I can't find any real wood charcoal...I have been able to find it in
years past at Walmart but not this year...using Kford per
usual...curious, outside temp 85, little to no wind...what would be
expected in charcoal consumption smoking 2 butts, both around 7lbs.
I'm wondering if I am using too much...cooking temp is pretty constant
between 200 and 225 on a charbroil h2o smoker...maybe the fire bug in
me but it sure seems like I "have" to poke and prod and add and what
not to keep it there. Is this just the short comings of the unit? 6
1/2 hours into it I have the better part of 20lbs of charcoal in
there...not to say that it is all ash...but I get the feeling that if
I don't stoke it is will quickly fall below that temp.
Probably shouldnt have popped the first top at the 5 hour mark...
Tim

Tim wrote:

Doesnt sound like you're using the minion method? Seems to be THE
reccomended way on vertical cookers.
I think theres a good tutorial on the virtualweber site? Or google minion
method.

--

"Tim" wrote in message
m...
I can't find any real wood charcoal...I have been able to find it in
years past at Walmart but not this year...using Kford per
usual...curious, outside temp 85, little to no wind...what would be
expected in charcoal consumption smoking 2 butts, both around 7lbs.

LOL....relax Dude.......sorry you're using the K. I'm sure if you shop a
dab you can find better than that and find some good lump for next time. My
advice, dump it all in and go shopping.

I'm wondering if I am using too much...cooking temp is pretty constant
between 200 and 225 on a charbroil h2o smoker...maybe the fire bug in
me but it sure seems like I "have" to poke and prod and add and what
not

Those are great temps for brisket and butts. BTW That's what beer is good
for...to keep you from gettin too antsy.

6
1/2 hours into it I have the better part of 20lbs of charcoal in
there.

Drink another beer, go buy some better charcoal, or, if you're smart, go buy
some good charcoal, and keep going. That's all you can do. Believe me,
some of the best BBQ happens when you think things have gone bad.

Sorry Tim...I was a little flippant,

Just feed those K briquettes into the fire to maintain a temp of about 250.
You'll need to keep that for about 9 to 10 hours at least for good butt
temps. If you have an instant-read tmeter then you need about 185 at least
(give or take 10 degrees).

195 pulls like a dream.

John in Austin

Tim wrote:
I can't find any real wood charcoal...I have been able to find it in
years past at Walmart but not this year...using Kford per
usual...curious, outside temp 85, little to no wind...what would be
expected in charcoal consumption smoking 2 butts, both around 7lbs.
I'm wondering if I am using too much...cooking temp is pretty constant
between 200 and 225 on a charbroil h2o smoker...maybe the fire bug in
me but it sure seems like I "have" to poke and prod and add and what
not to keep it there. Is this just the short comings of the unit? 6
1/2 hours into it I have the better part of 20lbs of charcoal in
there...not to say that it is all ash...but I get the feeling that if
I don't stoke it is will quickly fall below that temp.
Probably shouldnt have popped the first top at the 5 hour mark...
Tim

Now that you're this far into it, don't add cold briquettes unless you
have to - pre-burn them somehow, if at all possible. I doubt that your
prob's "not enough charcoal", at this point.

Also - try propping open the charcoal door about 2" with a something, in
hope of improving the airflow. I used to do this with a cheap brinkman
water smoker, using a metal spoon that was a good 2 or 3 feet long, with
a hook on the handle end. If there's any breeze at all, believe it or
not, having that door open a little bit should cause the coals to burn
better, and the smoker to run a little hotter.

And as someone already pointed out, 200-225 is fine for smoking butts,
though things would go a little faster, with no harm done, at 250.

If all else fails, take the water pan out - but be prepared to babysit
the smoker by managing the top vent, if you do that. The dripping fat
can put out the coals, at one extreme, or start a grease fire, at the other.

"Tim" wrote in message
m...
I can't find any real wood charcoal...I have been able to find it in
years past at Walmart but not this year...using Kford per
usual...curious, outside temp 85, little to no wind...what would be
expected in charcoal consumption smoking 2 butts, both around 7lbs.
I'm wondering if I am using too much...cooking temp is pretty constant
between 200 and 225 on a charbroil h2o smoker...maybe the fire bug in
me but it sure seems like I "have" to poke and prod and add and what
not to keep it there. Is this just the short comings of the unit? 6
1/2 hours into it I have the better part of 20lbs of charcoal in
there...not to say that it is all ash...but I get the feeling that if
I don't stoke it is will quickly fall below that temp.
Probably shouldnt have popped the first top at the 5 hour mark...
Tim

Tim,

I use the same Charbroil smoker and much prefer it to the ECB. I have a
couple of points that might help. Firstly, I run my water pan dry. I have
used water and sand in the past, but its nigh impossible to get to 250 (it's
difficult sometimes to get it over 200), but I can easily maintain 250 - 270
for 3-3 1/2 hours with the minimum of effort with a dry pan. 20lbs seems a
hell of a lot of charcoal for 1 burn (a 12lb bag of lump will last me 4 or 5
burns). I do not own a chimney starter and what I do is light 2 very small
pieces of firelighter at opposite sides of the charcoal pan and fill the pan
with large pieces of lump. Once the firelighters have burned off (approx 15
minutes) I will add more lump (usually smaller pieces) let it sit for 5
minutes or so, then assemble the smoker. You will hit 250 very quickly. I
add several large pieces of unlit lump at 1/2 hour intervals once the
temperature is on the wane. Don't prod the fire too often and don't lift the
lid unless you really have to.

I've never used briquettes, only lump, but the general consensus on this
group is to scout around and find some lump from somewhere. You'll
definitely not regret it.

Graeme

"Graeme... in London" wrote:
[ . . . ]
I've never used briquettes, only lump, but the general consensus on this
group is to scout around and find some lump from somewhere. You'll
definitely not regret it.

Do ya look at and answer yer e-mail?

--
Intuitive insights from Nick, Retired in the San Fernando Valley

http://operationiraqichildren.org/

On 10 Jun 2004 09:44:11 GMT, wrote:

"Graeme... in London" wrote:
[ . . . ]
I've never used briquettes, only lump, but the general consensus on this
group is to scout around and find some lump from somewhere. You'll
definitely not regret it.

Do ya look at and answer yer e-mail?

Yes, Nick. Do you?

Harry