Initial burn

lafromla1

Finally had time to run through an initial burn on our LBGE.  Was able to get the fire started pretty easily and worked the temp up to 275 with the grey/black smoke turning to clear pretty quickly (about 10 min) with the vent and cap open about 2” each. I put the lower vent to about 3/4” and the top to about 1/2” I got it to 330 and it stalled there for a bit, so I opened up both for a brief moment to get the temp to 350. Then adjusted the lower vent to about 3/8” and the top to about 1/2” and it’s been pegged at 350 for about 45 minutes straight.

 This was with about 1/3 bag of 8# bag of Cowboy lump.  Overall I think it was a successful first burn.  Now to figure out a first cook.  

edit: after 45 minutes it crept up to 370 so adj the lower vent to about 1/8” and the top to about 1/4”.  Let’s see what that does.  

caliking

One of the better ways to enjoy a few beverages, is to light up your egg, kick back, and just enjoy the moment(s). 

This may be an unpopular opinion, but, I would consider keeping the lower vent open to a fixed degree (maybe halfway?), and adjusting the top vent, as needed. That way, you're messing with one less variable. 

Langner91

Do you have your ceramic piece in the grill?  Plate Setter, or pizza stone?  That helps slow the temperature swings down.

As soon as you open the grill, or put cold meat in it, or the wind changes, it can move 20° (350° to 370° in your example).  Really, if you can cook something at 350, you can cook it at 370.  I don't get too excited until I see 50° swings. 

I really stressed the "settings" and temperatures when I first got my egg.  Then, I realized that my home oven doesn't hold temperature any better, swinging 30° in both directions of the set point.  And, it cooks pizza, cookies, brownies, and turkey as well as any other oven I have owned.  So, I don't sweat it anymore.  I get the egg close and cook away.

Good luck, and get some meat in that grill! Most cooks take a few minutes, so you won't even have time to get it so tightly controlled.  Now, long cooks are another story, but you have already figured out how to make small adjustments, so you will be fine there, too!

Have fun!