First Drum Butts

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PatioDaddio

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Well, I finally did my first competition practice long cook on my new drum. It was pretty easy to make the transition from my usual WSMs, but I still need to perfect my temperature control.

One was about 6lbs and the other 8lbs. I cooked them at an average temp of about 265*, but I had some spikes. I foiled them at 180*. The small one was done (195*) in 10 1/4 hours and the other (198*) at 11 hours.

All in all I was very happy with the results, as were those I fed.

John

More/bigger pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedawsonfamily/tags/drumcooker/

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Pork Smoker said:
Looks good, are those Butt's tied?
Click to expand...

OSD said:
Nice job!! Are those boneless butts??
Click to expand...

Yes, they are boneless butts from Costco. I like them because you can unfold them and season the inside, in leiu of injecting.

Below is an untied boneless butt from a practice cook in '06. As you can see, it's pretty deformed and ugly. Tying keeps them tight and looking like normal butts.

John

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Norcoredneck said:
What kind of control problems did you have?
Click to expand...

Well, I cranked her up (Minion method: 70% Kingsford / 30% RO lump), loaded the butts, and let her settle in at 230*. I had one intake open (3/4" ID) and the ball valve at about 50%. I crashed for a few hours and came out to a 306* grate temperature. The drippings had started some pretty gnarly flames. Of course, correcting temps on the way down is a royal pain, so it took a while.

I pulled the meat, closed all the intakes and left the lid off for a while. That wasn't working well, so I closed the lid vent and she settled down in about 30 minutes.

Lesson: Catch your temps on the way up.

I just need to figure out the intake situation for an unattended overnight cook (read: sleep), ala WSM.

John
 
I know this won't be a popular statement but put a valve on a nipple at bottom and forget the one coming up the side. Try that and see if it works better for you. Also leaving the lid off is the worst thing you can do on a drum.
 
Norcoredneck said:
I know this won't be a popular statement but put a valve on a nipple at bottom and forget the one coming up the side. Try that and see if it works better for you. Also leaving the lid off is the worst thing you can do on a drum.
Click to expand...
I don't see how the location of the valve would make a difference. Air can travel downhill in a tube. :wink: :-D

John
 
air will take the path of least resistance. If the fire can draw easier through the leaks in lid or top vents then your valve adjustments mean nothing. If you had actual flames in the drum with lid on I would say it wasn't sealed.
 
Norcoredneck said:
I know this won't be a popular statement but put a valve on a nipple at bottom and forget the one coming up the side. Try that and see if it works better for you. Also leaving the lid off is the worst thing you can do on a drum.
Click to expand...

He's right, this is coming from experience!
We've all done the raised intake and almost ALL of us have taken it off!
It is not responsive to small adjustments for all the air the riser holds.
You will find with just the nipple, heat control is much easier, almost non existent once it's cruising. :biggrin:
Lid off WILL cause your drum to catch on fire, be careful with that!
 
Well, color me schooled. :-D I honestly think the flames were purely due to an overabundance of air. Once I got her calmed down the flames went away, but by then the butts were foiled so there were no more drippings.

She rocked along at 230* for several hours with only the ball valve open 50%.

I think I might leave out the RO lump next time.

John
 
John, like they said most of us have tried the valve up the side, who knows why but it doesn't work the same. Currently I'm using just fridge magnets for all my air intakes... So when are we going to see you and the drums down our way. Are you coming for Snowbird?
 
No, sorry, but I can't make Snowbird. I started a new job (on contract) this February, so I have zero vacation time. They are converting me to a permanent employee, so Provo will be my first comp this year. Will you be there?

John
 
i don't know diddly about drums... but i know that pork looks great!.. nice job!
 
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