"Cam" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Graeme...in London wrote:
> >
> > Brad, if you are planning cooking a butt, I would strongly recommend
> either
> > one or both of these suggestions.
> >
> > 1) Get yourself a grate to ensure some ash can fall away from the
> burning
> > coals. With an ECB on long cooks using lump, you will get a build-up
> of ash
> > and this will cause the temperature to drop and the coals will not
> produce
> > the desired heat. (nae probs with a 3 1/2 hour chicken, butts are a
> > different animal)
> >
> > 2) Drill a few extra holes in the charcoal pan. (This makes a big
> difference
> > with air flow.)
> >
> > Cook to 190 - 195F internal and you'll be fine.
> >
> > Post some pics on abf.
> >
> > Graeme
>
> I have an old ECB and I'll second those recommendations. As soon as I
> bought a $2 pastry cooling rack and bashed it into shape to fit in the
> bottom of the fire bowl my ECB became much easier to control. Improving
> and controlling airflow is the secret to getting long consistent burns
> in your cooker.
>
> Cam
>

Those sound like excellent suggestions. I will let you know the results.

Brad