Temps still too high


 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> But this year I took the approach that I would let the cooker tell me where it wanted to be and not worry too much about it within reason, and by doing that I have learned how to get it into the temp range that I want by varying the amount of lit I start with and vent settings, and water pan configuration. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

tell me about it. I produce so much bad bbq my first year or so trying to keep things under 225*. Now I let her rip and make way better food with way less effort.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> j, you either have an out of round condition, or a real bad fitting access door, or..... With all the bowl vents closed, and you're still running that hot, the WSM is drawing in a lot of air from somewhere. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've played around with that some, as well as the door. Its usually not too much of a problem. and I own the one that ran cold and one of the hot ones, so I use them accordingly. I wonder if there's gaps with the vents, and that they still draw when closed.

I also always cook inside of a windbreak. I think on calm days it acts like a thermal blanket (or a double walled cooker) which might add some variation between my experience and yours.

I'm also more careful with my minion start. I read recently how the clay pot base will re-radiate excess heat so once you overshoot target temp you're out of luck trying to get her back down. I'm more more careful to not let the charcoal burn too fast and run away.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Where is your thermo placed? What kind of fuel are you using?

Mine runs at 250 all the time and I love it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

hump briquettes, all temps were dial therms in drilled holes in lid opposite vent.

I typically can get a steady 240, the above example was a singular observation.

Right now, I have the run hot wsm running around 230* (all bottom vents closed) and I'm 1.5 hours into the cook. I was surprised to see it went up about 20* in the last 30 min and noticed the middle wasn't seated in the bottom bowl tight. I guess that's a consequence of lighting it up at 5am.
 
The "A" team has given all the good advice, so I really can't add anything other than IF you try the various suggestions and THINK you have an out of round condition you can "prove" it one way or the other by making a gasket out of aluminum foil

Heavy Duty is better but not absolutely necessary. Srip out a length just a little longer than the diameter of the WSM. If using light foil just roll into a tube and lay it around the bottom edge, pressing down to keep it in position.

Light your fire and install the middle section pushing down until seated, load your meat, cover and set your vents as normal and see if theres any difference.

Leaks around the door shouldn't create that much of a problem IMHO.

I have an out of round since new. Mine runs hot, and the gasket cools it down. One of these days I'll get around to fixing it.

If I am using the BBQ Guru it corrects for that and I don't need the gasket when I use it.

If you do this with HD foil you will probably want to half that long sheet otherwise the gasket is a little too heavy to press into the gap as you assemble.

Anyway the purpose is to use this as a trouble shooting tool.

You can also take your WSM in a dark room or do this at night:

Put a lit candle or flashlight/lantern on the fire grate. Close everything up - look for light coming through the middle section. This is how I identified mine.

I was doing a night cook (Roadside Chicken!!) And could see light from the fire around the mid section. That was my first clue.

Otherwise as others said the variation you are talking about won't really affect your results in my view.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">you can "prove" it one way or the other by making a gasket out of aluminum foil </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

thanks for the quotes, as a science teacher I like to remind people that you can't really prove anything, just eliminate possible hypotheses.

I'm pegged at 250* 3.5 hours in.bottom vents are all closed, tops is 50% closed. I was considering the foil gasket, but before I did that I checked the vents and one seemed a bit lose so I folded some foil flat and wedged it between the disk and the hole.
 
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