BKSD issue getting up to temp

Hola Hermanos,

I'm new to the forum, I bought a second hand, never used BSKD. I'm new to smokeing, I tinkered with the ECB 6 or 7 times 5 years ago, but finally gave up. All of the info here is great, but aside from all of the modifications, I couldn't get my smoker up to temp on the initial cure.

Here are the mods, Smoke chamber baffle, raised charcoal box, Heat rope seal, Firebrick base in the smoke box, and I tried with and without a heat sheild in the top of the firebox to divert heat into the smoke box.

I started with 18 lbs of charcoal, and the highest temp I could get on the door was 210. But that was only sustained for about 10 mintues, and it stayed around 150-200 for the next several hours. It was 40 degrees outside, but wind gust up to 25mph. I moved it out of the direct wind, and I used a whellbarrow as a wind screen over the intake. I didn't measure the instide temp beacuse I have a two prong thermometer on order to put down the stack but it hadn't arrived in time.

I thought I had done enough research and prep to get it right. Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry, BSKD, need to learn to get my acronyms straight.

I used the stock door thermometer, which from reading the forum, I understand can be considerabley off.

Yep, I used two Weber Chimney starters and that pre-lit about 10 lbs, I put it in the charcoal basket closest to the exchange, and put hte other 8 lbs. un-lit near the intanke side. It filled the basket full, 11" x 16" x 7