Novice questions


 
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Russ

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I bought myself a WSM last weekend. As soon as I got it home I couldn't wait and smoked baby backs using instructions on this site. Pretty daring being I have no experience at this. They turned out good.
My question is, I seem to have a problem getting the temp up to 240ish, it hangs more around 210. I had ALL vents open during my brisket and tri-tip smoking today and it kept cooling down. I'm in Houston so it was nice and hot and there was a slight breeze. I kept turning the coals and adding wood to try to bring the heat up. I smoked the brisket and tri-tips using oak, hickory, and cherry. Maybe I need to add more hot coal after awhile or something.
 
Hi,
How much charcoal did you start off with?

What type of thermometer are you using to check your smoker temp with?

Did you test the thermometer for accuracy first in boiling water?
 
I started off with almost the whole ring full of charcoal. It was close to the top. I filled a chimney full and then added a bunch more to the top of that. When the temp was going down, there was still plenty of charcoal left, it just wasn't burning very hot.

Do you HAVE to empty the bottom ash catcher every time you use it? Would those ashes be what's keeping it cool somehow? I haven't emptied it at all yet.
 
Russ,
I don't find that it is imperative, to empty ash, each and every time. As long as the bottom air vents are not blocked, you should be getting all the air that is necessary.
Try switching to a different brand, of fuel, that sounds like a possible culprit.
I use lump charcoal, and for me to run at 240? or so, my bottom vents are normally open no more than, 1/3 open.

Jim
 
Russ,

Are you using Kingsford? Could your coals have gotten wet? I don't think that ashes in the bowl is your problem. I'm pretty lazy about cleaning and sometimes leave the ashes for 3 or 4 cooks, dumping new coals on top of the semi-burnt ones. The only times I've had trouble getting the temp up was when I used inferior charcoal (the house brands from K-Mart or Wal-Mart).

Steve
 
Yeah, sounds like either your Kingsford charcoal soaked up some humidity, or you are using some off-brand charcoal.
 
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