I'm gonna need some help!!

[cromag]

I seasoned my chargriller using the SFB this sunday and I was only able to reach 250* for a couple hours and my intake and stack vents were wide open. Shouldn't I be able to get it hotter running wide open? I was only using 2 chimney worth of charcoal since I only needed to run it a couple hours. I'm sure I'll run into major fuel problems when I go to smoke for the first time and all I can acheve running wide open would be 250? Any advice on how to maintain 250 and not burn out in a couple hours?

 

[coyote]

you might try adding a couple three or so sticks of wood on the coals. and what type of coals are you using? that might help. also and just maybe were the coals damp? that would keep temps down.

and as for maintaining temps at a consant. close the vents to 1/4 closed and do not keep opening the smoker door and if you do make it quick.

good luck. am sure some one else has more.

 

[bbally]

What charcoal are you using? What elevation are you at?

Should go way up above 250 F

 

[caveman]

Have you done any mods to it? An elevated basket goes a long way in that type. Try some lump instead or with the coals, more lump than coals. Royal Oak is good & at your local WalMart if you have one.

 

[coyote-1]

If you measured that using the built-in thermo, your actual temps were probably a bit higher.

 

[cromag]

I have a basket which I made legs for using 2 inch bolts washers and nuts, baffle and 2 tuning plates, vent to grate level, 2 aftermarket therms attached to holes I drilled through lid, stubbs briquets completely dry, I live in TN so no mile high alt. The only thing is my basket is level with the holes between chamber and sfb it was really windy and cool and I don't have anything sealing the lid better

 

[cromag]

Also the sfb intake was opposite from the direction of the wind and a put another piece of dryer vent off the top of the stack curved down to keep the wind out

 

[timtimmay]

As coyote said, if you are using the built-in thermometer, its worthless. The coil in the thing is right behind that paper-thin glass and you get a temp that is somewhere between outside and chamber temp. I use the maverick ET-73 and stick the probe in one of the rotisserie holes on the left side.

Did you knock out the knock outs? I've seen a few guys have the SFB connected without knocking out the knock outs so the only air flow is through the butterfly wheel.

I have no problem maintaining 240ish for hours at a time when smoking on mine

 

[bizones]

I'm having the Same problem with my SNP. I removed the baffle midway through the process just to see if it helped and it did. So I am redoing my baffle. I think it may have been too restrictive. Keep us posted and I will do the same.

 

[cromag]

Yeah remark I removed the two footballs of metal and I installed 2 new thermos to my lid. I'll try messing with my tune plates also

 

[hdsmoke]

Have the same smoker and no problems holding temp for a few hours...but wind makes it a huge battle. Build some kind of wind break. I have the vent mod, and a charcoal basket that the top sits even with the knockout. I dont know why you cant rach temp...other than the wind. I have no other mods to mine other than the charcoal pan flipped.

 

[cromag]

Do you run with your stack wide open?

 

[hdsmoke]

Stack always wide open, and let my smoker come to temp with intake half open...then make adjustments as needed from there. With the fresh load of fuel at the beginning i usually end up dampening it down to only about 1/4 inch gap in intakes. I havent done anything to make it more air tight...have gaps in lid as well as stock holes not being used still open, and the annoying gap around the ash door. But again...wind is your worst enemy with these. I turn a 10x10 easy up awning on its side for a wind break when it gets real windy.

 

[jirodriguez]

I had the same smoker for about a year. In all honesty I could rarely get over 250° for an extended amount of time. I did the majority of my smokes between 225°-250° - wich is actually a very good temp to smoke at. But for any high heat stuff I had to use my weber kettle.

 

[timtimmay]

I'd say adjusting your tuning plate is what to focus on. Sounds like your heat might be going up and out the stack without lingering.

I flipped my charcoal basket over and have it on the highest setting on the right, and it sits directly on the bottom of the chamber on the right.

I can maintain 240-250 less than half open. I use a mixture of lump, briq, and oak.

 

[olewarthog]

Please don't take this as me trying to be a smarta$$, but there is so much info on mods to CGs out there sometimes new owners go overboard before they ever even fire the unit up. Each person's situation is somewhat unique. I suggest you go back to the basic setup with just the charcoal basket & do a couple of burns to establish a baseline for YOUR smoker. One you have a baseline to work from, add the mods one at a time to see what effect it has. Yes, it is time consuming, but it is the only way to learn your smoker & how to make it work the best for your unique conditions.

 

[bizones]

Ok. I changed my damper/convection plate...it helped...but not enough? Stuck a Candy thermometer in the grill(that I know is accurate) and found out the 2 brand new thermo's I bought at Lowes are off by 50*. Thermo closest to the sfb said 200* and the candy thermo said 250*.

 

[jirodriguez]

The therms may be fine.... a lot of times you will get large differances between the middle of the racks vs. near the sides of the smoker.

 

[bizones]

then how the heck do I know what temp Im cooking at?

 

[rickw]

Get a digital therm and set it on grate level. I use a piece of wood with a hole drilled in it for the temp probe, works great.