First Drum Butts

PatioDaddio · 05-26-2008, 12:39 PM

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/thedaws...gs/drumcooker/

bowhnter · 05-26-2008, 12:48 PM

Nice John!

Midnight Smoke · 05-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Looks good, are those Butt's tied?

OSD · 05-26-2008, 12:57 PM

Nice job!! Are those boneless butts??

PatioDaddio · 05-26-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pork Smoker

Looks good, are those Butt's tied?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSD

Nice job!! Are those boneless butts??

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

Norcoredneck · 05-26-2008, 03:34 PM

What kind of control problems did you have?

PatioDaddio · 05-26-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norcoredneck

What kind of control problems did you have?

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

Norcoredneck · 05-26-2008, 03:47 PM

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.

PatioDaddio · 05-26-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norcoredneck

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.

I don't see how the location of the valve would make a difference. Air can travel downhill in a tube.

John

Norcoredneck · 05-26-2008, 04:10 PM

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.

Bbq Bubba · 05-26-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norcoredneck

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.

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.

Lid off WILL cause your drum to catch on fire, be careful with that!

swamprb · 05-26-2008, 04:27 PM

Nice drum pics John!

BBQ Enthusiast · 05-26-2008, 05:09 PM

mmm I just learned something here.

Bbq Bubba · 05-26-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQ Enthusiast

mmm I just learned something here.

Mission accomplished!!

deeque · 05-26-2008, 05:46 PM

ditto to what norcoredneck said. Smoke on Bro.

05-26-2008, 12:39 PM	#1
PatioDaddio Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-04-08 Location: Boise, Idaho Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	First Drum Butts 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/thedaws...gs/drumcooker/

05-26-2008, 12:48 PM	#2
bowhnter is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 12-05-06 Location: Frisco TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice John! __________________ Mike Primo Oval XL Weber 18" One Touch The Fastest Thermapen

05-26-2008, 12:50 PM	#3
Midnight Smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-24-08 Location: Southern Arizona Desert Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks good, are those Butt's tied? __________________ ************************ * Terry ~ aka Pork Smoker * XL-BGE Hatched 06/20/2008 09:42 pm ** * Couple Weber Kettles, CharGriller, UDS * * Ultra Fast Red Thermapen * Projects Kamado Restoration Bandera Restoration

05-26-2008, 03:34 PM	#6
Norcoredneck somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-11-06 Location: Norco, Ca. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What kind of control problems did you have? __________________ *Low and Slow.....* *The Prontologist is in...* *Ok let's see your Butt!*

05-26-2008, 03:47 PM	#8
Norcoredneck somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-11-06 Location: Norco, Ca. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ *Low and Slow.....* *The Prontologist is in...* *Ok let's see your Butt!*

05-26-2008, 12:57 PM	#4
OSD is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-22-05 Location: St. Petersburg, Fl. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice job!! Are those boneless butts??

05-26-2008, 04:10 PM	#10
Norcoredneck somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-11-06 Location: Norco, Ca. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ *Low and Slow.....* *The Prontologist is in...* *Ok let's see your Butt!*

05-26-2008, 04:27 PM	#12
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice drum pics John! __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

05-26-2008, 05:09 PM	#13
BBQ Enthusiast Got Wood. Join Date: 05-17-08 Location: Antelope CA. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	mmm I just learned something here. __________________ weber kettle & UDS2.0

05-26-2008, 05:46 PM	#15
deeque Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-14-07 Location: new jersey Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	ditto to what norcoredneck said. Smoke on Bro. __________________ smokin que & lovin it _____ Don UDS WEBER OTG 22.5

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Butts on a Drum ? and Dad's T-Day Menu release!	BobBrisket	Q-talk	21	11-22-2009 01:28 PM
Boston butts on the drum (PRON)	indianagriller	Q-talk	8	11-09-2009 03:39 PM
Ceramic Cooker Meets Ugly Drum Smoker - BUDCS - Concept Drum Discussion	Hook_Line_and_Sinker	Q-talk	9	04-26-2008 02:24 PM
4 butts on the drum	Bbq Bubba	Q-talk	39	03-10-2008 08:05 AM
Drum roll for my new drum	motley que	Q-talk	26	09-10-2007 09:30 PM