Working does not mean I know how to play the fire game right away. During my childhood, I packed a Bonfire into the trunk of my car as I headed over to my parent’s house to attend a cookout my dad was hosting. It would be my pleasure to light a smokeless fire for the party and be the hero of it all. I couldn’t fit my bonfire logs onto my dad’s fire starters and he couldn’t fit his firewood in my Bonfire – the logs would’ve worked on my Yukon fire. By raiding the laundry room and using dryer lint to make some new starters, I was able to light the fire.
The logs were burning down for quite a while before they could fit inside the burn chamber and activate a smokeless secondary burn, but as soon as the fire caught, I realized they needed to burn down for a while. In the end, I was able to break the logs down into appropriate pieces and get a beautifully smokeless fire after much trial and error. The process would have been much simpler if I had all the right tools at my disposal.
Whenever my team lights fires for work events, it amazes me how quickly they can create a raging smokeless flame. Each and every time, it continues to mesmerize me. However, Fire Pits were designed to be easy to operate and to be enjoyed, but the fire itself does require some skill. Get the quick fixes you need for a smoky fire, and you’ll soon be able to call yourself a fire master:
Optimize Airflow
Smokeless fires rely on Signature 360° Airflow to provide the electricity- but you only need to do a couple of things to make it happen. The first thing to do is to remove that ash. Ensure your ash pan is empty every couple of burns or more. There is no way for the air to make a 360° circle if there is ash in the way. Airflow is compromised by ash, but there are other benefits! Here are 5 things you can do with wood ash.
Secondly, flip the flame ring the next time you see someone’s Instagram picture with an upside-down flame ring. Make sure they FlipThatFlameRing to ensure the best fire. Fire pit rings direct hot air toward the fire, making it easier to burn off excess smoke. Additionally, it channels flames upward and inward, keeping them away from your legs. Designed to be used with our other fire pit accessories at all times, it can be installed at any time. Be sure to keep your logs below the secondary burn holes and flame ring when you are burning! You can find more information in the previous section if you skipped ahead.
Fuel Up and Heat Up
You should ensure that your fuel meets smokeless standards before starting a fire. We have a Firewood Guide that explains hardwoods and softwoods. When it comes to fueling your fire, hardwoods are generally the best option, but our Aromatic Juniper is an exception. A fire made with these logs gives off a sweet scent that reminds me of an idyllic life in a tiny cabin deep in the forest of rural Colorado. There’s no doubt about it, it smells great. Don’t hesitate to try some out.
The first logs should be kindling, then you can add some initial kindling. After you have lit your logs and you have a considerable flame, move them to the edges of your fire pit, and fill any gaps with smaller logs as well as chunk wood if you have it. For lingering smoke to be extinguished, you need a fire that’s as hot as possible.
It was very important that we knew how long each log would be before sourcing firewood. All our fire pits, from Ranger to Yukon, can accommodate custom-cut wood. The sizes range from 10-12″ long and 3-6″ wide, so they’re perfect for fire pits. Is there a reason why it matters so much if that’s the case? There is a simple explanation.
Your fuel must be packed below the secondary burn holes of the fire pit in order to promote optimal airflow. You will definitely get smoke if your logs are sticking out. Therefore, if you want to generate as much heat as possible, you should fill the entire burn chamber with fuel. Discover how airflow plays an important role in creating smokeless fires:
Stay Consistent
It is crucial to maintain consistency in any successful venture. You will eventually need to add more fuel to your fire after it has been burning so hot and efficiently for a while. Fuel must be kept moving to keep the heat up. For a smokeless fire to thrive, you need a very hot environment, so keep adding logs until the fire is completely covered by secondary burn holes.
The experience of sitting around a mesmerizing natural light is easy and incredibly satisfying once you master the smokeless flame. Our fire pits are built to last, so we hope you enjoy them for years to come!
