Hi Everyone. I'm Erik from Michigan, in the 'burbs of Detroit. I've been lurking around here since I stumbled upon the 5 day e-course on smoking, and decided it was time to introduce myself.
I've spent a very productive summer exploring my new BBQ hobby, and SMF deserves some credit for helping this newbie. Thanks everyone for the tips and advice throughout the site and forums, they have helped. This summer I have been smoking Pork Butts, Beef Brisket, and a smattering of Spare Ribs and Baby Back Ribs. My ribs need more work, but luckily my fiancee (getting married Oct 10th, have to get used to saying 'Wife' :D) is all on board with being a smoked meat taste tester. On the positive side, my pulled pork and brisket have been a big hit with family and friends, and I've even started getting requests. So, a good start to the basics and hopefully it only gets better.
My current rig is an ECB, which I 'modified' by taking the legs off and putting it and the fire pan on a cement block. Seemed easier than trying to put some legs on the firepan since I noticed that the firepan on the block would be about at the same level as with the internal legs. My only complaint is that temps run a bit below the ideal of 225-250, so cooks take longer. I might have to drill some holes into the firepan to improve air flow, or experiment with legs so I can take the block out. The idea here is that the cement block might be impeading airflow through the bottom.
If anyone is reading this and wants to try BBQ but not spend a fortune until they are sure, the ECB is a great and inexpensive way to try it.
A couple of monthes into the great BBQ experiment, the lovely soon-to-be-wife gave me the green light to buy a more expensive smoker next year. So I was thinking of a Webber Smokey Mountain. But then I looked into the UDS everyone was talking about here and at other sites, and I would love to try that instead. In fact, if I can find the right drum soon, I'll try to put one together and take a few test runs before it gets too cold around here.
Sorry for the rambling.
At any rate, howdy neighbors!
Oh, and I'll try to get some QView up from my first couple of smokes. I'm notoriously bad at remembering the camera.
I've spent a very productive summer exploring my new BBQ hobby, and SMF deserves some credit for helping this newbie. Thanks everyone for the tips and advice throughout the site and forums, they have helped. This summer I have been smoking Pork Butts, Beef Brisket, and a smattering of Spare Ribs and Baby Back Ribs. My ribs need more work, but luckily my fiancee (getting married Oct 10th, have to get used to saying 'Wife' :D) is all on board with being a smoked meat taste tester. On the positive side, my pulled pork and brisket have been a big hit with family and friends, and I've even started getting requests. So, a good start to the basics and hopefully it only gets better.
My current rig is an ECB, which I 'modified' by taking the legs off and putting it and the fire pan on a cement block. Seemed easier than trying to put some legs on the firepan since I noticed that the firepan on the block would be about at the same level as with the internal legs. My only complaint is that temps run a bit below the ideal of 225-250, so cooks take longer. I might have to drill some holes into the firepan to improve air flow, or experiment with legs so I can take the block out. The idea here is that the cement block might be impeading airflow through the bottom.
If anyone is reading this and wants to try BBQ but not spend a fortune until they are sure, the ECB is a great and inexpensive way to try it.
A couple of monthes into the great BBQ experiment, the lovely soon-to-be-wife gave me the green light to buy a more expensive smoker next year. So I was thinking of a Webber Smokey Mountain. But then I looked into the UDS everyone was talking about here and at other sites, and I would love to try that instead. In fact, if I can find the right drum soon, I'll try to put one together and take a few test runs before it gets too cold around here.
Sorry for the rambling.
Oh, and I'll try to get some QView up from my first couple of smokes. I'm notoriously bad at remembering the camera.