New Mods -Need Opinions Please

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txsully

Newbie
Original poster
Dec 23, 2009
17
10
Cedar Park, Texas
I have done some mods to my NB offset and am a little worried about materials and introducing chemicals into the smoke in the cooking chamber.  I used some zinc nuts and bolts for posts to create a new grate level - will there be any toxin introduced into the cooking chamber by using zinc?  Also, I got some 1/4" steel plates to use for tuning plates but they were primed/painted - I stripped the primer with Strip-eeze then washed the plates with dishsoap and water.  The Strip-eeze is supposed to be rinsed with water and thats what I did prior to the dishsoap and water - should I worry at all about faint traces of primer (very tiny amount) and any remnants of the strip-eeze, again probably tiny amounts, on the plates, once heated in the cooking chamber?  Of course, bear in mind temp in the smoker will usually be 225.  I have coated all the new parts with spray vegetable oil and the smoker is "curing" with a small amount of charcoal and wood right now.  All opinions are welcome.  Thanks.  Here's some pictures:

eee17b6d_IMG_5143.jpg


038786f5_IMG_5146.jpg
 
you'll be fine........ if your heats doesnt cause the coating to become a vapor it will not hurt you and at 225 i dont think that will happen...... Take your plates out and get a good hot fire somewhere and throw them into the fire and burn them.. This will assure you no residue will be left on them

Hope this helps and happy smoking

Joe
 
A suggestion perhaps.  Addressing your zinc coated bolts.  When I was making modifications to my WSM and adding a third shelf, I bought stainless steel rods, cut to length and capped them where they rest on the outside of the smoker.  The rods then span across the interior of the smoker, side to side. The new factory made shelf then rests on the rods.  Thus, the shelf rests completely on the rods, much better support.  The rods are 3/8's, and for our purposes stronger than we'd need for smoking meat.  The zinc coated bolts present two problems to my thinking.  Generally, I shun any form of zinc inside the smoking chamber just because of the likely hood of zinc fumes contaminating the meat.  I smoke for quite a few people when we having a family gathering and the last thing I want to do is take chance, even the slimmest of chances of poisoning a family member.  The bolts you use:  they look like they're 1/4-20.  With the heat of the flames cycling and then back to cold (when done cooking, will put stress on the bolts, to the point that they'll eventually sheer snap when loaded down with a heavy chunk of meat.  Not right away of course, but Murphy's law says it will be when you finally got your best Brisket finally done and ready to remove.

Perhaps I operate on the side of too much caution, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.  And I will qualify my opinion by the fact that it is just my opinion.  An easy fix and not all that expensive.

~Dave
 
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I am going with NWdave.  As for the tuning plates.  How hot can you get you smoker?  Get it really hot and burn that stuff off.  However, boykjo's idea will work also.

I would err on the side of caution when it comes to cooking for people, friends and family.
 
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