MMMM.. BRISKET..
The BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS.  



Our Homepage Donation to Forum Overhead Welocme Merchandise Associations Purchase Subscription Amazon Affiliate
Go Back   The BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS. > Discussion Area > Q-talk

Notices

Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 06-05-2017, 08:35 AM   #1
Mookieman
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 05-31-17
Location: Flint Michigan
Default Still need some input on low temp problem

My first post must have been to long to stomach.....let me try a shorter one.

New Oklahoma Joe Highland. Can't get it hot enough without burning through large amounts of fuel (charcoal and wood).

Sealed tight, no leaks ✔
Latches ✔
BBQMods baffling ✔
Airflow good ✔
Dryer vent to grate level ✔
Raised grate in firebox ✔
Open smokestack ✔

I get the firebox roaring and consuming fuel at an astonishingly fast rate, but the pit barely gets to 300. I ain't in there looking every 2 minutes either. It just takes a half hour to get from a quick basting back to 250 even. What gives?
Mookieman is offline   Reply With Quote




Old 06-05-2017, 08:41 AM   #2
Piomarine
On the road to being a farker
 
Piomarine's Avatar
 
Join Date: 06-27-16
Location: Arlington, TX
Default

Try burnin splits. The OK Joe wasn't meant to run on charcoal and I know several here will tell you likewise. Start a chimney of charcoal, but only use it the get the log splits burning. From then on nothing but wood. Also try closing down your chimney damper some. If you're running it wide open it's possible that you are just letting heat escape through the chimney faster than you can replace it.
__________________
48x20 Home built vertical cabinet -- http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244384
Piomarine is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 08:46 AM   #3
Mookieman
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 05-31-17
Location: Flint Michigan
Default

I did try backing off on the smokestack a little at a time. It's not the fire in the firebox that's the problem. I can get that hot enough to melt the paint off the sides. I'm have trouble transferring the heat over for some reason.
Mookieman is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 08:48 AM   #4
Notorious Q.U.E.
is One Chatty Farker

 
Join Date: 04-21-17
Location: Denver, Colorado
Default

Wood's the way to go. As you'll see in my other posts, Kingsford Logs were my "gateway fuel" on the way to becoming totally hooked on stick burning. I go exhaust stack wide open.

To me, charcoal is just a startup and maybe middle-of-the-night maintenance heat source, whereas wood splits are the main event. Roger Davidson was the granddaddy of OKJ and he designed the pit with wood burning in mind. I believe his brother, Joseph, is the namesake of OKJ. Anyhow, wood all the way--you won't turn back!
__________________
Battleship Row:
--Pitmaker Vault IVC (Charcoal Metallic) “Dreadnought”
--Shirley Fabrication 24x50 Traditional Door Patio (3/8” CC/FB) "Precious Metal"

"...can't you see? Sometimes your words just hypnotize me and I just love your flashy ways. Guess that's why they broke and you're so paid!!!"
Notorious Q.U.E. is offline   Reply With Quote


Thanks from:--->
Old 06-05-2017, 08:51 AM   #5
Mookieman
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 05-31-17
Location: Flint Michigan
Default

I get that, but my problem isn't "the fire box isn't hot enough". I had that thing roaring twice now. The first time I started with a minion method with 100, then 150, then 200+ briquettes and I finally said screw it and went to a forest fire of wood and charcoal. The heat coming out of there just about enough to set your eyebrows on fire when you opened it.
Mookieman is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 08:55 AM   #6
Shagdog
Quintessential Chatty Farker
 
Join Date: 07-01-13
Location: Grayslake, IL
Default

I saw people answer you in the last one, so I didn't respond. Burn Splits. You can start with some charcoal to establish a coal bed, but you should be burning logs, not charcoal.

I would lose the dryer vent to grate level. I've always thought that was a dumb mod. It interferes with your airflow, and is potentially causing you problems. For that matter, I would look at your baffle set up too, it could also be hampering correct performance.

A minion method will not work in a stick burner. They're too drafty. Everything you put in is going to burn.

From what you're saying, I'm definitely thinking your mods are affecting performance. Lose the dryer vent first, burn splits, and see how it goes.
__________________
Matt

Come Join the fun in the Throwdowns!

