2nd Smoke

Going for the second shot at the new bandera. The shoulder I tried last week just didn't turn out right, I couldnt get the temp to stay high enough. Went and got a fireplace grate (2.50 at Lowe's), and turned it upside down to hold the grate. I'm going to have to use a temp baffle, just couldn't find the metal I needed. Going to try some spare ribs and a fatty this time. I've always done BB's in the ECB, so this ought to be interesting. I'm also hoping that using the Minion method will help. Any thoughts/Ideas?

P.S. Thanks for the welcome! I'm amazed at how well newbies are greeted at this site!

I only know a couple of guys in CE, an EC guy and and a bug killer. I'm definitely going to do up a fatty, I can feel my arteries clogging up already (I'd quote from your messages, but I haven't figured out how to do it yet. Pretty sad for a computer instructor!).

Well, I got everything in. Probe next to the ribs on the side away from the firebox is reading 275, the oven thermomomer on the shelf below on the firebox side is reading 200, and the door thermometer is reading 150. I'm just going to go ahead and assume I'm in the right range. My Minion method turned out to be a mini Minion, I just couldn't get enough lump charcoal to get a big stack. Guess I'll go with Kingsford next time. Just have to keep an eye on it and keep it running. The grate mod definitely made a difference, the heat's staying up, and the damper has more of an effect.

Not yet. I know the probe isn't completely accurate, but close. I know not to rely on the door thermo, it usually read about 50 degrees below the probe when they're on the same level. The oven thermo is just a cheap one I picked up at Wal-Mart on a pass-thru. Like I said, I'm pretty sure I'm in the right temp range. Guess I'll find out in a few more hours!