Where does the charcoal go?
please clarify your problem, i am providing only general solution, any "contraption" of that type is divided into several sections, on the very bottom is ash container, above is fire and at the very top is food compartment. food compartment is usually insulated from direc fire.
as a fire you can use any "sweet" hardwood, any fruit tree cuttings, branches, kindlings are fine, so is hickory, oak will turn food bitter, do not use it then, do not use mapple, birch or ivy either, they will turn food very sour, do not ever use grass, pine or similar, they do spoil food acrid and turn smokehouse acrid for very long time.
do not allow vigorous fire as this will raise temperature to high and you will be baking not smoking!
as a rule of thumb, per 1000g of mass is required 1h of smoking, temperature, depending on meat/product (you can smoke cheese, fruits and others!) should be between 60centigrade and 85 centigrade, lower the temperature (optimal for virtually everything is about 72 to 75 centigrade), better product and better taste, but extended time!
prepare your meat according to favourite recipy, smoke, prepare pot with boiling water, immediatelly after removal from smoke, immerse your meat (especially susages for about 10 sec into boiling water, allow to dry and store in coolroom or dry it above your "normal" cooking stove in your kitchen, it will not spoil, it will just become more dry.
now, how to care, afte smoking, empty ash and fire "department", wipe clean all working surfaces, prevent from direct rain, you can use bit of lard ot grease food compartment, but it is not necessary, experience will teach you more :-)
