Ordered the pot today!!

mdboatbum · Jul 28, 2014

I was gonna do the Jumbo Joe version, but the 80qt pot almost doubled in price on Amazon from one day to the next. So I'll do the regular mini with the Imusa 32 quart pot. I'll go pick up the Smokey Joe Gold tomorrow from our neighborhood Ace store.

It's been a long 7 months without a smoker, and I'm as giddy as a school girl with anticipation!!

I'll post pics of the build.

pc farmer · Jul 28, 2014

Glad you will be smoking again.

The mini is a great little smoker as you already know.

mdboatbum · Jul 28, 2014

c farmer said:
Glad you will be smoking again.

The mini is a great little smoker as you already know.

Thanks!! It's been a while, hopefully I can remember how it works.

pc farmer · Jul 28, 2014

Its like riding a bike.

welshrarebit · Jul 28, 2014

Don't forget the custom paint job!!! As soon as I get a decent phone I'll post a pic of my mini.

mdboatbum · Jul 28, 2014

Meh, a paint job is a little above my pay grade. I just hope it cooks well. I was talking with a buddy of mine the other night about all the food we made in the original (extremely ugly) mini, and I just hope I can come close to the successes of the last couple years. Have a couple Steelhead filets curing as we speak. Hoping to take advantage of the cool nights predicted for the end of the week to cold smoke them. And I think some chicken is in store for the weekend.

daveomak · Jul 28, 2014

Hey Bum..... How are you going to lock it up ????? Nice new custom mini asking to be stolen..... Maybe with congress leaving town for 5 weeks, our personal stuff will be safe.... HAHAHAHAHAHA .....:lurk: .....

mdboatbum · Jul 28, 2014

DaveOmak said:
Hey Bum..... How are you going to lock it up ????? Nice new custom mini asking to be stolen..... Maybe with congress leaving town for 5 weeks, our personal stuff will be safe.... HAHAHAHAHAHA .....

.....

Send me a postcard from Vegas Dave!!! You're a real freakin' comedian.

foamheart · Jul 28, 2014

Mdboatbum said:
I was gonna do the Jumbo Joe version, but the 80qt pot almost doubled in price on Amazon from one day to the next. So I'll do the regular mini with the Imusa 32 quart pot. I'll go pick up the Smokey Joe Gold tomorrow from our neighborhood Ace store.

It's been a long 7 months without a smoker, and I'm as giddy as a school girl with anticipation!!

I'll post pics of the build.

Thats cool... now don't leave this one in the park..... <ducks>

You might check with those in the know, but seems to me there was some reason the Silver was better than Gold, maybe a bottom vent? As usually I could be completely wrong, but might ask the girls first.

Glad you are getting back in the swing.

mdboatbum · Jul 28, 2014

Foamheart said:
Thats cool... now don't leave this one in the park..... <ducks>

You might check with those in the know, but seems to me there was some reason the Silver was better than Gold, maybe a bottom vent? As usually I could be completely wrong, but might ask the girls first.

Glad you are getting back in the swing.

Well, I guess I can't claim to be one of those "in the know" anymore given all the mini experts around here, but for me the gold is far superior for use as a smoker without the need for any additional modifications or tin cans over the vent. With a charcoal basket the coals burn evenly and for a good long time. I've never had a problem getting a decent sear either, though I will concede the silver might be marginally better for searing, but it's a tradeoff I'm perfectly willing to make. I've never had a problem getting a good crust on a steak, so I'm perfectly happy with the Gold. In addition, the handle closes everything up tight, so within 15-20 minutes it's cooled off and ready to travel, making it far less likely to be left in the park again.

dirtsailor2003 · Jul 29, 2014

Md glad to hear you're back in the game again! I hear LoJack has a high temp sensor you can install for easy tracking... Foam and I will be hanging out with Josie in Vegas if ya need to find us!

mdboatbum · Jul 29, 2014

You guys are hilarious!

