Char-Griller Smokin Pro with firebox- Mods

[kathleen gefre]

Wow!!! You guys are way ahead of me in the technical part.  I've REALLY got to catch up.  Anyone have any ideas about what's the next best step up from my ole reliable Brinkman Chimney style.   I have a nice gas grill I use for grilling, but I think I'm ready for a big girl smoker. 

 

[crazyboutsmoke]

Wow!!! You guys are way ahead of me in the technical part.  I've REALLY got to catch up.  Anyone have any ideas about what's the next best step up from my ole reliable Brinkman Chimney style.   I have a nice gas grill I use for grilling, but I think I'm ready for a big girl smoker. 

I bought a WSM 18.5 after I got my Chargriller, and I wish I would have spent the money on another chargriller... :(

 

[nzpilot1]

Well I am not saying I know much about this but my Char Griller is not sealed and I don't have a problem getting it to around 275 to 300 for 3 hours just setting my dampers about 1/4" OPEN . I put 3 full charcoal onto the firebox then I light another 20 pieces of charcoal in my charcoal lighter and do the minion method. I cook it in the smoker for 5 hours or until the internal temp gets to around 170 then take out the brisket and double wrap it in tin foil, I put half a cup of liquids that come out of the drip tray you have under the brisket. I put in in the oven for another 3 hours at about 240 or so until the meat temp gets to 200, then take it out and let it rest for 30 minutes and it will be the best you have ever had.I am attaching a couple of photos. Hope this helps.

 

[arkashby]

I added the baffle tp my smoker and temps rose on SFB side and dropped on non-SFB side. I took it out and discovered that without it my smoker stays at an even temp. I do loose a lot of smoke but everything I've smoked has come out excellent. I'm using the tuning plates to hold my drip pan.

 

[mossymo]

Today it has been 5 years since this thread was started; over 29,000 views and over 300 replies it is still going strong!

 

[richman2000]

I've been following these posts for awhile getting ideas for my next upgradce to my Chargriller Duo w/ SFB.  One thing I have done is make it more portable.  I used a cart from Harbor Freight, and had a friend move the wheels to the outside to lower it.  This really helps when moving it from it's parking spot on the patio over to the back of my yard when I'm running the smoker.  I move it to the back of the yard to piss off my neighbor.

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• richman2000
• Nov 12, 2010

 

[firepit]

Additionally, I added wheels with brakes; now it's so easy to move my wife can do it.

IMG_9110.JPG

• webdaddy
• Oct 17, 2012

Great idea!!!

What brand wheels did you purchase and how much did you cut off of the legs? Did the wheels fit or did you have to modify them or the legs?

Thanks,
FIREPIT

 

[firepit]

The metal on this unit isn't the best to be welding on. Like CrazyBoutSmoke I combined what a few people did and have had excellent luck. There is a very small amount of smoke leaking but that is because I screwed up my measurements when drilling on the right and the front ended up slightly lower than the rear. The leak is so small it isn't worth fixing it.

Here's the thread on what I did.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/58778/char-griller-smokin-pro-with-firebox-mods/300#post_842411


 Additionally, I added wheels with brakes; now it's so easy to move my wife can do it.

IMG_9110.JPG

• webdaddy
• Oct 17, 2012

Great idea on the wheels!

What brand wheels did you purchase and how much did you have to cut off of the legs? Did the wheels fit or did you have to alter them or the legs?

Thanks,
FIREPIT

 

[smoking glove]

the link you provided was great for the trim but it didn't say anything about the wheels.  Can you give more detail as I would like to add wheels also.

 

[austinsmoke]

Did a few more Mods a few weeks ago on my CGSP SFB...seemed ok, but I used this crap charcoal from Gander Mountain, mut have been mosit or something, could hardly keep it going, consequently my smoke took forever...food was still good though

new basket,mods,butt 006.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

First new Charcoal basket 12x12x6

new basket,mods,butt 005.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

Added a larger tuning plate...

new basket,mods,butt 004.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

2000 degreee silicone...worked "ok"

new basket,mods,butt 007.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

Ran some 5/8 furnace rope along back of lid...and front

had to take front one off as lid would not close properly..back one worked perfect

new basket,mods,butt 008.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

Attached steel angle iron to side, then ran 1/2 furnace rope in channel to seal the sides...should have used 5/8

new basket,mods,butt 009.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

These turned out good

new basket,mods,butt 001.jpg

• austinsmoke
• Nov 4, 2012

 

[webdaddy]

Great idea on the wheels!
What brand wheels did you purchase and how much did you have to cut off of the legs? Did the wheels fit or did you have to alter them or the legs?
Thanks,
FIREPIT

Thanks Firepit!

I purchased the wheels form Caster City. The part number is 3ABK3X-ER21-ML;

http://www.castercity.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=3ABK3X-ML&ReturnTo=../cm3a-stem.htm

The leg frame is roughly 2" dia so the 1-13/16 expanding rubber stem was a perfect fit. I can't recall how much I cut off, but if you cut it even with the other side, where the factory wheels are mounted, you should be o.k..

I used a die grinder to make the cut (A hacksaw would work too) and a round file to trim back the burs on the inside. Keep in mind the metal is not very thick, so don't get agressive with it or you can bend the ends in making it difficult to insert the stem. Additionally, I drilled though the legs into the rubber so I could run a screw in to keep it extra secure.

I had bought four wheels to do all four legs, but it was too much of a hassle to get the other side done. It actually worked out well as I believe it is easier to handle than it would have been with four casters.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the mods. I've got my unit exactly where I want as it performs flawlessly!

 

[firepit]

Thanks Firepit!


