newbee and lost

[GaryHibbert]

HiI just joined a few days ago and finally figured out how to post in roll call. I'm an oil patch truck driver whose wife bought him a laptop. I mean, it is really sad to take this long to post a hello!!!!Anyway, I'm a beginner smoker. I have a cheepo Wallyworld charcoal smoker that is supposed to be a hot smoker. However, it won't reach cooking temps, so I just use it as a cold smoker and then bbq the food. This works just fine in fall, winter, and spring. In the summer it is a write off as it gets too hot to cold smoke and not hot enough to cook--so all it does it turn a perfectly good piece of meat into shoe leather. That's where I'm at. This fall I'm going to buy a new smoker.My wife and I and our 2 black labs live on 10 acres of bush land in the middle of hundreds of acres of bush land.Gary HibbertDrayton ValleyAlbertaCanada

 

[s2k9k]

Hi Gary! :welcome1: to SMF!!! We're happy you found us! You've come to the right place, we have over 50,000 members who just love to share their experience and over 900,000 posts describing it!

The search bar at the top can be your best friend when you are trying to find answers to your questions but you can still ask too if you want!

We have an Articles section that is full of great information about smoking to include a lot of recipes and instructionals. Check it out there is a lot to learn in there!

Would you do us a favor and add your location to your profile, it helps others to know where you are when they offer advice, Thanks!

You might want to check out Jeff's Free 5 day E-Course, it will teach you all the basics plus a whole lot more!

 

[kathrynn]

 to SMF!  We are so glad you joined us! 

If you didn't read the "Terms of Service" notes.....please do. There are a few things that everyone should know about those pesky little rules before plunging into the forums. Just a teeny bit of information for some of the rules here at SMF before you get started, off site links are not allowed.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/a/terms-of-service.

If you need any help roaming around the forums....give me a shout. I will be happy to help out!

Kat

 

[kc5tpy]

Hello Gary and welcome.  I won't give you my standard welcome.  We got some work to do.  Cheap Wallyworld ain't a total write off.  You can get a little for scrap metal.  

  NO!  just teasin!  Get yourself some rebar or 1/2" pump rod, round bar.  Easy enuff in oilfield.  Use the charcoal grate from the fire box as a pattern and build a new grate fro the rebar.  The old grate is soo thin it sags under heat until it sits on the ashes.  Once that happens you lose air flow.  No air flow no heat, no cook.  LOL.  You could also build a charcoal basket.  Search the forums.  Now got buy a cheap garden trowel.  knock the wooden handle off it and weld a 2-21/2' piece of rebar to the trowel.  Now you can gently scoop out the ash without it blowin all over your meat.  Dump the ash in a metal bucket.  NOW!! you can keep a fire going with practice using the inlet air vent ( the one on the firebox end ).  So now build a fire.  A HOT fire and I don't care what you use to create smoke ( so long as it ain't toxic ) but get smoke rollin.  White, thin blue, purple, I don't care.  Find the leaks!!  Decide how you are gonna seal those.  High temp silicone and even stove rope for bigger gaps.  Now you can start to learn temperature control.  All that done.  Build a good smokin fire in your fire box and try to control the temps.  Get a good digital thermometer cause the one on your offset is crap.  You need to know smokin chamber temp and meat IT.  That said.  Let me know if I can ever be of anymore help.  WE ARE GONNA GET YOU GOIN!  Many other fine folk will chime in.  After this I'd move my questions to the other forums headings.  If you are having trouble doing that, just ask right here and somone will point ya in the right direction.  Hope this helps.  Keep Smokin!

Danny

 

[seenred]

Welcome to the forums, Gary!  Glad you've joined us.  You've found a great place to learn and share ideas on our favorite pastimes...grilling, smoking, and curing great food!  There are lots of friendly and knowledgeable folks here who really enjoy helping one another.  Just ask any time you need help and you'll get plenty!

Red