Trouble reaching cook temp

I built a mini two weeks ago. Used a steamer pot and my old smokey joe silver. Drilled a bunch of big holes in the bottom of the steamer pot. One inch in diameter. This past week I ran a few cooks on vacation with my family. I've had trouble getting the cooking temp up to 220 or 250. Used a clay pot base a heat diffuser. Any suggestions on how I can get my temp higher? I ended up constantly taking the steamer pot off the smokey joe base to blow on the coals. I felt like I wasn't getting enough air to my coals. Used the big chicken can with holes over my bottom vent to keep ash from clogging my vents. I'm thinking I need to drill a few new air vent holes into the side of my smokey joe.

First off, I would highly advise not drilling any more vents on the side of your smokey joe. Not only do you have a higher chance ruining the finish and creating rust you have an even higher chance of not being able to control your temperature because you have no way to control those vents. With that being said, after looking over your post, you state that you drilled holes on the bottom of the pot. I would recommend cutting the bottom out and using either the tab or grate system to hold your terracotta pan. Also I must ask do you use a charcoal chamber? If not I would get one, this allows you to use the minion method without "smothering" your coals. Lastly if you have an issue lighting coals once you put hot coals on, I would recommend starting out first with the hot coals, and then setting a few unlit coals on top. Obviously if you do this method you would have to add fuel during those times your cooking a brisket. Lastly even WSM are known not to be able to keep temp or struggle to keep temp until after a few good smokes/seasoning is done. The reason is because of the air pockets which are created and closed. Please make sure you give enough time for this to happen, as you may have a few air gaps between your pot and smokey joe.

How big is your clay saucer? I was running a 12" in mine and had trouble getting 275 and I got a 10" and now I can get 300
I would not suggest drilling addl hole in the sides, if anything (after trying the smaller clay saucer) drilling more hole in the bottom

John,

I agree with he above. After seven hours of cooking over the weekend, I opened up my vents and ran the mini up to about 340 very quickly. Are you running with the top vent wide open? It also sounds like your diffuser might be blocking airflow through your grill (are you setting it directly on the bottom of the pot - over the holes?). My mini has the bottom completely removed and the diffuser hanging from bolts about an inch above the coals. If you are really set on keeping the holes in the bottom of the pot, maybe try raising the diffuser off the bottom by half an inch or so with metal spacers or small tiles. More air holes in your vent cover can can't hurt (I actually ran mine with no vent protector and did not have too much trouble). I hope this helps...

Regards,

John

I use NOTHING in my Mini-Joe's water pan/deflector. I can get over 350 degrees with Kingsford Original. I have the bottom cut out of my cooker and my deflector is the base from the ACE Hardware portable charcoal grill (the right size and it's cheap):

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1294186&cp=11757149

I ran bolts (3) in the depression in the pot that originally provided a rest for the steamer insert. The rolled rim of the charcoal pan sits on these three bolts.

Keep on smokin',
Dale53

Make one change at a time. First thing I would do is to cut out the bottom of the tamale pot. You'll be able to load more coals too.
And do not drill vent holes on your Smokey Joe, no matter what.

My two cents. I started my mini over three years ago. SMJ Silver. Started with just holes drilled in the btm of the pot. Then started making mods. The bottom vent is fine as is if you make an ash guard. So don't touch that. I found at higher altitudes I couldn't get temps to be consistent or as high as I wanted so I added (2) 3/4" vents on the side with ball valves so you CAN control temps. One other important item that helps is make a charcoal basket. Can be done using the existing charcoal grate and a sheet of expanded metal. If you don't weld you can wire it together. My first basket lasted 2 years just wired together with rebar ties. Cut the bottom out of the pot. Metal blade on a jig saw or a Dremel tool or tin snips. Loose the terracotta pot. If you feel the need for a diffuser use the steamer insert. I can run my mini as low as 180 and as high as I don't know because my therm cuts out at 500. Anyways that's what I'd do. The mini is a rock solid smoker and that's why I have 4 of them!

Thanks gang. I've been using both an ash guard over the bottom vent and a charcoal basket. Maybe my basket is too large in diameter. It pretty much touches the sides of the kettle. That could be cutting air flow up and around the coals. I've got my 12 inch clay heat diffuser up off the bottom of the steamer pot...I used a few balled up pieces of foil to lift it about 3/4 of an inch off the pot bottom to allow for adequate air flow. I've got a list of things to try now....I'll try one at a time!! Thanks again.
JP


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John Pierson said:

Thanks gang. I've been using both an ash guard over the bottom vent and a charcoal basket. Maybe my basket is too large in diameter. It pretty much touches the sides of the kettle. That could be cutting air flow up and around the coals.

Click to expand...

I've experimented with both, using a coal basket and without on my SJS. No basket burns as efficiently with the SJS, and I've loaded it to the max for longer cooks. Cutting out the bottom of the tamale pot really helps breathe better as well.

I just think your clay saucer is too big. I use a 10x2 cake pan and it works great.