New Member

[edking]

I'm new to smoking. Have a Brinkman vertical smoker and live in NC. Fighting with it right now.

 

[joe black]

Welcome from SC. This is a great site with lots of folks who are always eager to share their ideas and tips. All you have to do is ask and keep reading. There is some preliminary planning to have a bash for the Carolina's group sometime next spring. Stay on the lookout for that.

Good luck and good smokin', Joe

 

[mike5051]

Welcome to the group!  Keep up the fight, or perhaps explain some of your issues.  Lots of folks here with plenty of experience.

Mike

 

[jarhead1979]

i have a vertical brinkman...is it gas or electric? What kinds of issues? Might be able to help.

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

 

[edking]

It's charcoal. Not getting enough heat out of it,  Drilled the pan and still can't get pass 150 degrees.  Started with a small pork loin and finally had to finish in oven.  With lack of heat adding wet chips almost put fire out.  Anyone got any ideas?

 

[hamrhead1971]

I don't have a brinkman so I can't help much with that one but don't wet your chips.

 

[jarhead1979]

When I have trouble getting the coals to go, I normally get a chimney full going on a propane burner and throw that in the mix to get her burning. Did your charcoal sit outside overnight, or something. Sounds like it might have gotten damp.

 

[edking]

How do I get the smoke flavor w/o wetting chips?​

 

[edking]

25000028.jpg

• edking
• Oct 25, 2015

Here is my smoker. Charcoal burning fine but temp still will not come up!

 

[icyhot]

If it has a water pan try not putting water in it if u are. And u will get plenty of smoke with dry chips.

 

[hamrhead1971]

Ok Ed, first tell us how you are starting your charcoal and running the smoker.
How are you lighting the charcoal and how much are you lighting to start?
Exhaust vent wide open?
Intake vent wide open to get heat up?
Are you relying on the factory therm? They are natorious for being wrong.
The more info you can give us, the more we can help.

 

[edking]

Star​ting them in the pan outside the smoker with starter fluid, using Kingsford Charcoal with soaked wood chips.  Using enough to fill pan, about 15.  All vents all wide open.  Still have factory one in it but have ordered a 2 in F & C Thermometer. Anything else u need to know?  

 

[hamrhead1971]

Sounds like you have airflow issues. Did some looking and found this old thread that may help you out.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/thread/64025/new-no-weld-charcoal-pan-for-my-ecb

 

[edking]

Thanks for the link. Going to build new basket this week. Hope my thermometer arrives soon.  Really wait to get some practice in so I can try doing a turkey for the holidays.

 

[hamrhead1971]

Anytime. Let us know how the basket works out.