Problems with my smoker
 

In recently have been build a barrel smoker. My problem is not matter how hot of a fire i get in it, I can only get my barrels up to about 150 or 160. Any ideas? I would appreciate any help I am ready to get smoking.
Thanks
I have got pics of it, just not sure how to post them.

It is an offset smoker, with two 55 drums for the chamber. Sorry about that.

Pics would help. there are so many variables.

Sounds like an intake prob not getting enough air whats you intake like.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...5/IMG00018.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...5/IMG00019.jpg

Thanks for the patience, I am a little new. But any questions let me know thanks

Dang - sounds like 2 potentially ruined UDS smokers.
I'd suggest getting another 55 gal drum or 2 and scrapping the barrel off-set smoker idea completely. Build a UDS (or 2 of them) - be happy.

Okay...just saw the pics.

Is that ball-valve your ONLY intake control? If so - I think that is way too small for heating that whole thing.

there are two more on the other side i mean i dont have a problem with the heat in smoke box. Its just not traveling to the other end of the smoker

airflow is definitely the problem, that's a lot of cubic inches to be heated, without a lot of insulation, so a lot of heat will be lost.

So I was thinking of cutting an intake in the side with a slide. Do you think that will help? Or maybe in the bottom of the box underneath the fire

What is the temp in the 1st barrel closest to the fire box?
Seems like a lot of space to travel through very thin (and likely not sealed) metal. Those barrels being that long together will lose a lot of heat, so let's focus on the 1st barrel for now.
What are you using to read the temp?

first barrel is 170 or 150 in second. I have been using oven thermos for checking temp

she looks a little loose from the pictures. does it leak alot around those doors? it could be that you are leaking your heat out in so many places that the chimney cant create a draft and pull the heat all the way through your smoke chamber.

my cheap offset has pretty thin steel (about the same as your drums) i have used old wool army blankets on the top to help hold the heat.

It does leak a bit. there is a silicone gasket around the doors that works pretty well. Its not leak proof but its pretty good. the hole that joins the smoke box to barrel is 6in by 4in. Didnt know if it was to small

I think this is what's going on too.
If you have a nice hot fire in the fire box, but can't get the heat/smoke to draft out the stack - it must be leaking out.