Stabile Temp.

Bout a 1/2 hour is what I typically go with if I have the time.

Once stabil, there is virtually no variation in temps until much later in the cook and the smaller pieces of lump and ash start to clog the air holes in the charcoal grate. This is easily remedied with a bent coat hanger or similar tool.

Of course opening the dome and putting in a big hunk of meat lowers the temp for a bit. But once your fire is set, the temps will come back to where you wanted in a bit. Just don't get to changing your vent settings or you'll end up chasing your temps all night.

:S how do you keep the daisy and middle ring from moving during opening the lid??? Have tried a few positions of setting iron cap, but always (in this great 2 weeks of eggin) have to re-do :side: thanks

With the daisy wheel as Vern suggests, with a little cooking build up on the daisy wheel, there will be little to no movement unless you are really rough with the dome when you open and close it.