StLouQue
01-12-2004, 09:50 AM
Big Al's handiwork arrived a few days ago, today is the first chance I've had to see what all the fuss is about. With an 8# butt as the guinea pig, some mesquite lump from Harry and hickory logs from Greg, I began about 6:30 this morning.
A chimney of cold lump and chunks to the right and a hot one with chunks to the left. Forty minutes (7:15) and I was up to temp. This basket is kick-ass! Replacing a few chunks on the (hot) left side of the basket's dividers kept me in the 230 range for about 1 1/4 hours. It would have likely have kept the temp longer, but around 8:30, the unlit side fired up. This is the part that I never fully understood, those coals lit spontaneously...I did nothing but stand back and marvel at the process. AND this all occured with the intake dampers shut as Phil suggested. Its about 9:45 and temp is 258. It did run a little hot (mid 260's) for awhile after the second side fired up, but since I usually mop about every 45 mins. I figure that's fine. At least I haven't yet seen temps drop below 225 as in the past.
I'm lovin' it so far Al. This mutha is a tank! Nice job.
A chimney of cold lump and chunks to the right and a hot one with chunks to the left. Forty minutes (7:15) and I was up to temp. This basket is kick-ass! Replacing a few chunks on the (hot) left side of the basket's dividers kept me in the 230 range for about 1 1/4 hours. It would have likely have kept the temp longer, but around 8:30, the unlit side fired up. This is the part that I never fully understood, those coals lit spontaneously...I did nothing but stand back and marvel at the process. AND this all occured with the intake dampers shut as Phil suggested. Its about 9:45 and temp is 258. It did run a little hot (mid 260's) for awhile after the second side fired up, but since I usually mop about every 45 mins. I figure that's fine. At least I haven't yet seen temps drop below 225 as in the past.
I'm lovin' it so far Al. This mutha is a tank! Nice job.