Help!!! The Wind!!!

[NCGrimbo]

Hey everyone. Got my Bandera full with 3 racks of BB's, 6 fatties, and a 5lb brisket flat. I've been going since 12:00 pm today and now, at 2:30 pm, the temps have yet to get over 150. The meats seem to be sitting in the 125 to 135 range.

I figure it's the wind that's causing most of the problems. It's blowing at a stead 5 mph but gusting up to 15 or 20. Any help on what I can try to get the temps up would be appreciated. I've got the vents on the firebox door open all the way and the stack's vent is also open 100%. Could it be that I've got to much air flow?

NC Grimbo

 

[bbqbull]

I would first make some type of a wind break for the pit. I would throttle down the exhaust vent to half. I would also wrap the pit......the cooking chamber w/a moving pad or something heavy. Be carefull not to get it too close to the firebox though and have a bucket of water w/you in case the blanket/moving pad ignites.
Is it raining their?

I think just blocking the wind would help a lot. Anybody else have any other ideas?

 

[MoKanMeathead]

Blocking the wind would definately help. I would leave the exhaust vent fully open - I cook with it fully open ALL of the time. One thing - it the meats are at 125 to 135 I would guess that your temp is considerably more than 150 degrees. Maybe your temp gage is not accurate.

Just a thought.

 

[JohnMcD348]

Question, are your ribs flat or setup verticle in a rack? It could be an airflow problem inside the chamber. Also,if you have an old blanket, you can wrap around the smoke chamber, that would help with heat retention. I had post here a few months ago where I described my problem with my BSKD and a few racks of ribs.


Edit. Here's the link.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20137

 

[bbqbull]

Go to woodpile. jpw is having the same problem as you. He foiled everything and threw it into his oven.

 

[NCGrimbo]

I've rolled the pit closer to the house and it's getting less wind now and the temp is rising along with the meat temp. It's around 180 now and rising, so let's hope it gets to 225. :grin:

I'm definitely going to check my door thermometer and the two probes after the cook to make sure they are all reading accurately.

Thanks for the replies. I'll post pics when all is done.

NC Grimbo

 

[jpw23]

Go to woodpile. jpw is having the same problem as you. He foiled everything and threw it into his oven.

Coming along nicely now.....just gonna have to fire up the grill later and brown up the country ribs.

 

[bowhnter]

You can also turn the pit a little to be sure the wind is blowing into the intake.

 

[bruno]

Go get some Reflectix, it has foil on two sides and bubble wrap in the middle. Wrap the cooker in it. Keeps the wind from stealing all the heat.

 

[Lazy Dawg]

Watch the vinyl siding if you have. It takes on a funny wave look if the fire box gets too close. One windy day and many beverages ago

 

[bertkemtncurs]

I toss an old Carhart coat on top of my rig in cold weather, works great. The coat will always have a BBQ scent to it though, but thats not a problem!:-D

 

[jpw23]

I toss an old Carhart coat on top of my rig in cold weather, works great. The coat will always have a BBQ scent to it though, but thats not a problem!:-D

I tossed an old moving blanket over mine....wind blew a corner of it onto the fire box.....temps did come up for a bit, went back down when I pulled a flaming blanket from it and did the 'let's put out the fire dance" in the backyard.......my neighbors all think I've lost my mind:biggrin:

 

[bbqbull]

I tossed an old moving blanket over mine....wind blew a corner of it onto the fire box.....temps did come up for a bit, went back down when I pulled a flaming blanket from it and did the 'let's put out the fire dance" in the backyard.......my neighbors all think I've lost my mind:biggrin:

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Are ya?

 

[Single Fin Smoker]

I got the exact opposite problem, EXCELLENT weather, about 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, my smoker temps wont go below 300 without opening the firebox lid.

 

[Jorge]

I got the exact opposite problem, EXCELLENT weather, about 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, my smoker temps wont go below 300 without opening the firebox lid.

What are you burning for fuel? Lump, wood? If you have a metal can, and something to pull some of the fuel out that should cut down on the labor.

Edit: and for those of you fighting the wind...I wish I could send one of our guests. I guarantee he'd suck up most of the available oxygen. I had to escape to the cave for a few minutes. And if the farker takes one more person into the back yard and opens the pit to show them the food....there's liable to be a killin'

 

[NCGrimbo]

Woot, woot!! 225 and holding steady for 30 minutes now.

I think the biggest help was to get it out of the direct wind. My patio has one side facing the house, one side facing the screened porch and the other two sides open, so the wind whips around the corner of the house and across 75% of the patio. But, I found a small spot where the wind is not as bad and far enough away from the siding that I don't think I have to worry about warping.

Now for the next question: How much time of the 2-2-1 method should I assume is taken? Should I run the bb's for another hour then foil for 2?

Thanks!!

NC Grimbo

 

[Kevin]

When they shrink up an 1/8" to a 1/4" of so from the end of the bone, it's time for foil. Your temps have fluctuated too much to use time as a measure. Best of luck to you. Hard core cooker you are.

 

[NCGrimbo]

When they shrink up an 1/8" to a 1/4" of so from the end of the bone, it's time for foil. Your temps have fluctuated too much to use time as a measure. Best of luck to you. Hard core cooker you are.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on the shrinkage.

Hard core? Naw. It's 45 degrees and windy. Hard Core is all the northern brothers that fire up their smokers when it's below freezing and there's snow on the ground. :grin:

 

[bowhnter]

And if the farker takes one more person into the back yard and opens the pit to show them the food....there's liable to be a killin'

Better put a lock on her Jorge!