[8lug]

I've gave up on the basket thing years ago, for me i use a hole starter full of lit charcoal and 1-2 sticks or preheated wood per hour or so of cooking. I preheat my wood right on top the the firebox. By the time the charcoal is ready to be replenished the wood sticks are preheated enough that they ignite rather than smoldder. The key is to have a small hot fire rather than a larger smoldder fire.