough to continually burn new splits, you are fighting not allowing temps to really climb out of the range you want. So you try to let it cool down just a little. Maybe you go a little too low and you start to lose your coal bed and then the next log you add is just a smoldering mess. There’s a fine line with these small units. But not getting hot enough with wood just isn’t their problem.
I can’t speak to using charcoal and chunks. That’s just not why I bought an offset.
I understand that desire to have gaps in the bricks to maximize airflow.
You will get tired of pulling the bricks out to clean the ash between there.
Alternatively, you can lean the splits against the side of the bricks that line the side of the firebox. Then you control temps by moving the splits up the side to increase flow and lower the spilts to decrease air flow
i use for my upright., its so useful for blocking direct heat along with holding temps when you need to refuel
I have them in my Traeger. I cook all year round and although I don’t need them In the summer, they make a difference in the cold and wind.
What do you use for fire bricks? Pavers?
Brinkmann used to sell firebox liners. They came in a 2 pack. 1/16″ rolled steel sheets.
I’m thinking if you made a cardboard template pattern of the curvature of your firebox ( then take this to a metal shop they can probably cut you something from their scrap metal for like $20-40
I’d start by taking them right back out. Then use the brick money to extend your stack.
But before you do any of that, cook on it.
No sense trying to improve symptoms you haven’t seen.