Usd ???
 

This is my second go with my UDS and im finding it likes to run around 300. I would like to get it down, what can I do???? I'm curently running my valve 1/4 open and top vent open.

Are you doing the minion method? You may be starting with to much lite char coal.


Have fun and happy smoking
BBQ UP

I am, my basket is pretty large. If I had a smaller basket with less coals, would that help?

Have you tried shutting the valve off and seeing if if your temps drop a lot. You may not be air tight and still getting to much air. Just my .02

start your basket with less lit charcoal....

Closed everything off, temp did drop just worried about choking my fire now

i say leave it at 300.....but

i'd agree with the others, you've probably started with too much lit charcoal, have air leaks, or both.

After verification of no air leaks on this run, next time start with about 12 lit coals, mine cruises at 240* with valve open doing this.

300 degrees is not a bad temp to cook with, by the way...

12 lit coals, really? im sure I had twice that. and it will cook with so little?

You will be happier with the food that is cooked at 300ish, why change it?

Google "minion method" if you need to

Just my 2 cents..........

I've never understood it when folks say "my drum likes to cook at so and so temp". I hear it here a lot. A properly built drum should have no problem cooking between 200-400 degrees. I've had it hold steady anywhere from 180, all the way up to 425! Wanna cook low and slow? No problem! Wanna cook hot and fast? No problem! My uds is just a tool, and I am the driver!

I'm not singling anybody out. Not trying to ruffle feathers by saying people need to learn their cookers. Nothing of the sort! But if a person is letting the drum decide where it "wants" to cook, then they are not realizing its full potential.

Couple of points I'd like to add.......

1. Your charcoal basket will never be too big, but it can be too small to reach certain temps.

2. A lot of catching your target temp depends on how much charcoal one initially starts with. If you need to, adjust the amounts until you reach a happy medium.

Cb4004- if your running 300 degrees with one intake only a 1/4 of the way open, your drum is either sucking in air somewhere, or you are starting with too much charcoal, or both.

Hope this helps! :) Jason

That's what I do too! Anywhere from 10 to 15 briquettes or an equal amount of lump. 10-15's plenty. Initially you wanna have all intakes open, then start shutting them down as your temp gets close to where you want it. Remember, you wanna catch the temp as its coming up.

N8man wrote a great tutorial about this some time back. It really helped me relax and enjoy the process! Don't remember the title offhand though. Maybe he'll chime in.

Jason :)

Thank you all for your input, I will continue to tweek with this drum in hopes to perfect it. this is what ive tonight and im sure it will be good, may not be great but im just starting out.

I've only been at this for a couple years myself. Definitely hang in there, and take notes on things. I had a LOT of trouble controlling temp at first, and it took me a while to grasp temperature control. It just takes getting to know your pit.