cant keep temps in 250 gallon rs

[smokinwelder]

Hi guys. I fired up my smoker for the first time on memorial day. it was great, food was wonderful, but i had 2 problems. 1, a bolt broke on one of my hinges which i have a thread open on that in general discussion. the other is temps. I started with charcoal then added wood chunks. the temp got to 200 then went to 190 and stuck. i had to add logs to get flame and heat in the cc. I also added a fan pointed at my fb intake to get more heat added, which threw ashes everywhere.

I would like to get my temps to 210-250. once she hits 200 i cant get her to stay using coal and chuncks? any help is appreciated. thanks....
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[Smokeone]

Sounds like it needs more fuel. Try using 3 to 4 splits instead of chunks. Make sure the splits are burning before you close the door.then prolly add 1,2 splits every 30-60 minutes. Just my guess.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I believe there are couple of things that could cause this. First being the air intakes on your FB and the stack size. Was a pit calculator used to calculate the size of both? Did you try opening the door a little to see if it helped raise the temp? Another thing to look at is your fuel. How much charcoal did you use vs wood? Also how dry was the wood?

[Gizmo]

Remember that by volume, wood has 30% less heat output than charcoal ….

[TuscaloosaQ]

I can tell you this for a fact if your firebox, intake, and exhaust are sized right then you should absolutely have no problem that cooker should at 250Degrees in 40 minutes. I built a cooker for a guy recently and I fire them all up myself and generally season them I took the cooker up to 400 degrees easily. He text me and said he was having a problem with getting up to temp. He sent a picture of the firebox crambed with charcoal and lump. I text him back and said...... get that charcoal out and put wood in it a reverse flow smoker is made for wood "it is called a stick burner for a reason" Well he did exactly what I said do and in a few minutes he was busting 300 degrees. It does not take a lot of wood but a stick burner is designed for wood. I usually take one basket of charcoal lit put it in the cooker then I add a half basket unlit to that then some small splits. when you are up to temp, simple as this feed it regular with small splits. Now cabinents may run off charcoal but..... horzintal reverse flow made of tanks and pipe are respectively Called stick burners for a reason..... they burn wood!!!!! Now clover ridge is right your wood has to be good, not old, wet and out of date!!!!!!!

[smokinwelder]

thanks guys. im sure the wood i used was the culprit. it was "green". ill try diff next time. thanks.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

TQ is on a roll.

[TuscaloosaQ]

TQ is on a roll.

I get sideways every now and again, thank the Lord I have a very good understandable, Godly wife someone has to help me out!!!!!


Plus I worked all night and am bored today just finished my 4 on for the week. I am going to start a cooker tomorrow maybe I am withdrawing!!!!!!

[The Czar]

TQ is on a roll.

Yeah....a ROLL TIDE...........

[Smokeone]

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Maybe we need to do an intervention on TQ at the September gatherin.

[Frank_Cox]

that's what I'm sayin!!!

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