Mini UDS startup question.

[baseballguy99]

I built a mini out of a 16g drum. I am running my first burn in/season on it. I built my engine out of a metal 5 gallon bucket (like in the picture below). I have 3-3/4” intakes (2 full port ball valves & 1 straight with a cap) and 1-2”x6” exhaust.

My question is about lighting/startup/getting up to temp. Today is about 45 degrees with a light breeze. I started with 12 lit briquettes then dumped about 5 lbs of unlit on top. I then put it in the drum and opened all intakes and the exhaust. I cracked the lid slightly to help get it up to temp faster. It has been about 20 minutes and I’m only up to 135 degrees.

Should I start with more lit charcoal or what are your guy’s suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[motocrash]

I don't think you're getting enough airflow to your charcoal.Most use/fabricate/buy one that looks something like this, elevated to give space for ash below.

Also, most put lit coals on top of the unlit coals - AKA - Minion method.

 

[baseballguy99]

There is about 4” of space below the grate for ash. There are about 8 3/4” holes right below the grate height.

 

[one eyed jack]

I'm reading this 5 hours after your first post. How did the smoker do?

Without a lot of particulars about just when the pictures were taken, (In particular how soon after building your fire the picture was taken), the way the smoke is slowly rolling out of the smoker and stack, it looks like you don't have much air flow.

12 lit briquettes won't give you a very hot base to start from. I use closer to 25 to start my 18 inch WSM, (Minion method), and that will take an hour to stabilize the temps at or above 225*.

 

[baseballguy99]

I ended up cracking the lid a little more and it shot right up. It got to about 225 and I closed the lid, capped off one intake and closed 1 ball valve. It settled around 225-230 and the heavy white smoke went away. I opened the other ball valve and it settled around 275. I think I was just impatient. I now have 1 ball valve open and the other one cracked and it’s running about 250.

 

[one eyed jack]

I ended up cracking the lid a little more and it shot right up. It got to about 225 and I closed the lid, capped off one intake and closed 1 ball valve. It settled around 225-230 and the heavy white smoke went away. I opened the other ball valve and it settled around 275. I think I was just impatient. I now have 1 ball valve open and the other one cracked and it’s running about 250.

Congratulations. Sounds like you've got a winner.

 

[Linkraft]

Your approach with starting 12 lit briquettes and then adding unlit ones on top is generally a good strategy. However, given the 45-degree weather and light breeze, you might need to increase the number of lit briquettes initially. Maybe try starting with around 20 lit briquettes to compensate for the lower ambient temperature. Also, make sure your charcoal is dry and of good quality, as that can significantly impact how well and how fast it burns.
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