Shirley Fabrication 24x70 Trailer - UDS - Weber Kettle - WGA - Fire Pit Rotisserie - Shirley-Shagstone Griddle/Wok Cart - Carson Rodizio

2016 Official BBQ Brethren Ribeye Master


Shagdog is offline   Reply With Quote


Thanks from:--->
Old 06-05-2017, 09:00 AM   #7
Mookieman
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 05-31-17
Location: Flint Michigan
Default

The dryer vent is adjustable, you can turn it so there's just a curve going left or right, but I will try just pulling it off completely (one thing I haven't tried). We'll see how that goes. Airflow still looked good with it in. Plenty of exhaust and nothing smoking from anywhere else. That thing is airtight everywhere else. It would probably float for hours in a lake (lol). I just can't figure out how it can be so blazing hot in the firebox and mediocre warm in the pit.

ps - I got zero replies on the last post (oh well)
Mookieman is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 09:06 AM   #8
Piomarine
On the road to being a farker
 
Piomarine's Avatar
 
Join Date: 06-27-16
Location: Arlington, TX
Default

Even with poor airflow smoke will eventually come out of the stack and give the illusion of performance, but you need more draw to pull more heat. This is doubly so in a reverse flow which I believe the highlander is. So like you said you do, pull the dryer vent, burn splits, and call us in the morning lol
__________________
48x20 Home built vertical cabinet -- http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244384
Piomarine is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 09:08 AM   #9
SmittyJonz
somebody shut me the fark up.
 
SmittyJonz's Avatar
 
Join Date: 07-17-13
Location: Burleson Tx
Default

Stick burners don't need to be airtight -they don't even need a door on the end of the firebox. Get rid of the dryer vent elbow and urn firewood like everybody has said.
__________________
NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............

Last edited by SmittyJonz; 06-05-2017 at 09:57 AM..
SmittyJonz is offline   Reply With Quote


Thanks from: --->
Old 06-05-2017, 09:10 AM   #10
SmittyJonz
somebody shut me the fark up.
 
SmittyJonz's Avatar
 
Join Date: 07-17-13
Location: Burleson Tx
Default

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh....php?p=3793496

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=209208
.
.
__________________
NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............
SmittyJonz is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 09:13 AM   #11
Mookieman
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 05-31-17
Location: Flint Michigan
Default

The vent has got to be it. Like Piomarine said, you still need that "draw". If the vent is affecting the draw, that would be a significant development.

People keep telling me to burn wood, but getting the firebox hot isn't my problem. I can't get the heat to transfer. I can't see what difference it would make to burn a different material if you can't get it to transfer to the pit.
Mookieman is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 09:15 AM   #12
PatAttack
somebody shut me the fark up.

 
PatAttack's Avatar
 
Join Date: 07-19-11
Location: In the Marsh
Default

Like others have said...start with a charcoal bed and burn SPLITS!
__________________
"You have never lived until you have almost died". "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know".-Unknown Vietnam Soldier

22" WSM
22" Weber Gold
Weber Smoky Joe
Weber Gasser
Rec-Tec 590
PatAttack is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 09:59 AM   #13
SmittyJonz
somebody shut me the fark up.
 
SmittyJonz's Avatar
 
Join Date: 07-17-13
Location: Burleson Tx
Default

Ditch the dryer vent and try charcoal again - it'll work but you may get tired of feeding it 2-3 bags per cook and reallze firewood is cheaper.......... or maybe you won't.
__________________
NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............
SmittyJonz is offline   Reply With Quote


Thanks from: --->
Old 06-05-2017, 10:08 AM   #14
pitbossJB
is One Chatty Farker
 
pitbossJB's Avatar
 
Join Date: 12-05-09
Location: Sandia Park,N.M. (land of entrapment)
Name/Nickname : el jefe
Default

It took me the longest time to realize that charcoal just doesn't work in a stick burner. I could get my firebox up to 900* and it still was cooking at 275-300, once I went to splits I was a happy camper. Even with the door open it was cooking nicely and the briskets were something to write home about. Wood is the answer and ditch your dryer hose.
__________________
"It's all done with smoke and mirrors..............I think I like smoke the best"

UDS with 007 mods and pizza top
Highly modified Bandera w/ griddle on firebox
Mini SJ/UDS
micro mini UDS
Smokey Joe's
1983 22.5" Weber kettle
pitbossJB is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 06-05-2017, 11:08 AM   #15
Mookieman
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 05-31-17
Location: Flint Michigan
Default

Thing I can't figure out is, 900 degrees is 900 degrees. If it's hot in the firebox using one fuel, it should be just as hot for the other and the pit temp should be the same. I get it would be cheaper and the fuel would last longer, going with wood over charcoal, but even with the near nuclear temps I was getting the pit was barely getting to 300.

It's gotta be the vent. Also, I'm going to MacGyver a O2 delivery system out of my Qmaster. Something like a burner for air that runs under neither the firebox grate.
Mookieman is offline   Reply With Quote


Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


Forum Custom Search: Enter your Search text below. GOOGLE will search ONLY the BBQ Brethren Forum.
Custom search MAY not work(no display box) in some configurations of Internet Explorer. Please use compliant version of Firefox or Chrome.







All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
2003 -2012 © BBQ-Brethren Inc. All rights reserved. All Content and Flaming Pig Logo are registered and protected under U.S and International Copyright and Trademarks. Content Within this Website Is Property of BBQ Brethren Inc. Reproduction or alteration is strictly prohibited.
no new posts