Temp Control Help

Unknown

I am attempting my first butt since getting the large a month or so ago. Put it on about 5pm. Filled the fire box per Elder Ward right to the top of the fire box with Royal Oak. Got the temp to 250 and it held there for about an hour. Next I knew, it was almost at 400. Closed down the gates to tiny slits, but she held for quite some time over 300. The daisy is now practically closed and the bottom gate is open about 1/8 in. Internal is now 168. What did I do wrong ? Why would it spike like that after holding tight for an hour? No wind all day....outdoor temp has been 30-40 since 5. It's now 1 am.[p]Thanks
Dan

Unknown

BackYardDan,[p]Best not to worry about your temp spike right now as you need to get that butt done. You haven't hurt that meat at all other than maybe crisp up the bark a little so just get the temp down to around 250-275 degrees dome and continue your cook. Don't be afraid to close the bottom vent down some more as I often operate it where I can just barely get a paper clip thickness thru the top left hand corner of the lower vent. Just hang in there and keep cooking.[p]OLd Dave

Sundown

BackYardDan,[p]On a lo 'n' slo my bottom vent is never more than the width of my pocket knife blade (Spyderco) and often a little less. The daisy is closed down to a point where if I close it any more smoke comes out of the lower vent. When I use my Smoke Rings I use the #3 most of the time. Now that I use Wicked Good Chracoal I'll have to recalibrate everything now because it burns a lot differently. I think your efforts will be rewarded and you'll have a great meal! Good luck.

Unknown

Thanks for your help so far:[p]Update: I kept manipulating the gates and seemed to get it around 275 and went to bed...got up around 6am...temp was at 225 but the internal temp had dropped to 154. Goosed the temp back up to just under 300....internal is back to 168.[p]Is it normal to drop internal ? [p]Dan

JSlot

That's pretty normal, Dan. Sometimes the temp will drop back in the "plateau" range due to the collagen breakdown, I think. You are doing fine.[p]Frosty Ones!
Jim

Unknown

Sundown,
Thanks for your reply...being a newbie, can you tell me what a smoke ring is? You mentioned a #3. Are there different sizes ?[p]Also, you said you shut down the daisy until smoke comes out of the lower vent...I shut down the daisy and smoke comes out of the chimney from under the daisy. Is that normal ?[p]Thanks,[p]Dan