Too much smoke (Not anymore)

k.a.m. · Posted: Oct 03 2011 Post subject:

Arlo, congrats on figuring her out. Very Happy

So what was your cure so we can know for future assignments?
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

feldon30 · Posted: Oct 03 2011 Post subject:

Sounds like you got her sorted out! What are you gonna smoke next? Smile

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22" Weber Smokey Mountain + Weber Spirit

Arlo · Newbie Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 33

The key was actually two things.

#1. Building the fire correctly. The first fire I built I just packed it full and lit it thinking I could damper it down and control it that way. The 2nd fire I built smaller and let get hotter therefore correcting that issue.

#2. I cracked the door on one side to allow a better draft. I now have to install a slide draft on the back ubder the fire grate and I should be good to go.

Someone mentioned the sweet spot. Well I fired it up Friday, Saturday, and cooked onit yesterday and looks like the sweetspot is between 250 and 280. It jumps to 300 if I add too much wood but I think I got her figured out a little better now.

The next smoking will be Saturday we are doing a fundraiser for the youth in our church (which was my plan of getting this thin all along) I am going to attempt to cook about 20 or 30 butts on it

dtel · Posted: Oct 05 2011 Post subject:

Glad to hear your doing better, the pic's look like your doing fine. Try closing the intake a little to control the increase in temp.

This place is great, it save my butt in more ways than one with the help I got to get my smoker working the way it should, and with cooking help and ideas.

Arlo · Newbie Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 33

This is what 30, 8 lb butts look like on it. They turned out awesome. One thing that did change was I thought the sweet spot was going to be between 250 and 280 degrees but when we got it loaded it ran about 210 to 230 and it worked out great. Thanks Everyone

k.a.m. · Posted: Oct 11 2011 Post subject:

Arlo, your sweet spot changed probably because of the amount of meat on the racks causing less air flow plus that is a lot of cold meat acting as a heat sink. Once the cook was well into service and the Butts shrunk a bit and warmed up did you notice a rise in the temps a little?
Those Butts look awesome very nice work. Very Happy

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

Arlo · Newbie Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 33

Actually I built my normal fire and it stayed aroung 150-160 for a little while. After about 30 minutes I decided to pour the heat to her and it took twice the fire I was use to but I was careful because i din't want it to spike. It jumped to about 230-250 for a few minutes then it settled around 210-220 and that is where she hung for the better part of the cook. Believe it or not once we got the fire right we didn't have to run it with the doors cracked so the draft is doing pretty good although I am still going to install another one on the back. I was also very pleased with the amount of wood or lack thereof that it took to keep it going.