Newbie, need all the advice I can get

[dangerous dave]

Hey y'all
Well, I was going to hold out for another month or two (we're still in snow season here, unofficially) and buy one of them smoker/charcoal grilles at Home Depot that run in the neighborhood of $180, but I walked through the garden dept. at Wal Mart the other day on my way to purchase a few household items (I just relocated from Oregon and am still sorting through boxes) when I came across a display model Royal Oak charcoal grille. It's a big one, probably retailing in the $200 range, even at Walmart. The manager comes up and says, "twenty five bucks if you want it". "Um, twist my arm just a little harder please, and give me ten minutes to run home and get my pickup" I replied.
I know there's a way to smoke with this thing. I just don't know how. Any advice would be appreciated. Having had my first taste of genuine pit BBQ in Tennessee, I'm big on hickory. Unfortunately for we folks out west here, that means picking up a bag of hickory chips at the store.
Any other suggestions for wood will be taken well. Not a big fan of mesquite, though.
I see these intro threads are well replied to, so don't be bashful! Fire away!

 

[abelman]

You're trying to convert a grill into a smoker? There are a couple of possible ways and there is the ability to keep the grill and use it as a smoker to boot.

With all of that said, it would help to have a picture of your setup with the top open and closed as well so that folks get a sense of what we're dealing with. There are a lot of smart folks around here and I'm sure someone can come up with something.

 

[dangerous dave]

Thanks for the reply, Devil Dog.

Actually, I'm not looking at converting the grille so much as I am trying to smoke or at least come close to smoking with what I got.

If it comes down to just slow cooking with some wood chips, that would be fine by me. I just need some ideas on how to go about it.

 

[justsmoke2]

They make cast iron chip holders for gas grills. They run in the neighborhood of $20. I have used pellets and HDAF packets and punched a few small holes in it. Layed it across the burners covers. I have used this product of wood pellets. Sometimes they will send you a couple sample packets in the mail and there brochers also.
http://www.bbqrsdelight.com/
Its pretty small print on the packet so hope I got it right.

 

[tmw611]

Dave, Welcome aboard. Like Dave said a picture is worth a thousand words. I looked for one on the web for a bit and only found 1 which was what they called a 30" grill. Had a couple of handles to raise and lower the charcoal bed. Is that what you have? I think that is what you are describing.

If it is, I'm not sure if you will be able to truly "smoke," due to the close proximity of heat to meat. It is a little difficult to control. The good news is you will be able to indirectly grill and use a chip box or foil pouch as some already have said for smoke. This is how I basically use my Webber Kettle. Turns out some real good food.

Basically put heat source to one or both sides of grill and meat away from heat source over a water pan. Then grill away. Good BBQ flavor and less time involved.

Play with it and have some fun my friend.

 

[ron50]

Welcome to the forum. As has been said, one of the issues is going to be maintain a low temo and getting the smoke to the meet. A description or photos of the grill would help.

 

[smokin for life]

Dave as others have said, you can kind of smoke with a grill, but trust me you will never get the true effects of smoking with a grill. The whole idea in smoking is "LOW & slow" cooking. I really don't think you will be able to maintain the LOW temp. that you need to smoke. I'm sure you have a great grill, and damn Bro yougot one hellof a deal on it. But if you want to smoke real BBQ, ypu'll need a smoker. They aren't that expencive if you just want to feed a few people. I have a GOSM big block from wally world and it only cost 120.00. But that was off season. Good luck.

 

[teeotee]

Hi Dave and welcome to the smf.

Think everyone else has you pretty well covered.

Personally i'd use this one just for grilling then get a smoker as well. If you're set on trying to smoke with it then go with the indirect method TMW talked about.

As for which woods to use ..... check out this part of the forum
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...splay.php?f=53. Everyone has their own fav wood choices for different meats.

I think the key is to experiment and see what suits your taste.

 

[richtee]

Welcome to SMF... and take a pict of the puppy. Deal with smoking Vs. grilling is INDIRECT heat and smoke flow. I have smoked on a grill- charcoal- by installing a baffle plate of .25 in steel between the fire area and the meat area.

 

[waysideranch]

Welcome from Kansas, Dave

 

[cowgirl]

Welcome Dave....glad to have you here.

 

[Dutch]

Hey Dave, if this is the unit that you have, about the best you can do is indirect grilling as others have already mentioned. Place your lit charcoal down the left and right sides of the charcoal pan with a wood chip box. Place a water pan between the charcoal place the food above the water pan and have at it.