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butts won't get above 186


 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">How is the stoker Larry? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You really want to know? Venture over to the Automatic Temperature Control Systems forum. I do want to warn you though, I think what is going on with my unit is isolated, we're trying to figure-out what's going on. Take what I wrote with a grain of salt, I was very upset when I started the thread.
 
well, I finished up around 7pm. Being my first butt I thought it was very tasty, but a little too smokey. My wife thought it was way too smokey, So I gave her the meat from the center and she was happy.

So I started at 9:30am and finished at 7pm. Went a little long I think for just a 4.5lb butt. What do you guys think?

Either way, I am happy for my first butt. Much better than my first brisket or ribs turned out.

Can't wait to make another one(or two). I need to get a Maverick or something so I can do and overnight cook.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steve davis:
I need to get a Maverick or something so I can do and overnight cook. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What you don't want to wake up every 2 hours to check? I think my first all nighter has me on the hunt for something to help me sleep too. Plus the dog was extra tired following me outside all night!
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Neither are necessary.

If you get your cooker stabilized, have the wind blocked, it's fine all night. I have a Maverick and a Guru and use neither for overnights. If the vents aren't open much (and there aren't leaks from an out-of-round situation) there isn't much to worry about.
 
For the windblock I was going to use the aluminized water heater blanket, but it was making my temps +40* with all vents closed. I was worried about the wind picking up (which messed with my first cook) so I kept checking.

If you aren't using the maverick or Guru, I will give you my address, and even pay for postage!
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Blankets are helpful in very cold conditions. Barring those, something to block breezes is all that is necessary. That way, changing wind conditions while you sleep will have little effect on the cooker. As long as your middle is seated correctly and/or not out-of-round temps should maintain fairly well.

Leakage around the door or lid is not an issue. Unless there are major gaps around the door (enough that a breeze can really get in--but with a block a non-issue) the distance between the door or lid and the fuel is too great for leaks there to effect the burn. With the cooker stable, i.e., with the vents restricted and the cooker stable for a while, there isn't a whole lot to worry about, especially if you use water, but, still, not really much even if you use sand or a clay base. Restricted air intake (with blocked wind) means that there isn't enough air coming in to cause a sudden flare-up of wood (though I do not use large pieces of wood nor bury wood deeply to be safe--I do not use a block at all though; it isn't convenient for me and spiking, if any, doesn't really bother me and is very unlikely to get out of hand).

I do have an out-of-round condition. I fashion a gasket out of foil and that works well.

It isn't hard to set up a cooker to go all night without problems. A remote probe can warn you if something is amiss of course, but as long as you attend to the details during set up and the stabilization period there isn't much chance of anything occurring that would ruin the cook.

(I tend to use the Mav for low-temp bacon smokes. The Guru-dunno--haven't used it in quite a while.)
 
I just take a long piece of HD foil--long enough to wrap around the circumference of the lower section plus a few inches, then fold the piece lengthwise a few times--not folding and pressing tightly at all, just folding. Then I position the foil around the top, half way on the lip and press it on each side of the lip with my fingers. Then I squash the middle section into the lower section, check if it's evenly squashed, making adjustments if needed, and I'm good to go.

(It's easier--and one saves foil--if you take the whole length of foil and first cut it in half lengthwise, saving one half for the future. One half's folded thickness is enough to do it.)

The foil gasket last a few cooks. It will lift off (at least partially, usually) when the middle section is removed but can be repositioned and used again.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by K Kruger:
Blankets are helpful in very cold conditions. Barring those, something to block breezes is all that is necessary. That way, changing wind conditions while you sleep will have little effect on the cooker. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I went with the blanket because it was cheap and easy. I figure it would block the wind (which it does) and insulate if necessary.

I guess a plywood wall is in the future, but I didn't have enough time to make one, and paint to protect it, etc.
 
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