Smoker positioning

[Smokey Joe]

I don't have a fan on the chimney.  Just the straight pipe.  No fan, so I don't think I need to cut extra vent holes in the chimney.  ???

I have found that if I have the damper closed, even just a tiny bit, that the smoke won't go up the chimney, and comes out the rear and around the smoke chamber instead.  So I have opened the damper full with the flex pipe just sitting on top of the OBS.

The element is glowing red when I open the door.  Perhaps the damper being open full is allowing heat to escape, thus creating my temperature problem.

[West Coast Kansan]

SJ, is there any condensation occuring at the smoke stack your using?  Just thinking if you have a tall stack you may not be getting a good venting and moisture.  Would have the same effect as IKW's thoughts on too much draft. Each would keep the temps down.   ;D  Same symptom with opposite causes.  Gotta love it.   :-X

In the other post I mentioned past posting here about not having the slider completely to the right but back it off to the left just a tap or two ensuring it is not sitting on a dead spot on the resistor.  It is a thought even though your bulb is glowing red.  Also read a post here where the slots in the V pan were not struck wide enough during manufacture of a few of the pans.  Someone here said he opened his slots just a little and it helped  ???