What am I doing wrong? (temp control question)

fastalkintn

Fire Starter

Original poster

Oct 13, 2007

73

11

Christiana, Tn

• Jul 13, 2013

• #1

I've got a smoke hollow 4-1 with extended chimney and charcoal basket. I put 1 chimney of unlit charcoal in the basket tightly stacked on one end. I lite 12 bricquets and let them ash over then put them in one corner of my unlit charcoal, neatly stacked. Exhaust 3/4 open firebox damper oly 1/4 open, when temp reaches 200 I close damper fully. Temp will not stop climbing and within 30 minutes almost all charcoal is lit. Using kings ford blue. Any advice on how to slow it down?

 

ellymae

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Mar 21, 2009

1,391

90

Southeastern PA

• Jul 13, 2013

• #2

It seems you've got air getting in somewhere else... any pictures?

 

oldschoolbbq

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Jul 16, 2008

9,359

205

NW Ohio - outside Toledo

• Jul 13, 2013

• #3

Fasttalker... send Q-view of what your "Damper" is... the exhaust should bee "Fully Open" at all times , when cooking. Control the heat with the intake at the FB. Seems odd the coals would burn in 30min. Maybe 1/4 open was too much air, my sticker runs with my intake almost closed, 45min. is my usual feeding time ; your Fire Basket should run several hours untouched...

There will be more Charcoal Basket Burners soon and can help you more. I'm just an old Stickburner...

.

Hope you get an answer . . .

 

fastalkintn

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Oct 13, 2007

73

11

Christiana, Tn

• Jul 13, 2013

• #4

Here is my smoker



My damper on the fire box. Fully shut but temp is still climbing.



And the starter chimney I use. I had to take charcoal out of my fire box so I put it back n here.

 

ellymae

Master of the Pit

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Mar 21, 2009

1,391

90

Southeastern PA

• Jul 14, 2013

• #5

And there is no connection between the right and left side of your cooker?

When you are smoking, is there any smoke coming out anywhere besides the chimney?

 

fastalkintn

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Oct 13, 2007

73

11

Christiana, Tn

• Jul 15, 2013

• #6

ellymae said:

And there is no connection between the right and left side of your cooker?
When you are smoking, is there any smoke coming out anywhere besides the chimney?

Click to expand...

You are correct, no connection between sides. I do have some leaking around the lids but otherwise I've got her pretty air tight.

 

so ms smoker

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Dec 20, 2010

1,874

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Gulfport, MS

• Jul 15, 2013

• #7

  Hi Fast. It looks like you have serious air leaks around the firebox door. Even with the damper closed there is plenty air getting in to 'fan the flames'.  My sfb is similar and I close damper as the desired cooking temp nears . Even with the charcoal basket, I find that the briquettes light and burn faster than lump charcoal.  Try filling basket with lump and light 8-10 briquettes in the chimney and add them to the edge of the basket. As the lump lites, close the damper completely. This should help but if it still burns too hot and fast, try sealing the firebox door better. Hope this helps some.

  Mike