Getting a good fire going

[mshred]

Hey guys,

Just finished building a UDS and went to do my first season tonight. Had a hard time getting it up to temps and wondering if my method was poor. 17" charcoal basket 4" off the base of the drum, all intakes and exhaust Open. I stacked some royal oak briquettes unlit in the basket, with the center being the highest, along with some misquote wood and then threw a lit chimney of briquettes on top. Took 35 mins to get to 300, so I went into the fire and spread the briquettes out a bit so it was less of a coal mountain and the temps climbed. After an hour I hit 400, used my 2 ball valves and cap inlet to get temperature back down foe the seasoning.

My question is, was my charcoal placement hindering my fire? Or does it just take this long? My basket is quite large and it was nowhere near full. Really hoping it was just the way the briquettes were placed ( temps read off a smoker mounted probe under the first rack...didnt test the gauge first though like a dummy)

Currently letting it go overnight to see how it does. Any tips or pointers are greatly appreciated!

 

[JckDanls 07]

try it the opposite way next time you fire it up... meaning... leave a hole big enough for a full chimney of lit charcoal in the center of the unlit basket.... The way you explained sounds like the lit coals went all around the outside of the pyramid leaving them scattered out.. If you pour the lit in the center they will put out more heat when gathered together... hope this makes sense ...

Also.. It's easier to bring temps UP than it is to try to bring them DOWN ... don't let temps get much higher than you want to run at ... start shutting down intakes about 25` before target temp...

30 minutes sounds about right tho...

 

[joe black]

What Keith said. I leave a little valley in my starting load. When I put the lit chimney in, I also put in a couple of small splits to start the change verb to wood.

 

[sauced]

I also agree......leave the unlit coals in a donut shape with center empty, place the lit coals in the center and maybe add some wood on top.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I use a completely different method for lighting my UDS. I fill my charcoal basket full. Put it in the drum and then use my propane weed burner to light the charcoal. I torch one spot, doesn't take long to get things up to temp.

 

[mshred]

Thanks for the input guys! I tried another burn today using the method of leaving the centre open and pouring the lit coals in there. I started about 3 hours ago but didn't have much charcoal left to use so I'm thinking it's not going to last much longer ( just checked on it at the 3 hour mark and I had to open an intake as temp was dropping....is that normal as the charcoal starts to burn out or diminish?).

I have a big basket (17" diameter grate by 12" high) and I'm wondering how often you guys are having to adjust the vents? Also, once my wood chunks burn out, the thin blue smoke seems to stop...that normal or should there be smoke through the entire process? This is still just a test cook with no food on it but wanting to do some ribs on Saturday....using briquettes and they seem to leave a lot of ash even in the basket as it's cooking and after, more so then lump.

Thanks for the help so far fellas!

 

[pc farmer]

I did a long cook on Monday using my uds. This is how I lite mine.



After 21 hours at 230-250 this is what's left. Yes it took some time to get to temp. Bout 45 mins.



I only had one vent 1/4 open.

 

[mshred]

Wow that basket is FULL! Mine was nowhere near that today lol. Are you lighting it with a weed burner? Do you add more wood throughout the burn? I'm going to try a lot more coal in my cook on Saturday, don't want to chance the fire dying out and I guess I'll learn that way how much will burn for how long with my basket

 

[pc farmer]

It's just a propane torch.

Nope, I didn't add more wood. I had plenty when I started.

Remember, it's easier to adjust the heat up then to adjust it down.

We will get you going.

 

[mshred]

Yes Im taking a further look at your picture and you had some wood layered in there which I didn't see before, awesome!

My last question before first REAL smoke tomorrow....once you get the coals in the basket and placing the basket in the smoker, how long before I should close my lid and just let the intake and exhaust vents do their thing to get up to temp? Also, can I put my meat on right away or should I wait the 30-40 mins I need for temps to stabilize first and then throw it on?

Thanks for the help so far guys!

 

[jimmyinsd]

 
Yes Im taking a further look at your picture and you had some wood layered in there which I didn't see before, awesome!

My last question before first REAL smoke tomorrow....once you get the coals in the basket and placing the basket in the smoker, how long before I should close my lid and just let the intake and exhaust vents do their thing to get up to temp? Also, can I put my meat on right away or should I wait the 30-40 mins I need for temps to stabilize first and then throw it on?

Thanks for the help so far guys!

i recommend getting things stable prior to adding the meat.  you dont want any nasty stuff from the warm up period to affect your flavor.  My UDS are about 7 years old and they take about 30-60 minutes to get up to a stable cooking temp and emitting the desired thin blue smoke that signals its time to add the meat.

 

[mshred]

Took your advice on my first cook yesterday! I'll post about when I get a chance...did a few racks of baby backs but I didn't leave them on long enough lol