Frustrated novice in Tampa FL

mpeladeau

Newbie

Original poster

May 16, 2017

2

10

• May 16, 2017

• #1

Hello all!

I just bought a Masterbuilt John McLemore Signature Series bullet charcoal smoker from my local Lowe"s. Got it put together and am pre-seasoning it. I can't seem to get the dang thing over 250*F. I did not start with a whole lot of charcoal. Is thst my problem? I'm using lump hardwood charcoal. I threw in 3 chunks of lump hickory and it never went over 200*F. I have a chimney charcoal starter and added more charcoal and got it up to 250*F. Instructions said to get it up to 350*F so burn off residual manufacturing oils etc. It's been going for almost 2hours now but never got close to 350*F. Any thoughts/tips? How much charcoal should I start with?

 

joe black

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jan 25, 2015

4,535

341

Greenville, SC

• May 16, 2017

• #2

Make sure that the exhaust stack is wide open. Start everything with the intake vents wide open. Air = heat. Have a full load of lump charcoal and start it with a full chimney of briqs. If that doesn't work, I hope someone has a better idea of this particular smoker.

 

• 

Reactions: mpeladeau

SmokinAl

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Staff member

Moderator

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Jun 22, 2009

51,389

12,227

Central Florida (Sebring)

• May 17, 2017

• #3

Like Joe said, you just need a bigger fire.

All vents wide open.

Al

 

• 

Reactions: mpeladeau

grillmonkey

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 15, 2014

850

80

Twin City, GA

• May 17, 2017

• #4

Joe Black is right. You dump a full chimney of charcoal in there at full burn and with all your vents open, that baby will get HOT!

 

Last edited: May 17, 2017

• 

Reactions: mpeladeau

noboundaries

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Sep 7, 2013

10,247

5,352

Roseville, CA, a suburb of Sacramento

• May 17, 2017

• #5

Is there any water in the water pan?  If so, you won't see high temps until the water evaporates.  If not, use more fuel. 

Learning to control temps with any wood or charcoal smoker is part of the process of smoking.  Amount of fuel to use to reach your target temp, both as a cold bed for longer smokes, and lit charcoal (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or full chimney) to start just takes a little experience. 

Water is a heat sink that keeps temps low until it is all gone.  Many of us dry smoke (not using water) or substitute sand for water to help maintain constant temps. 

The learning curve is pretty short so you'll figure it out quickly. 

 

• 

Reactions: mpeladeau

submariner

Master of the Pit

SMF Premier Member

Apr 24, 2017

1,120

79

Longview, Texas

• May 19, 2017

• #6

Welcome and agree with all.  You need a bigger fire.  You can control it with your exhaust!!! 

 

mpeladeau

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

May 16, 2017

2

10

• May 20, 2017

• #7

Thank you all! I also took the temp gauge and put in my oven and set oven for 200*F...gauge reads 250*F..so that's something else I have to consider