Maintaining smoker temperatue

[SR-71 Blackbird]

Hi guys,

I have an oil drum BBQ, same as in this picture as that's where I bought it from http://www.barrel-barbecue.co.uk/deluxe ... rbecue.htm

I am having trouble maintaining a consistent temperature inside the drum, I have mounted a temperature gauge and I played around with some burning wood, not charcoal, this weekend and I could make the temperature rocket to over 600F and then I can make it fall to 200 or lower as well. The problem is that I couldn't maintain the temperature around 225-250 as it would heat up,cool down very quickly. I am hoping this is because I was not using charcoal but I didnt want to waste lots and then have nothing to show for it. Also looking at the oil drum it has one small hole about 1 inch diameter in the lower half and then a 3 inch hole in the upper half and I was wondering if this was insufficient air holes to keep the charcoal burning actually use some. What do you think and does anybody else have something similar and can share their story please?

Thanks in advance guys

[Swindon_Ed]

I think you're going to need to make some adjustments to allow you to control the temp's properly.

If you look at the link you've posted they've got a smoker option which has a exhaust at one end and a vent to restrict the air flow at the other.

You're going to want to make the vent at the side of the BBQ where you have the fire and have the exhaust at the other side so it will drag the smoke over your cooking surface.

Also the way that this cooker is setup you won't be able to use wood to fire it with as it will give off too much heat when it burns. Use good lump wood charcoal for heat and then wood chips for flavour.