Quote Originally Posted by Big_Eddy View Post
The best solution to avoid smoke is also the best for a good hot fire. Lots of draft. Make sure you have lots of stack height. You should have 12' of 7" or 8" stove pipe for a typical block arch. The extra height causes increased draft and will suck air in the cracks instead of letting smoke seep out. Make sure there is a good opening at the bottom edge at the front to allow air in, and once you get a fire established, the draft will keep the area clear of smoke. You do have a grate of some kind to keep the fire off the ground and let air under it - correct?

There will always be some smoke when you first light, but once it is roaring there shouldn't be enough to bother you.
Good hot fire - check (i think anyway - at least 2 of my pans are usually on a good boil and the 3rd goes as well when all the sticks are burning)
Fire grate - check
Stack height - no where close to 12'
My stack is 4 concrete blocks with 2- 2 ft stove pipes shoved into the concrete
blocks to extend the height. So what's that? - 4.5ft tops.

My front is pretty much open right now except for a couple of blocks
that cover the side of my front pan. Is that a problem?