Got the Silver Smoker Together w/ Mods...

[greatbigtuna]

So I got my first smoker together today and did a few mods (thanks big time to this forum). I've got the Char-Broil Silver smoker. I extended the chimney to the grates using aluminum flashing rolled up inside the chimney. The next mod was a baffle over the opening to the firebox. I used a piece of plain steel sheet metal and attached it to the angled lip above the opening with a sheet metal screw. The final mod was to ditch the firebox charcoal crate for a coal basket. I fabricated it out of L-brackets and expanded metal. I've got the cooker seasoning now and it's holding steady around 225 for the last hour. I'm about 15 degrees difference from one side of the smoke chamber to the other. So far, so good. Tomorrow will be the big test, with my first smoke, an 7 lbs boston butt. I've posted some pictures of my mods, and I'll post some q-vue when I'm done with the butt tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!

 

[pinkmeat]

looking good. It looks like you have the right mods so far....

 

[capt dan]

Tuna, ya did the big time tunes, you are way ahead of the game now. Enjoy the ride, and show us what ya got, while ya got it. I bet it won't last long on the table or in the fridge. By the tone of your post, you have done alot of reading and research, I would bet that you have also done just as well with the recipes and techniques for the pork butts.

Be patient, don't vary from the plan, and enjoy the rewards.

 

[shellbellc]

Glad to see this, got a silver smoker for my b-day then went on vaca...haven't had time to search for the mods.

In putting it together, there is a little disc on the top that states you can put a thermometer there, looked all over the net for a charbroil thermometer, what did everyone else put there??

 

[cinnamonkc]

Nice job on the mods. Good luck with the first smoke...we'll be cheering you on!

 

[solar]

I put two in the lid close to the cooking surface.



Good job on your mods, they really do help a lot.

I basically have the same smoker as you, and I made the same type of firebox heat baffle as you did. I found if I blocked up the sides of my baffle more I got much more even temps from left to right.

 

[ronf]

In putting it together, there is a little disc on the top that states you can put a thermometer there, looked all over the net for a charbroil thermometer, what did everyone else put there??[/quote]

If you want the Char Broil thermometer try this site:

http://www.charbroil.com/Consumer/Re...ProductID=1762

I ended up buying two Tel Tru thermometers and mounting them on the lower edge of the smoking chamber like Solar did.

Look at Tel Tru here: http://www.teltru.com/barbecue.asp

Ron

 

[agmeyer]

I'm pretty new also with the Silver Smoker. I have the same Mods you do. On my first brisket it started raining so I double foiled it after about 7 hrs and finished it in the oven with the temperature probe still in the brisket. Be sure to put it in deep pan in the oven in case the foil leaks. The first one turned out great except it was gone so fast. I figure if it ain't broke; don't fix it. I keep smoking and then finishing in the oven. It saves lots of time and when it gets hot and humid late in the afternoon, that AC indoors is so nice.

Semper Fi and Happy Smoke rings from Sedalia, MO.

 

[jerseyhunter]

Looks nice

I just got one a few months ago also. There is a number in the booklet that came with it to order the thermometer 1-800-232-3398.
May I ask why extend the chimney? Not new to smoking, just new to smoking with this particular type. And always willing to learn.

 

[solar]

Since the heat moves across a horizontal smoker (instead up straight up on a vertical) by extending the chimney, it keeps the exiting heat closer to the cooking surface, which keeps the heat more even across the cooking surface.

 

[jerseyhunter]

Thank you, I thought it was somewhere along those lines. I imagine it helps keep the heat at a more desired level also. Thanks once again.

 

[jwplbc]

http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_...t_smokers.html


this is kinda expensive, but it'll help you get the idea.

http://www.horizonbbqsmokersstore.co...r-16%22/Detail

 

[t-bone tim]

Great job on your new smoker

, now show us some q-view

 

[smokin' dick]

I've had a Silver Smoker for a couple of years now. At first with no mods and no experience with charcoal either, the thing was a bear. Too hot, then not hot enough, then 100* difference end to end. Sheesh. But with time and some pretty extensive changes it cooks beautifully. Maybe a 8* difference end to end now. Patience will win the day for you. Good luck and have fun.

 

[sbv32]

I am going to attempt to make a new fire box. Would I be safe to assume that I can get the IL-brackets and expanded metal at my local home depot? Also, how does the minion method work with this type of box?

 

[solar]

Are you talking about making a charcoal basket? If so, yes HD should have what you need. The basket works great using the minion method, just fill the basket about ¾ full with unlit lump and dump one lit chimney on top of it.

 

[sbv32]

Awesome, I will attempt today after work. After the coals are hot how do you continue the minion method? Do you have to take the hot coals out somehow? That shound difficult.

 

[smokin jack]

No, as you dump the lit coals on top of the unlit coals the unlit coals will begin to slowly burn as the heat of the coals on top begin to light the coals underneath. It saves you time from having to get a chimney started and dumped ever hour or so. This method is great and it works, especially for longer smokes.