Im Jeff, and I have a smoking problem..

[speedtoys]

Ok..thats the first step. :)


I have this "OK" unit:

http://www.bbqgalore.com/smokers/bar_b_chef_offset/

And, Im always either adding too MUCH charcoal, or not enough, or the chunks are too small and dusty *ick* or...

Should I be using just wood? Or pellets and adding wood for smoke?


Id like to have some consistent heat, I feel that right now I have to go add a few handfuls of charcoal to the bin every 15-20 minutes, and that seems too often..keeps me away from just WATCHING it smoke.

The fire door seals up..well, maybe 95%, and I never close up the vent..always wide open.

 

[pineywoods]

Jeff welcome to SMF glad you joined us. Many of us have your addiction. While I don't have a smoker like yours many here do. I think you'd want to burn lump and use chunks of wood for smoke. Others will be along to give you many more details

 

[gorillagrilla]

have one. fuel hog. needs sealing. gonna experiment with sealin her up.Sturdy construction but so many opportunities for leaks

 

[mossymo]

Speedtoys
Glad you joined us, welcome to SMF !!!
Here are a few links that should help,

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21109

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ead.php?t=9774

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20214

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ead.php?t=1922

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=20092

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=19303

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17165

I know there are many others if you do a search or scan in the charcoal section..... again, WELCOME !!!

 

[speedtoys]

Mindboggling..simply put.

I have work to do this weekend. :)

 

[speedtoys]

So..I made up tuning plates, but the material available to me in the shop wasnt plate steel, but plate stainless..slightly thinner than the wall of the smoker barrel itself.

I did pork chops tonight on the smoker using a sweet rib rub..and I was able to keep both sides of the grill within about 10d. Im very happy with the outcome so far.


At some future point, I will upgrade from the thin SS, to 3/8" alum plate. I wanna keep overall weight down, but still have a nice heat sink in place inside the smoker.


Next mod will be grinding clean the lid seals on the firebox and smoker barrels, and sealing them with fireplace rope...and JB weld to seal up the vent area in the barrel as well.

And..until tonight, ive never fired up additional coals in the fireplace outside the firebox for some reason, and yes, this method really works well. I have no idea why it took me so long to discover that.

Tomorrow night, Im going to start to prepare some salmon using this method that the wife picked out on the forum:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=20195

...and we'll eat that on Tuesday night.

 

[richtee]

I would use steel plate..if only for the tuner plate nearest the firebox. Alum melts around 600°, and could get there right next to the entrance. Someone here used an alum block to hold heating elements for an electric. Well, for a short time anyway ;{)

Sounds like you're on the way to a nice unit!