I purchased the wheels form Caster City. The part number is 3ABK3X-ER21-ML;
http://www.castercity.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=3ABK3X-ML&ReturnTo=../cm3a-stem.htm

The leg frame is roughly 2" dia so the 1-13/16 expanding rubber stem was a perfect fit. I can't recall how much I cut off, but if you cut it even with the other side, where the factory wheels are mounted, you should be o.k..

I used a die grinder to make the cut (A hacksaw would work too) and a round file to trim back the burs on the inside. Keep in mind the metal is not very thick, so don't get agressive with it or you can bend the ends in making it difficult to insert the stem. Additionally, I drilled though the legs into the rubber so I could run a screw in to keep it extra secure.

I had bought four wheels to do all four legs, but it was too much of a hassle to get the other side done. It actually worked out well as I believe it is easier to handle than it would have been with four casters.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the mods. I've got my unit exactly where I want as it performs flawlessly!

Thanks for the info Webdaddy! I just order the casters and can't wait to get them on. Every time I move my Chargriller now I can feel the firebox flex, lol!

 

[the duster]

I have read through all seventeen pages a few times now and I have seen a varying amount of fuel usage.  What has everyone found to be their average fuel uses over a six hour smoke for warm temps, cold temps and windy temps and with what mods you have made?  I only have so much time so I can only do a mod or two at a time so I am trying to figure out which ones will minimize fuel usage and then I will move to evening out the temps in a few months. Thanks in advance and you all have helped me out so much. 

 

[the duster]

A follow-on question here, it is cold here and I really want to smoke this weekend but I don't want to run out of fuel again.  I have been covering the smoking chamber with a moving blanket but I was curious if anyone can tell me if they cover the SFB with anything and if it helps.  If it does help what do you recommend I cover it with?  I have read where others have made cold weather smoking stations out of plywood but I neither have the room or the funds to make it happen. Thanks

 

[cliffcarter]

A follow-on question here, it is cold here and I really want to smoke this weekend but I don't want to run out of fuel again.  I have been covering the smoking chamber with a moving blanket but I was curious if anyone can tell me if they cover the SFB with anything and if it helps.  If it does help what do you recommend I cover it with?  I have read where others have made cold weather smoking stations out of plywood but I neither have the room or the funds to make it happen. Thanks

Cover the SFB with a blanket only if you want to burn the blanket, I heat my cooking wood on top of the SFB before adding it to the fire and it usually gets hot enough to start smoking.

 

[the duster]

Thanks cliffcarter,  I ussually warm the wood I am going to smoke but the issue I was asking was if covering teh side fire box would help conserve fuel.  I did not cover it but covered the smoking chamber with a welding blanket and it worked wonders in this temprature (thanks aland!).  I see that you live in Maine and it is colder there than where I am at in NY so how do you conserve fuel when you do your winter smokes?  thanks again!!

 

[cliffcarter]

Thanks cliffcarter,  I ussually warm the wood I am going to smoke but the issue I was asking was if covering teh side fire box would help conserve fuel.  I did not cover it but covered the smoking chamber with a welding blanket and it worked wonders in this temprature (thanks aland!).  I see that you live in Maine and it is colder there than where I am at in NY so how do you conserve fuel when you do your winter smokes?  thanks again!!

The short answer is - no it will not conserve fuel, you have already done that by covering the cooking chamber. The point I was trying to make about covering the SFB with a blanket is that it will not help. The SFB is going to "leak" heat no matter what the ambient air temp is. It is a fact of life with offsets (or any outside oven) that they will use more fuel in cold weather.

How do I conserve fuel in the cold? Quite frankly I don't worry about it, I don't use charcoal in my chargriller to cook with, I only use 2 chimneys of lump to get it started then switch to wood splits for the actual cook. Wood consumption is higher in the winter by as much as 50% if it is really cold, but if I want BBQ, so be it. Of course I probably wouldn't be so relaxed about it if I had to pay for the cooking wood I use, one of the benefits of living in the most forested state in the nation.

 

[captain480]

Quick question for everyone. Naturally I see everyone makes adjustments to the SFB of these Chargrillers but check out mine....I just purchased it and begin modding today if this rain lets up. I'm not sure i need to actually modify my SFB because they've included actual grates to cook on like the primary chamber....I'm going to go with jackpot here. Thoughts? Maybe they Chargriller listened to it's fan base? I did however remove the lame rack on the bottom of the ash collection tray. Not sure that's required any longer considering. Also...I'm thinking more and more about the main chamber ash collection tray. Flipping it like everyone does perhaps with some bricks as I've seen before with some evenly spaced holes drilled seems to be an effective free alternative to a tuning plate.

We season today....we smoke SuperBowl Sunday :P

photo.JPG

• captain480
• Jan 27, 2013

 

[themule69]

Quick question for everyone. Naturally I see everyone makes adjustments to the SFB of these Chargrillers but check out mine....I just purchased it and begin modding today if this rain lets up. I'm not sure i need to actually modify my SFB because they've included actual grates to cook on like the primary chamber....I'm going to go with jackpot here. Thoughts? Maybe they Chargriller listened to it's fan base? I did however remove the lame rack on the bottom of the ash collection tray. Not sure that's required any longer considering. Also...I'm thinking more and more about the main chamber ash collection tray. Flipping it like everyone does perhaps with some bricks as I've seen before with some evenly spaced holes drilled seems to be an effective free alternative to a tuning plate.

We season today....we smoke SuperBowl Sunday :P

photo.JPG

• captain480
• Jan 27, 2013

welcome to the group captain.

happy smoken.

david

 

[captain480]

Thank you thank you - seasoning is going as planned. Not sure about the grates yet...can only shove 1 chimey of coals in the box and pretty full.....we shall see. Also...the thermometer included with these things is so far off it's amazing :) I hadn't even fire it up yet and direct sun light was indicating 100+ degrees...lol. Only problem is today's high is only like mid 60's