first smoke

[Guest]

High my name is Jeff,
I just did my first smoke it was ok a little overdone, but my concern is that when I shut down all of the vents top and bottom and I came back 24 hours later the coals were still burning and the temperature at the top was about 150.
This is a new WSM 2wks. It is put together right and the nuts and bolts are all tight and sealed,but I did notice that the vents have a small tab that keeps the vents from closing absolutely all the way
Could this allow enough ventilation for the coals to keep burning?
Other than that has anyone else experienced this problem?

 

[Jim Minion]

The interior of the cooker will gunk up some and will help seal the cooker better as you have more cooks. Not an unusal problem.
Jim

 

[David Munson]

It does run hotter in the beginning. I wonder where it got the air. The tab should not do it. Out of round?

 

[Doug D]

Check your access door for warp along the vertical edges, too.