<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ron "Rondo" hanson:
Lotza good tips already
Here's a
RETRO-THOUGHT... try using water in the pan especially for overnite cooks.
This little WSM machine truely is
set & forget ... and not fussy about # of minion coals, constant tinkering with vents, or the occasional wind gust, etc, etc ... if you use water!
... Flower pots, sand, bricks, foiled pan, no pan, or holding your mouth a certain way, all can and do work but they all come with a price....namely, eroding the
set & forget nature of the WSM </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not disagreeing because you are right that water will stabilize the temp. Buuuuttttt, I've never had a problem setting & forgetting using 1/2" sand in the water pan and foil over the top. I've had a full charcoal ring hold 240 for 12-14 hours no problem. Again, it's all about knowing your equipment; practicing and adjusting to fit your equipment.
And like Jerry P. said, start shutting the bottom vents early before temp. I'll close one vent about 50F (grate temp) before target, second vent about 30F before, then close the last vent to 10% about 20F before target. This is for regular Kingsford pre-changes this year. I may have to adjust when I ever start using the newer stuff. I have different times for different fuel for different target temps.