Getting the barbie above 250c

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Discussion

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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I hear head beads are good but never used them myself.

You need more fuel. Fill right to the top of chimney starter.

All vents open.

Do not pour chimney until the top coals are glowing. 40 min.

sunil4

197 posts

123 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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I have used most things, love heat beads for smoking. Cheap stuff will do for hot and fast, don't waste your money. Top vent always open full and control temps on bottom vent. Steaks leave it all open. A vent change takes 20mins to reflect so don't chase your tail.
if u close top vent then food tastes st

sorry typing on phone on train. Ask away..

scottri

950 posts

181 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Rick101 said:
I hear head beads are good but never used them myself.

You need more fuel. Fill right to the top of chimney starter.

All vents open.

Do not pour chimney until the top coals are glowing. 40 min.
I've just tried heat beads. They do last ages for a slow cook, however, the thick grey smoke it chucks out when heating up in the chimney is a little off putting (loads of chemicals and crap to form the briquettes perhaps?)

I rate Big K lump wood - it is great for high heat as is required by the OP. Also the massive chunks seem to last ages in slower/lower cooks. And it burns very cleanly.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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RizzoTheRat said:
Ultraviolet said:
I leave the top vent open all the time and keep the lower vent fully open until the temperature builds up, then close this to about 50% to try and keep the temperature and slow the burn.
Is this the best way to control it? I tend to leave the bottom fully open and close the top one down a bit, mainly because I can see how fat open the top vent is while the bottom one doesn't seem to match what it says on the slider, but I'll freely admit I'm a webber noob.
Think about the bunsen burners at school. To get them to make the roaring blue flame you needed the vent at the bottom wide open. that's because heat rises, and the flame at the top sucks air through the vent at the bottom, meaning that you get much more air in and so the possiblity of faster combustion with the bottom vent wide open. High temperatures and a slow burn are not going to be compatible aims unless you can find some crazy engineered fuel.

sunil4

197 posts

123 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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Heat beads aren't full of crap don't worry. The smoke will clear