This is where it's hard for me to comment as I no longer have this smoker. I used to start with a full chimney of lump coal and open everything up. Once temp was there, I'd back down the air flow. but would soon have to open everything up. The issue I had all of the time was air getting into the unit properly. I stuck a tiny fan on the outside and it had air blowing into it to keep up the temps and a burn instead of a smolder. I probably would not have needed the fan had the fire box contained a full vent. However since the morons in china decided to go two piece, it is no longer possible. As for playing with temps on an original OKJ and Old Country units, It holds heat well due to the thicker metal. I really has been a night and day difference. Air flow is constant and the temps to not give way to much in variation.