First smoke completed - advice please

[PaulLiverpool]

Hey folks, my first smoke, on my first UDS, has just finished.

Within 45 mins it was up to 180.

Within an hour, 250, so I closed off some of the valves. It was doing well for a while, but a few hours later started dropping rapidly. Ended up about 100, with three 1 inch valves wide open.

I panicked. I built a much bigger charcoal basket and poured the white coals on a fresh bed of black, thinking it was just too small and had burned out.

The temp did improve, but didn't get anywhere near 225.

The inlets are 2 inches above the ground - do I need to raise the basket so it is higher than the inlets?

In the end, the pork was decent (but it was small and so a little dry), my chicken was overdone (slightly) and I was pleased with the brisket which was the star of the show with a smoke ring to die for.

One main question - where do I put my temp gauge to check the heat? Where exactly do I want the heat to be 225? At the top, or just over the basket?

 

[motocrash]

I don't have and have never run a UDS but it sounds like you throttled it back too much and almost choked it out.

 

[gmc2003]

I'm not a UDS smoker either but I believe the inlet's should at least level with the bottom of the charcoal. Also most people I see using a UDS are using lump in theirs. Measure the smokers temp at grate level. Put your therm about an inch away from you meat. 225* is fine if you want low and slow. My WSM likes to ride it out at 250 so that's what I shoot for. I've also read were people are starting to use magnets to control the air intake instead of ball valves. This reply may not be of much help, but at least I bumped it back up so someone who know more may see it.

Chris

 

[JckDanls 07]

you say your inlets are a couple inches from the bottom.. and asking if the basket should be above them... does that mean the basket is pretty much sitting on the bottom with no air flow under the basket ?? from your description that's what it sounds like... Yes, the bottom of the basket should be above the inlets (about 4-6 inches off the bottom)... this creates air flow underneath the basket and also lets the ashes fall out and not smother the fire...

 

[Brewnsmoke]

I seem to have the same problem... I have a dynaglo 1382 vcs and ever since buying it, the first batch of charcoal gets the smoker up to about 250 degrees and then the grill settles to 200 degrees. No matter how much charcoal or smoldering wood I put in the offset firebox the smoking chamber does not get above 210 degrees after that first go. I keep the intake baffle wide open and the chimney slightly cracked just so there is good air flow. Today I was experimenting and I got a rise to about 220 degrees after a few minutes of holding a fan up to the intake. Is this a problem with the design or am I not doing something correctly? I’m new to the verticals offset smoker btw. Thanks!

 

[RiversideSm0ker]

Congrats on your first cook. I agree with the advice about your fire being choked. You will have it dialed in before you know it. Enjoy the new toy.

George

 

[RiversideSm0ker]

I seem to have the same problem... I have a dynaglo 1382 vcs and ever since buying it, the first batch of charcoal gets the smoker up to about 250 degrees and then the grill settles to 200 degrees. No matter how much charcoal or smoldering wood I put in the offset firebox the smoking chamber does not get above 210 degrees after that first go. I keep the intake baffle wide open and the chimney slightly cracked just so there is good air flow. Today I was experimenting and I got a rise to about 220 degrees after a few minutes of holding a fan up to the intake. Is this a problem with the design or am I not doing something correctly? I’m new to the verticals offset smoker btw. Thanks!

My advice would be to change the vents. The outlet should be wide open to prevent holding acrid smoke in your cooking chamber. Use the inlet vents to control the amount of air running through your pit. I am betting just that one change will improve your results.

George

 

[meatallica]

Dump the 90° elbows and straight pipes. When I built a UDS, I found you couldn't get good airflow. Put an inch and a half nipple and your ball valve straight into your inlet. Just my opinion from experience