WSM 18.5 Temp Control

Hey guys,

Thanks for such quick responses. Was hoping my first smoke overnight would have just gone swimmingly, but I suppose a learning curve is involved.

I've used the WSM probably twenty times in the past year or two.

The top vent was fully open of course.

I put temp probes right next to each other, clipped between the side of smoker and where the meat is.

Think you might be right, and maybe I started with too many. I also woke up at 330am as it went down to 220. Added some more coal and some water. It's been sitting nicely at 250 for the last four/five hours.

Guess maybe I just need to start slower and be more patient in getting it up to 250? Use less charcoal to start and fill up water bowl?

I'm in DC, and the temp swings here are considerable, so it's been a bit tough learning how much to change up based on that.

Thanks again, and any more advice I'm missing is appreciated!

Yes, I think next time I need to start with less charcoal, fill the water pan, and be less aggressive at the start. I did have all the vents open at first to get it up to temp, but I think I should have ended that early and just let the partyq do most of the leg work, batteries be damned!

Point well taken easier to jump up in temp than bring it back down. That's what I didn't do.

Just surprising with partyq attached (thus, no vents open) and a cold night, that it could still jump to such high Temps for that amount of time.