Are "low" temps hard to achieve on the WSM 22"?

[El Vez]

First-time poster here (other than introducing myself). I looked through this sub-channel before posting but could not find much on this particular issue.

I currently have an older model WSM 18". It's persnickety, but if I take my time and am deliberate with my technique, it rewards me by holding 225 rock-steady for hours and hours with no adjustment. I am thinking about adding a second smoker (because, after all, smokers are like fly rods, you can't ever have too many), and I'm looking specifically at the WSM 22". But the review on the website here says it's hard to get the 22" down to 225, it just naturally wants to cook at a higher temp, more like 275.

For all you WSM 22" owners out there, what has been your experience with this issue? Do you have any problems getting the 22" model down to 225? Can you hold 225 for extended cooks without constant adjustments? If that's an issue with the larger model, then maybe I'll just get another 18".

Thanks in advance,

El Vez

[Troutman]

Fire management my friend. I have both an 18 and a 22 WSM. I agree the 18 is much easier to manage but like anything else you have to learn to ramp down the vents and find a method, either minion or snake, to burn your coals. I find the snake method is better in the 22 because you're limiting the amount of fuel consumed thus better temp control.

One thing I would advise you doing at some point is investing in fan control. I converted my 5 weber kettles and WSMs to fan control and never looked back. You want 225, dial it up, you want 350 dial that up. That indeed is true rock solid temp control for those smokers.

Do a search on here for the Fireboard with the Pit Viper fan and give it some thought. Helped take the worry out of fire management and allowed me to concentrate on the cook. Good luck !!

[CaptainMike]

Alright, that's it, ordering the Pit Viper in 5.....4.....3...........

[MarkD]

I just bought the Fireboard set and was thinking about the fan for my new WSM 22. How did you install it?

[Troutman]

Did you buy the Pit Viper fan (or any fan for that matter)? A fan port comes with the fan and installs on one of your bottom vent holes with one screw. They also give you some aluminized tape to cover the other two holes. When using the fan it's recommended that you shut all bottom vents and let the fan provide the needed oxygen. Good luck !!

[JamieBBQ]

I run my 22 with a Stoker fan and get a full nights sleep, but can easily hold 225 without. Start with less lit coals and use briquettes not lump.

[Razor]

I second Troutman. I have a 18" WSM and while it doses a pretty good job most of the time, there is nothing like the quality of life enhancement a fan control brings. I already had a Thermoworks Signals to monitor my temps so I didn't want to spend crazy money on something. I ended up going with an Auber Instruments SYL-1615SYS-W https://www.auberins.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=396. I bought the switch and gasket for the extra $7.

They make an adapter so you can run it off of a Dewalt battery. I almost bought one because whoever designed my house didn't think to put an electrical outlet on the little patio that I have. Instead I use one of these bad boys I bought for camping https://www.goalzero.com/shop/power-...power-station/. I easily powered through a 22 hour cook with it.

[Andrrr]

How do you like the Auber? I’ve been leaning towards it as it seems like the most economical thermostat solution.

[Razor]

I love it. For the money It served it’s purpose well. As luck would have it Thermoworks came out with the Billows fan about two months after I purchased it. I bought the Billows so I would have one integrated system.

Want a deal on a AI Fan? 😁

[Andrrr]

Message me and let me know what you’re thinking!

[Razor]

Andrrr Message sent. Let me know what you think.

[jfmorris]

I've seen the review on the free side of AR too, but its really the only place I've read that says WSM 22's are hard to get low. As others said, probably a matter of fire management and technique, or using a fan controller.

I've about decided my next cooker purchase will be a WSM 22, along with a gateway drum hanger kit, so that I can smoke normal style in the WSM 22, or hang ribs like in a PBC. I was leaning towards the PBC for a long time, until I realized what I really need is a smoker that will hold 6 to 8 butts at a time, and the WSM22 will do that.

[djl]

I don't have the WSM 18; so I can't comment on a comparison between the two. However,as several above have mentioned fire control is the key. I have never had trouble cooking at reasonable temperature. As I recall the first few times I used the cooker I was running hotter ( around 265), but now I have very little trouble holding steady temperatures around 225.

Also it is not like cooking at 275 is going to hurt.

[PaulstheRibList]

I've got a pair of 22's and can run them whatever temp you want. I do a Snake, and set the vents about 30% on the one closest to the start of the snake, and 15% on the other two, and about 60% at the top.

The temp you want will be achieved by how much fuel you put in your snake. If your meat load it not much, and you want 225, then you put less fuel.

I like to control temp by the amount of fuel. The fans and such are all good at doing this as well, I just didn't enjoy messing with them as much.

[Big Easy]

I'm very new to the WSM (just got mine a week ago). What is a "Snale?"

[PaulstheRibList]

Big Easy, i meant a Snake. Put a brick in and make a snake around it. Light one end and let it burn around to the other end. I'll have to find some pictures if you like.