It is best if you can push the coal to one side, add unlit, that put ome of the lit back on top to start a minion burn. If you pour in a lot of unlit on top of your lit, you will run temps way up as well as create a lot of bad charcoal smoke for bad taste.
I don't think there is anyone way that is best. It is important to do this consistently from cook to cook so that you can learn how adjustments work. But to answer the question, I too prefer to adjust with Justine vent and it is only cracked open.
You are correct. For LNS, the amount if unlit doesn't play a role in temp. The amount of lit added dictates how fast you will get up to temp. Keep in mind the faster you get there, the harder it is to slow down. This is based on running with no water. For me, it's 15 lit
For high heat smoking...
Don't know if you also found trick to make the roll, but 2 lbs of sausage in 1 gal zip lock rolls out to the perfect size. Then just cut open the sides for a perfect square ready to be stuffed
Yes, a saucer will let you get to higher temps than water. 275 with water is tough, or a big fire is needed. The avantage I have found is that with the saucer, you can get up to temps like you can with an empty pan, but stop the climbing temps when you want much easier.
Love them on the WSM. I run with an empty foiled pan, one chimney lit, dumped on what ever I have around. ( some lump or left over coals) Top rack for 1 hour, flipping after 30 min. Pre cook is a dry marinade in my sweet chili rub.
I finally go around to making this did. Did a half batch. It is quite the deceiving recipe. Samplin it on a spoon, I did not expect it be so hot, and in re-reading the past post, I see others found it that way too. I almost wasn't going to use it :(
But I have to add, it tastes way better...