New Smoker build & second Smoke issue's

[adenjago]

Hi all

After previously Hijacking two threads (apologises), I thought it may be be better to start my own thread regarding my Smoker and the issue's I currently have.

I have a newly built 55 Gallon Smoker, (Sammy the smoker) only done two smokes up to yet, more detail below ( I have tried to condense the info as much as possible)

2 x 3/4 Air inlets with Ball Valve
4 x 3/4 Exahuast on the Lid



The Fire Basket is about 12" Diameter with a 2" 1/2 gap between the grate and the ash pan




Smoke 1 - Loin Joint (cheapo one on offer from Tesco)
11:00 Started the Smoker (quarter of the Basket full)
12:00 Temp was consistent 200 - so put the two Joints in
1300 17:00 -pretty consistent between 200 & 225
18:00 Temp going down to 150 - so I pulled the Joints out

unfortunately the Loin was overdone but I know where I went wrong, the small belly Joint was great if a little bit too fatty







Smoke 2 - Pulled Pork (Upper Pork Should with bone)
10:30 Started Smoker 3/4 Basket of coals
12:00 temp still about 150
13:00 temp only just under 200 - so put the Pork joint in
14:10 Temp 170
15:30 Temp 170
16:00 01:00 Temp 225 - held stable between 200 -225
02:00 till 02:30 150 down to 130

Pulled the Joint of and wrapped in foil for an hour, and then started to pull, which to be honest it fell apart with ease..

More than happy has it has tuned out....










Issues

I get the feeling from trawling this and subsequent forums that the Smoker should be hitting 300, Im barely getting it to 225, is the air flow not hitting the lit coals on the basket cause the basket is too full ?

All exhausts and both air inlets where fully open during both Smokes.

Second issue is that after both smokes there was a build up of fluid at the base of the drum, it is not Fat but Im assume it is some type of condensation ?

I'm using are fuel express Charcaol and then layer of Lumpwood on top, should I be using all Lumpwood or charcoal ? could this fluid build be because ofthe coals.

And responses very much welcome as I want to try resolve the issue's for the next smoke or least understand where im going wrong.


Sorry for the long Post, just trying to get all the facts out there.

Ade

[CyderPig]

Hi Mate
You are not getting enough air into the smoker.
My drum runs with 3 3/4 inlets, two of which are pipes and nipples and one ball valve.
Also the up pipes you have on there might be restricting the air flow.
Try drilling two more inlet holes and use pipes and nipples on those to help get temps up and then use the ball valves to fine tune.

Hope this helps
Si

[adenjago]

Hi Si,

cheers for the reply, just noticed a typo they are 3/4 (not 3/8 as I had orginally put)

when you say pipes, in between the Elbow and the Valve ?, I'm waiting somebody to make me some 18" length pipe to go in between the Elbow and valve, is that what you mean ?

[gingerchris]

I think Si means the elbow. Most of us have nipples connected directly to the ball valve, so there is no angle between the air inlet and the outlet inside the drum. Some people have reported airflow restrictions with having the angle.

My personal set up is 3 3/4 holes - 1 with a valve and 2 without. I only really use all three to get it fired up, then I generally find just the ball valve fully open has me cruising at somewhere around 250f

[CyderPig]

Hi Si,

cheers for the reply, just noticed a typo they are 3/4 (not 3/8 as I had orginally put)

when you say pipes, in between the Elbow and the Valve ?, I'm waiting somebody to make me some 18" length pipe to go in between the Elbow and valve, is that what you mean ?

Yes that is what I meant, the elbows will be restricting the air flow with pipes that short,
Also with just two inlets you will struggle to get enough air into the drum unless you are using a forced air system.

Si

[adenjago]

cheers guys, so it looks like I have couple of options..

1. remove the elbows from inlets, have the valves coming directly out the drum
2. if the above that has not resolved it, place another hole.

the idea was to put two 18" pipes inbtween the Valve and the elbow, but I suppose there is no point going further down that road if the elbows are a problem.

but I do see quite a lot smokers with elbows, about 18" length of pipe then a valve which was the route I was going down, if put length of pipe there would that make a difference ?

regarding ...

1 with a valve and 2 without. I only really use all three to get it fired up, then I generally find just the ball valve fully open

do you close the other two or are keep all three open and then regulate with the ball valve

[CyderPig]

Hi
Start with all intakes open and let the smoker come up to temp, close down two of the intakes when you are close to thee temp you want and then use the ball valve to fine tune.
When I have my drum upto temp my valve sits at abour quarter open and the only time temps flutuate is when you remove the lid.
All drums cook differently and it is just a case of getting used to them.

Si

[gingerchris]

What Si said - I close off my non-valved vents once I'm near target temperature.

So many different factors can affect how your drum performs, it's really an issue of trial and error. I did a cook a couple of weeks ago, the first one outside my garden, that was far more exposed to the elements than I'm used to. Turns out the cold wind caused it to use up a full basket of fuel in about a third of the time it usually would.

[adenjago]

Cheers for the Responses......

I have got some pipework on the way, so I will try that first to see if that makes a difference, if not I will take the Elbows off have the valves directly on the Nipples coming straight out for air inlets

I don't think exposure is too much of an issue, as the garden is enclosed and the our house has bit of an L shape so provides and the close proximity of the neighbours a bit of a wind break