M&M wrote:

> I'm completely baffled by your problem getting it as hot as you'd like.
> Mine will easily reach 400°.

Same here. More fuel == more heat, as long as the fire
can breathe OK and isn't damped down and smoldering.

> My problem is keeping the heat under 300°.

Less fuel == less heat ;-) Once I learned to be
less enthusiastic adding lump to a waning fire,
225°-ish cooks aren't a problem (of course, I'm
willing to cycle up to 250 and down to 200).

> I don't bother with any pattern to the load of lump.

I make a pile ;-)

> It may matter, but I don't mess with it. Actually, it sounds like your
> problems are pretty minor.

Sounds like Jesse is closer to "tune-up" mode than "getting a
clue" mode to me ;-)

Dana