Got The Smoke Bug In Missouri

[semosmoke]

WHAT'S UP EVERYONE? I AM NEW HERE TO THE FORUM AND WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY HELLO. I AM WHAT ONE MIGHT CALL A "WEEKEND WARRIOR"...... I HAVE THE CHAR GRILLER SMOKER PRO WITH THE SFB AND SO FAR I AM PLEASED WITH IT. I AM IN THE VERY EARLY LEARNING STAGES THOUGH AND I AM SOOOO HOOKED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO MODS AND THINK THAT I WILL TRY A FEW FOR STARTERS. I BELIEVE I WILL CHANGE THE WHEELS, ADD THE DRYER VENT AND EXTEND IT DOWN CLOSER TO THE COOKING SURFACE, FABRICATE A CHARCOAL BASKET FOR THE SFB, LINE THE MAIN CHAMBER WITH CERAMIC BRIQUETTES OR SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP IT HOLD HEAT BETTER, ADD THE GASKET AND SEAL THAT BABY UP PRETTY GOOD, AND ADD BETTER THERMOMETERS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE MAIN CHAMBER CLOSE THE THE COOKING SURFACE. SO FAR I HAVE NOT BEEN VERY CONSISTENT AT ALL AND I THINK AFTER READING HERE AND OTHER PLACES ABOUT THE MODS AND BENEFITS FROM THE MODS THAT AFTER I GET THEM DONE....... I'LL BE READY TO SMOKE FOR REAL. I HAVE A PORK BUTT READY FOR THIS WEEKEND. IF I CAN'T GET THE MODS DONE BEFORE FRIDAY NIGHT GET S HERE I THINK I WILL PUT IT OFF TILL NEXT WEEKEND. ANYHOO, I LOVE IT HERE AT SMF SO FAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY INSIGHT AND OR TIPS THAT SOME OF YOU MAY BE WILLING TO SHARE AND JUST ALL TOGETHER LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF A REALLY COOL SITE......... PEACE, LOVE, AND BARBECUE!!!!!

 

[fired up]

Welcome to SMF it is good to have you here!

 

[semosmoke]

Thank You....... I Look Forward To Learning And Reading Everyones Posts.

 

[beer-b-q]

Big Hello Semosmoke...

 

[pineywoods]

Welcome to SMF glad you joined us. While checking out all the good info don't forget to look at the recipes there are great ones. Have fun and happy smoking

 

[irishteabear]

Welcome to SMF. Glad you joined us.

 

[carpetride]

Welcome from another "bootheeler". You'll find nothing but good folk and great ideas here. Look forward to seeing your future smokes.

 

[rivet]

Welcome to the SMF ! Check out Jeff's 5 day e-course and you'll be on your way to perfection

 

[billbo]

Welcome aboard! Sounds like you are going to do some nice mods. Keep us posted!

 

[the dude abides]

Welcome from "up north" in Iowa. Glad to have you with us.

 

[mballi3011]

First off welcome to SMF. You'll really like it here cause there are a pile of good folks here that are more then willing to share with anwsers and recipes galore. You mite want to check out the 5-day E-Course it free and quite informative. So sit back watch learn, listen and remember:
Welcome To The Addiction

 

[fire it up]

Welcome semosmoke.
A weekend warrior, careful because the smoke addiction might get you smoking more than weekends.
When I joined the site I would read posts and was amazed at how many folks fired up their smokers every day or every few days, I couldn't imagine it. Now, thanks to everyone on here, I smoke 2-3-4 times a week, more if I can.
Stick around, read up and always feel free to ask any questions.
Happy Smokes.

 

[geek with fire]

Not sure where you are in Missouri, but since I'm in the middle, welcome from about 2 hours in some direction.

As for the chargriller mods, here are ones listed in the order I think would help you the most:
1.) Thermos: Ignore the stock one. You don't necessarily need to install lid thermos right off the start. Get you a cheap digital oven probe and poke it through a potato. Set it in the middle at grate level when smoking. Eat the potato when you're done.

2a.) Build you a basket of some kind for the charcoal. This doesn't necessarily need to be large, but what's most important is lifting fuel up so that air can get under it and not starve. Here's mine:
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75650

2b.) I say "2b" because if you do "2a" you definately need to do this too. Seal the firebox door or you will have a blazing inferno after adding the basket. I use rolled up aluminum foil, but you can go high tech and use fireplace rope. Either way you also need something heavy or a clamp on the door to ensure a good seal. I use a large limestone rock.

3.) The exhaust/dryer vent extension. This will help efficiency, but also takes away from your grate real-estate.

4.) Seal the smoking chamber the same way you did the firebox. Won't make a big difference but does help with efficiency and temperature control.

Enjoy!

 

[rickw]

Another hearty welcome.

 

[semosmoke]

Thanks For The Insight, My Friend. Nice Job On The Charcoal Basket, Too..... I'll Be Working On That Real Soon. I Am In Cape Girardeau, Mo. A Couple Of Hours South Of St Louis. Nice To Hear From You.