Smoker Problem (Temp Regulation)

[Sixth Street]

I've got a New Braunfels smoker and I'm having a difficult time keeping the temps low enough to smoke properly. Its really difficult to get the temps down below 400 or so until the fire is about to go out. Seems like the rig is so leaky that its hard to choke off the air enough to bring the temp down to the low 200s. When I add more fuel the temp immediately spikes again. Obviously I'm making some sort of rookie mistake. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Luke Duke]

Try this.

 

[hornian]

If you want to get consistently low temps on a leaky rig like that without doing all the mods Luke suggests, do this: close the vents down almost all the way.

Seriously.

Like you said, it's a very leaky model. even without the vents open, it will have enough air to not kill the fire. If you have a damper on the chimney, use it as well, close it almost completely.

On my old pit my standard 225 set up was the firebox vent open maybe 1/4 inch, and the chimney about the same. Enough air got in, and smoke got out, from other places to keep the temp where it should be.

 

[Sixth Street]

Thanks guys.