First pork butt smoke!

[broncocoach45]

So I'm going to give it a go. Trying to get the fire going now. Temp is a little high so I'm letting the charcoal burn down a little hoping it gets to 250. In the meantime, I've been letting my 9 lb butt rest with the rub on it. Wish me luck!!

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• broncocoach45
• Aug 10, 2016

 

[broncocoach45]

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• broncocoach45
• Aug 10, 2016

Here's the set up. How often should I add wood and should I add charcoal to Maintain heat? Or just wood from here on out?

 

[joe black]

I would add wood as the temp gets close to the lower end of your cooking range. When you add a couple of pre-heated splits, your temp will climb to the top of your cooking range for a short while, then settle back within range.

You should have to add splits probably every 45 minutes to an hour. Be sure to keep a good bed of coals.

 

[broncocoach45]

the problem I'm having thus far is keeping a bed of coals. when i put my split on, they smoke more than anything. what can i do to build that bed of coals?

 

[broncocoach45]

right around 4 hours in, IT is 130....temp has gone between 300 and 220, but averaging anout 260. Trying so hard to keep a bed of coals hot enough to light the splits right away is the hardest part so far.

 

[pit 4 brains]

You are working in a very small space, therefore it is going to be hard to burn splits and keep temps down. 

I would recommend using pre-lit charcoal to add to the fire. Just get a few ashed over with sharp orange ffflames, open it up and add. Toss in your smallest piece of chunk/split and keep the damper just cracked. 

Don't sweat high temps.. 300 will be ok 

 

[broncocoach45]

5.5 hours in, nice bark forming. IT is 145. Still a few hours to go before the foil, then a couple hours sleep before resting an pulling before work tomorrow.

 

[SmokinAl]

How did it turn out?

Al

 

[broncocoach45]

Well, we're going on hour 13. There was a small (I hope) hiccup along the way. I fell asleep and missed my two temp check alarms. At 1:30, the IT was hanging around 145-150 (pretty sure this was the stall, as it had held here for a couple hours). I had put a couple splits on, so i know the CC was running a bit hot when I fell asleep (probably around 300ish). Woke up at 5:00 am and the CC was below 100*, and IT was 160. So I wrapped the butt, rebuilt the fire, and have no idea what to do now. I'm planning on getting it to 180ish then toweling it and sticking it in the cooler.

 

[broncocoach45]

Wrapped at 14 hrs. Towel wrap for an hour and pulled. I have to say, I'm pretty thrilled with how it turned out.

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• broncocoach45
• Aug 11, 2016

 

[broncocoach45]

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• broncocoach45
• Aug 11, 2016

 

[pit 4 brains]

Way to stick with it!!

 

[sauced]

Nice!! Great looking pp with great looking bark!! WTG!!