NEW Char grill

[mr500]

Well I finally broke down and bought one today. Its brand new and its being burned in as i snapped this pic.

I got it Albertson's here in Florida at the price of 149.99, W/ firebox. It was already assembled and I rolled it right out of the grocery store and onto my truck. What a deal huh.

1st pic is of a Boston butt I cooked as I was burning out my new grill. Its on an ol ECB as you can tell. But it was goodddddddddddd

I still have the modz to do on the new one. Lots work left. But im gonna throw on some ribs tomorrow and see what she'll do. New bats in the therms and Im good to go!!!!

 

[pineywoods]

Congrats on the new smoker and not having to assemble it. Whats the first smoke in it going to be?

 

[DanMcG]

Great deal!

 

[timtimmay]

Congrats on the new smoker! Its the same model I have and enjoy. I think with a couple mods its the best smoker you can buy for less than $200.

OOTB the unit will have a 25-50 degree difference left to right. A couple quick mods will fix that. Here's three things pretty much everyone does with this model:

1. Ignore the thermometer in the lid. It is not near the cooking surface, and does not extend into the chamber at all. It is worthless don't even look at it.

2. Turn the charcoal tray upside down. I hang mine on the highest setting on the firebox side and let it sit directly on the smoke chamber near the bolts that hold it to the frame.

3. Get a 3" dryer vent and use it to extend the smoke stack to grate level. This prevents the heat/smoke from just going up and out.

There are lots of other mods for this unit, but these are the essential ones. Lots of users take #2 up a notch or two by adding custom baffles and tuning plates. I just flipped it and scooted it to the firebox. I also used the charcoal tray that came with the firebox and used it to set some ceramic briquettes on. I have average 6 degree difference left to right.

ENJOY THAT BAD BOY!!!!

 

[mr500]

Long day of smoke todayyyyyyyyyyy

 

[mr500]

For my first smoke I will be slapping on some ribs. Today I will try the 3-2-1 method!!!!!!!!!

 

[timtimmay]

I didn't drill any holes in the charcoal tray. Just hang on highest setting on right side and let the other side sit directly on the bottom of the smoke chamber (no hanger)

I prefer using the dryer vent because you can bend it to go right down the lid and catch on the lip (you can see it in my signature pic) The rolled up piping works too, BUT it prevents you from using the warming rack. The dryer tube method allows you to use the warming rack without cutting it to make room for the rolled up piping. A lot of folks take the warming rack out, but I will use it either for ABT's or a rack of ribs.

I also made an expanded metal basket for charcoal. Here's my build:
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=87778

 

[mr500]

I used the dryer vent. Its installed and heating up now. My cooker stak must be a new type cause the stack has a flanged lip on the inside. It does not come straight down. Or am I wrong ???I had to mod the vent tube to fit inside the stak. Maybe a 4 inch will work better and mount on the outside. But if it works im not goin to mess with it.

right now looks like a 40-50 Deg. difference side to side. So Ihave to do a lil more tweaking!!

ceramic bricks...those are the ones that are similar to lava rocks? Ill have to look for them. Looks like there a great damper....

thanks for all the input. Smoking is damn addictive!!

 

[timtimmay]

Mine has a flange on the inside as well, I stuck the dryer vent OVER it rather than inside it.

I have ceramic briquettes that you can get at lowes next to the charcoal.

Did you invert your tray?

 

[mr500]

Maybe I did not try hard enough to install the vent. BUT it seems to work?? I can see loads of leaks im going to have to stop up around the lid. Kinda like you did with yours with the rope banding.


Yes it is inverted. FBS up and other side down on the cooker. Right now Im at around 220 or so. Vents wide open. If i load more coal ill have to close em up though but right now im slowwwwwwwwww cookin lol


I will look for the rocks at lowes next time im there. Still playing with the heat, but ill get it

again thanks a lot.

 

[richoso1]

Great deal on the new smoker, just wheel it into your smoking area. Nothing like a pic of a smoker before it's ever used. Thanks for sharing. It's all good my friend.

 

[timtimmay]

Enjoy that puppy!

If you build a charcoal basket, it is helpful to put a couple pieces of steel in for it to sit on or hang it in some fashon. This way you can dump the ash mid-burn if you need to. I only need to do that on the long burns (like today's 15 hour burn) but it sure is handy.

 

[pit 4 brains]

Nice smoker, I,ve had one for years and really enjoyed it..

 

[chefrob]

what is it about that.....they are all nice and purdy, clean, and shinny and we are just mesmerized. we all know that a good used smokey smelling, paint faded or chippin, grease bucket is the way to go but we just can't help ourselves!

 

[slingah]

quick question....I just seasoned my new CharGriller and was wondering if and body uses just wood in thier sfb? I have a lot of oak & cherry.
Thanks in advance

 

[timtimmay]

I have one of those smolder boxes from lowes. I fill it with treager wood pellets, they will smolder in that box for hours. I also fill the chamber with a combo of briquettes, lump charcoal, and small oak logs.

 

[mr500]

Well the maiden smoke is over. I slapped on 2 racks, went for 6 hour or so around 200-220 and they came out great. I will post up some pics tomorrow. Im just plain beat tonight.

I plan on a coal basket, just figuring out which way I wanna go. All in all im happy with the 149.99 price tag as well as the smoker. Works very well

Its a thing of beauty!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mr500]

Im going to try just wood as soon as I get some in here.

But im told to LOSE the bark. Just use the inner wood so to speak lol.

 

[slingah]

I did my maiden smoke too mr 500 with no food though...made a nice bouillabaisse inside...RIBS next weekend fo'sure

great deal you got on the cg......