bwram1
is one Smokin' Farker
So I have burned 3 fires in the Bandera so far...ran 325-350 each time, because we eat a lot of chicken and that's were I cook it. I have no problem reaching chicken temps or maintaining temp for 3-5 hours, which is plenty of time for chicken...maybe even a second run if I wanna load it up twice.
Today, I started a small fire and went to work on a 250-275 range. It was going pretty well for about 2 to 2.5 hours, then started dropping to 200-220 and was extremely difficult to bring back up. Not sure why...
I started out with about 15 KBB briquettes in the chimney and topped it off with RO lump. The briquettes were to keep smaller pieces of lump from falling out the bottom. I put just enough lump in the 12x12 fire basket to cover the bottom...when the top of the lump in the chimney showed some gray at the edges, I dumped them on top of the unlit. I added a pecan split...maybe 8" long and cantaloupe diameter. I closed the cooker door but left the fb lid and side door open until the smoke thinned somewhat. I closed the lid and left the side door open maybe 2". Temp hit 260 within 20 minutes or so and I closed the side door. At 270, I put the fb vent at about 1/2 and left the stack wide open.
About 45-50 minutes later, temp was down to 230's and I added another split about the same size as the first. Left the lid up and even flipped the split over, once the bottom caught...10-12 minutes later, temp came to 260, smoke thinned out and lid was shut.
About 45 minutes later, I repeated the process with same results.
About 45 minutes after that, I noticed the temp had dropped to 210 and I repeated the process with a slightly fatter split of roughly the same length. Temp barely reached 250 and, within 15 minutes, was back down to 230.
What am I doing wrong? Because I used minimal charcoal with lump and splits, there is next to no ash in the basket or the ash pan below, so I know I ain't smothering it.
At a loss here and open to suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
Today, I started a small fire and went to work on a 250-275 range. It was going pretty well for about 2 to 2.5 hours, then started dropping to 200-220 and was extremely difficult to bring back up. Not sure why...
I started out with about 15 KBB briquettes in the chimney and topped it off with RO lump. The briquettes were to keep smaller pieces of lump from falling out the bottom. I put just enough lump in the 12x12 fire basket to cover the bottom...when the top of the lump in the chimney showed some gray at the edges, I dumped them on top of the unlit. I added a pecan split...maybe 8" long and cantaloupe diameter. I closed the cooker door but left the fb lid and side door open until the smoke thinned somewhat. I closed the lid and left the side door open maybe 2". Temp hit 260 within 20 minutes or so and I closed the side door. At 270, I put the fb vent at about 1/2 and left the stack wide open.
About 45-50 minutes later, temp was down to 230's and I added another split about the same size as the first. Left the lid up and even flipped the split over, once the bottom caught...10-12 minutes later, temp came to 260, smoke thinned out and lid was shut.
About 45 minutes later, I repeated the process with same results.
About 45 minutes after that, I noticed the temp had dropped to 210 and I repeated the process with a slightly fatter split of roughly the same length. Temp barely reached 250 and, within 15 minutes, was back down to 230.
What am I doing wrong? Because I used minimal charcoal with lump and splits, there is next to no ash in the basket or the ash pan below, so I know I ain't smothering it.
At a loss here and open to suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
tomorrow...and burn a fire. :heh:
