Overnight smoke

[RUBYRW]

I have an Oklahoma Joe smoker.
I preheated to 225 and it held steady.
Tossed a 12lb packer on at 10pm.
Fire box appeared to have plenty of fuel when i passed out at 1130pm.
Woke up at 5am to the temps at 150.
Immediately got it back up to 225 with more fuel.
Is there any tricks or advice to keep my temps up while I sleep? And I asking too much to keep it up 5 or 6 hours unattended?
Any help is appreciated.

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[RUBYRW]

I have an Oklahoma Joe smoker.
I preheated to 225 and it held steady.
Tossed a 12lb packer on at 10pm.
Fire box appeared to have plenty of fuel when i passed out at 1130pm.
Woke up at 5am to the temps at 150.
Immediately got it back up to 225 with more fuel.
Is there any tricks or advice to keep my temps up while I sleep? Am I asking too much to keep it up 5 or 6 hours unattended?
Any help is appreciated.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Txdragon]

What were you using? Briquettes, lump, etc.. I use briquettes and wood chunks or chips for smoke. I'm able to hold steady temps around 250 for up to 5 hours before the drop off. Then I clean out some ash below the grate and add half a chimney more.

[Chasdev]

To me, overnight means catching a two hours of sleep, then stoking the fire, then catching two hours of sleep, etc..etc...

[outlaw]

To me, overnight means catching a two hours of sleep, then stoking the fire, then catching two hours of sleep, etc..etc...

Yep, thats why I ordered a Rec Tec

[RUBYRW]

What were you using? Briquettes, lump, etc.. I use briquettes and wood chunks or chips for smoke. I'm able to hold steady temps around 250 for up to 5 hours before the drop off. Then I clean out some ash below the grate and add half a chimney more.

How do you set up your fire box to achieve this? Burnt and unburnt coals?
Arrangement? Intake and exhaust settings?

Thanks

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[Txdragon]

What were you using? Briquettes, lump, etc.. I use briquettes and wood chunks or chips for smoke. I'm able to hold steady temps around 250 for up to 5 hours before the drop off. Then I clean out some ash below the grate and add half a chimney more.

How do you set up your fire box to achieve this? Burnt and unburnt coals?
Arrangement? Intake and exhaust settings?

Thanks

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Set it up like this. Use more charcoal as needed, this was only for about 4 or 5 hours only. Look at those hickory chips!!

Then, take your lit coals and put them as shown here. After you add the lit coals, keep your intake opened up to get your cooker to temp. When your grate temp gets close to where you're gonna cook, then close it almost all the way. This setting will vary depending on your cook temp. I keep mine opened up about a little less than 1/4" to hit 260.

[Txdragon]

Aaaand I'm having tech difficulties posting the other pic.. Lemme try a different approach. Lol

[Txdragon]

Finally! Ok so.. Lit coals go here, away from intake (to help promote a slow burn).

[RUBYRW]

Awesome, thanks. I built a minion basket to try and slow the burn. But it takes forever to get temps up and seems to be more trouble than good.

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[Txdragon]

Awesome, thanks. I built a minion basket to try and slow the burn. But it takes forever to get temps up and seems to be more trouble than good.

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Keep the door all the way open if you have to in order to get temp up to speed.

[rus_bro]

To me, overnight means catching a two hours of sleep, then stoking the fire, then catching two hours of sleep, etc..etc...

pretty much. If you would like a good nights sleep, you are using probably the worst pit for it. Maybe look into a Egg, WSM, or a cabinet of some sort.

rb

[RUBYRW]

I'm not too concerned about a good night sleep, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong to prolong my burn/heat. I'm going to try Tx method and my basket again and perfect the one that's best for me

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[TexMike]

I have to admit that I seldom cook briskets anymore in my old age due to being too lazy. I have thought about an electric smoker. Thanks guys. Now that I've confessed kind of an inner-peace has come over me. Maybe since I've faced my inner fears I'll fire up the offset and put a 10-13 pounder on to cook.