I am pretty stoked to have another smoker. (pardon the pun) As for leaving it in the park, I guess I'd gotten a little complacent. This used to be a nice sleepy little neighborhood and that park was kind of like "our yard". We used to leave a grill stashed inside a big Holly bush all summer, and never had a problem. As the years have gone by though, it's become more and more urban around here. The days of leaving doors unlocked and unattended smokers in public parks are sadly gone.

fwismoker · Jul 29, 2014

. I love my Jimmy build too bad you're not making one. You'll love the mini none the less but if you do want a jumbo build the pot is 114 with shipping.

mdboatbum · Jul 29, 2014

I'd seen an 80 quart aluminum pot on Amazon for $54 or so, and was gonna pull the trigger. The wife was even excited about it. then when I was ready to order it the next day it was back up to almost $90, so I just went with the Imusa 32 from Target and will get the smaller Smokey Joe. The jumbo would have been nice capacity wise, but I do have to lug it out to the park to use it, and I also have to store it in a fairly small apartment, so the smaller one is probably the best bet anyway. Hopefully it'll be here by the weekend!!

gopher darbid · Jul 29, 2014

If I had to do it again, I would probably just start with a smokey joe gold. The additional parts I had to buy ended up costing waaaaaaaaaaaaay more than the price difference between the gold and silver. The benefit to the modded silver however is I think it will be able to run much hotter with better temperature control. I installed two ball valves to the sides of the base and have an ash guard in place. I suppose I already had the silver so there wasn't much thought I had to put into the decision.

For reference, the two ball valves were ~$12 a piece, the two threaded nipples were about $2 a piece, and the pet food bowl was about $2.

mdboatbum · Jul 31, 2014

Got the grill yesterday. Had a bit of a scare as the area where the grills had been in the hardware store had been changed over to a fall display. Luckily they had a SJG in the back though. Couldn't find the extra grate so I'll have to get one at Home Depot the next time I'm out that way.

dirtsailor2003 · Jul 31, 2014

Mdboatbum said:
Got the grill yesterday. Had a bit of a scare as the area where the grills had been in the hardware store had been changed over to a fall display. Luckily they had a SJG in the back though. Couldn't find the extra grate so I'll have to get one at Home Depot the next time I'm out that way.

One more step closer! Our stores here do not carry the gold, just the silver. I had thought about trying the gold out but I'd have to order it!

mdboatbum · Jul 31, 2014

I'd say you've got the silver pretty dialed in! With your added side vents yours should act the same as the gold. I just didn't feel like worrying about ash buildup over the bottom vent. If I get rambunctious I might order a Weber daisy vent and drill some holes in the bottom, but for now I just want to get the damn thing put together!

fwismoker · Jul 31, 2014

Mdboatbum said:
I'd say you've got the silver pretty dialed in! With your added side vents yours should act the same as the gold. I just didn't feel like worrying about ash buildup over the bottom vent. If I get rambunctious I might order a Weber daisy vent and drill some holes in the bottom, but for now I just want to get the damn thing put together!

You'll love it as is, with the charcoal basket it get's plenty of air for searing. I have a spare one of those Weber vents and can't get myself to drill holes in it.

My only advice to your build is go simple, no terra cotta pots and all that stuff are needed only the steamer. The steamer i'd notch so you can easily remove it because the mini makes a great grill taking it out and grilling with the pot on, also just cooking with no diffuser. I cooked the best smoker fried chicken just cooking right over the coals.

mdboatbum · Jul 31, 2014

I tried the terra cotta saucer with my first one and ended up using it only once or twice. I agree, the simple approach works best. I have the mesh for the basket and I'm pretty sure I have enough nuts and bolts in the tool box to get it done. Gonna go to a friends house and use his jigsaw to cut the bottom out. Might cut the lid too and rivet it on the bottom.

Ordered the pot today!!

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