sksmoker
Newbie
For these drums, you really need to get the draw going properly or else you'll have nothing but problems. I fought with my drum for over a month regarding temps and air flow. I didn't have enough holes in my lid to get a proper draw, and you want to regulate the air flow using the bottom valve. Closing the top vents will potentially choke the fire, and decreasing the draw will allow improper combustion of your fire. Put 8 1/2" holes in the lid and it will work much better. You might have too much draw with those big holes in your lid.
I had wild temperature problems with these drums, you don't need a whole lot of lit charcoal to get them going. I used to do the whole chimney, 1/2 a chimney etc, but I could never control the temperature properly. Now, I use only 20-25 briqs in my chimney starter and my drum takes about 15-20 minutes after I dump the lit on my unlit pile, to come up to temp and settle out.
As you guys are aware, but for the new to drum smokers, these are very efficient smokers, and you want the hottest, smallest fire with as much air as it needs at a set temp. If you try to build a fire that is too big, it is not going to get the air it needs and you will have all sorts of problems.
For those that do not have this drum yet, just so you know, nothing is set and forget. You won't be able to walk away for 4 hours with out looking at the drum. Your going to get some ash buildup that won't let the air flow to the pile, creating a temp drop, or if it is windy, your going to have to adjust the drum out of the wind etc.
These drums are excellent, but people should know you can't just throw meat in it, open some valves and come back 6 hours later to perfect food. That is the impression I was under when I went to built my drum, after talking to people and reading various forums. Would I build one again? Hell yes.
I had wild temperature problems with these drums, you don't need a whole lot of lit charcoal to get them going. I used to do the whole chimney, 1/2 a chimney etc, but I could never control the temperature properly. Now, I use only 20-25 briqs in my chimney starter and my drum takes about 15-20 minutes after I dump the lit on my unlit pile, to come up to temp and settle out.
As you guys are aware, but for the new to drum smokers, these are very efficient smokers, and you want the hottest, smallest fire with as much air as it needs at a set temp. If you try to build a fire that is too big, it is not going to get the air it needs and you will have all sorts of problems.
For those that do not have this drum yet, just so you know, nothing is set and forget. You won't be able to walk away for 4 hours with out looking at the drum. Your going to get some ash buildup that won't let the air flow to the pile, creating a temp drop, or if it is windy, your going to have to adjust the drum out of the wind etc.
These drums are excellent, but people should know you can't just throw meat in it, open some valves and come back 6 hours later to perfect food. That is the impression I was under when I went to built my drum, after talking to people and reading various forums. Would I build one again? Hell yes.