Having a hard time learning my Classic 3. Also, seemed like it was producing a ton of awful smelling smoke. I started the coals with a chimney starter and was using year old Fogo, fwiw.
Why would smoke be coming out the bottom vent?
byu/SeaRayGuy inKamadoJoe
by SeaRayGuy
10 Comments
Seeing wisps in the bottom vent is normal. If this is the burn in it’s possible you’re just burning some stuff off. Has the Fogo been stored outside?
You have the top closed to much. Open the top wide up. Set the bottom toa finger width to get at or around 350. Slightly more for hotter. Less for cooler. When you’ve exhausted how far you can close it but still have it open a sliver, then you can adjust the top down. I normally only mess with the top to balance wind or smoke. Weather still does effect these but it’s usually just wind and not so much the temp, but temp is still a factor. Wind blowing over the top will suck in more air from the bottom like a bellows. If it close it down some, it’s easier to get the target temp with the bottom.
Airflow issue… firebox might not be set up correct or control tower vent closed.
Mine does this with the right breeze. Like Available said, open the top more and choke the bottom if it bothers you.
Basically airflow. . . bottom is too open for how closed off the top is. You can close off the bottom more and airflow through the top will drag air through the bottom.
I actually don’t think this is a problem but if you close the bottom more it should go away. I also think you should be able to close it more without affecting temp.
If you just lit it this should disappear when it warms up and drafts better. Think of a fireplace. That being said your bottom vent is probably too open if you’re trying to get to temp
I take my ash scoop out when I cook. Gives me a lot more control over the airflow. Especially if I am using thermworks bellows.
Like the top comment says, you want to work both top and bottom vents together. The trick is to start the fire correctly. You want air to be pulled from the bottom. Get a good fire going from the start, heat soak the KJ with both vents wide open. Once you’re at 400 or so on the therm, put your setup in and dial the vents down. But the trick is to get the fire pulling from bottom to top first. Get that motion started early.
Thanks for all of the helpful comments everyone!
It might be retarded
I’m wondering if you are closing the dome too quickly after lighting, and cold air is pushing the smoke downwards?
Smoking Dad BBQ has a great youtube channel for how to properly fire up a Kamado.