WSM disaster.

[Guest]

Sunday morning I had a whole brisket, a butt, and a slab. I fired up the bullet ala Minion. Full water pan. Then I get an email to come in to work. Damn. I crack the bottom vents about 1/8th open, the top 1/2 open. An hour later when I leave for work, the pit isn't up to temp yet so I open the top all the way. I got home 10 hours later and found burnt ribs (which I expected) and way overdone brisket and butt. By the looks of them, the temp got over 300.
My question is - how much rise in temp do you see after the water pan runs dry?
Can I fill the pan with sand (no water) so the drippings won't burn but still get protection from direct heat?

 

[Jim Minion]

Once the waterpan goes dry the temps will go over 300?, the Brinkman waterpan would help but in 10 hours chances are it would go dry also. In 10 hours I'm not sure much of anything would work.
DB you have to decide whats more important work or Q! Looks like you made the wrong choice! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
Jim