Ash question on UDS

[aris]

I'm starting to season my UDS and noted when I took the lid off, all sorts of ash was flying about in the heat updraft.

Is this normal?

Also if I use a forced air type system - I'm thinking the air blowing in may stir up the ash too.

Lastly - does the ash in the basket end up choking the coal as it burns? I have seen some designs with a small rod attached to the coal basket to jiggle it about and loosten the ash - but is this really necessary or does it depend on the coal used?

Thanks!

[keith157]

The Excel has a wide mesh basket for the charcoal so the ash tends to fall through, what have you used to hold your coals?

[aris]

My mesh basket is wide too - but if it is piled deep - i'm wondering if that can be an issue or not.

When you open the lid, do you have bits of ash flying about inside?

[keith157]

Nothing to speak of, but right or wrong I turn mu ProQue off so there is no air coming in.

[Swindon_Ed]

I get this with my WSM's & ProQ and the way to stop it happening is to burp your smoker before you lift the lid off. So open the lid slightly for 10-20 seconds and then lift the lid completly, this will stop it from happening.

[keith157]

Thanks for the tip

[stretchie_]

My ash basket is 13" across and 11" deep, that's just the basket, it sits on top of 6" legs, I started off with 3" legs but found that an overnight burn did choke the coals with ash, but had no problems with the longer legs.

Look at my other posts for pics on what I did. As for ash, yeah, you're going to get some drifting about, or at least I do. Doesn't stop the food being awesome though.

[aris]

My basket is about 17" across and 14" high. Is this too big?

I could cut some off the top - but i'm not sure it is necessary as I will not be filling it up with coal.

[stretchie_]

I've just put some weld mesh at an angle in the bottom of the coal basket so the very bottom part forms a V to keep the very last of the coals together rather than let them spread out.