I built my BPS kit last year and have done a decent amount of cooking on it with modest success. I've noticed a few things on my cooks that are at odds with Big Poppa guidance and different form the experience of others
Temp control- I need to keep my bottom vents limited to 1 or 1+ 1/2 open vent holes to keep my temp under 240.
I use Kingsford briquettes and wood chunks in the Minion method- using only 12-15 briquettes to get my fire going.
Big Poppa Smokers suggests keeping the bottom vents 30% open.
Ash on food- even with the limited intake vent openings I have found some ash on top of my food. I do not open my lid when cooking and I do not do a smoke in weather that would be described as windy (certainly there's a breeze most days but not windy). Big Poppa Smokers has suggested keeping bottom vents 30% open to mitigate this but that just gets my fire way too hot- any thoughts on this?
My build is solid and my drum lid seal is tight, as is the top vent seal. I've thought about applying a silicone sealant under the edges of the bottom vents to seal those better.
Any cool mods out there to shield the intakes from wind (if needed)?
I'm also thinking to replace the kit thermometer with a high temp Silicone plug that I can place my digital probe into- anyone ever do that or have feedback as to why it may be a bad idea? I never use the kit thermometer and route by digital probes through the holes ion the top vent currently. Thanks for the feedback!
Temp control- I need to keep my bottom vents limited to 1 or 1+ 1/2 open vent holes to keep my temp under 240.
I use Kingsford briquettes and wood chunks in the Minion method- using only 12-15 briquettes to get my fire going.
Big Poppa Smokers suggests keeping the bottom vents 30% open.
Ash on food- even with the limited intake vent openings I have found some ash on top of my food. I do not open my lid when cooking and I do not do a smoke in weather that would be described as windy (certainly there's a breeze most days but not windy). Big Poppa Smokers has suggested keeping bottom vents 30% open to mitigate this but that just gets my fire way too hot- any thoughts on this?
My build is solid and my drum lid seal is tight, as is the top vent seal. I've thought about applying a silicone sealant under the edges of the bottom vents to seal those better.
Any cool mods out there to shield the intakes from wind (if needed)?
I'm also thinking to replace the kit thermometer with a high temp Silicone plug that I can place my digital probe into- anyone ever do that or have feedback as to why it may be a bad idea? I never use the kit thermometer and route by digital probes through the holes ion the top vent currently. Thanks for the feedback!
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