First smoke on the BellFab

[BenCarlson]

Finally have been able to get the BellFab out of my garage now that the snow is finally gone and the ground dry enough to move it across my yard. I've done some chicken and jerky in it but this was my first extended cook. Took about 9 hours to do this shoulder and I absolutely loved every minute of it. Came out so good my Mother even raved about it. She's had a lot of food with dirty smoke and has never cared for smoked food before this so that made me feel good. My better half even looked at me and said, "If I knew it could make food this good I would have said yes sooner!"

I guess you guys don't need told that even us fellas have good ideas from time to time

Thanks for all the tips and knowledge you guys provide here, I love this co

 

[pineywoods]

It looks good congrats on the first of hopefully many great smokes on that Bell Fab

 

[jcam222]

Looks like you nailed it!! Very nice smoker too.

 

[SmokinAl]

Congrats on the new smoker, it’s a beaut!
The butt looks pretty darn good too!
Al

 

[TNJAKE]

Very nice. Love my Bell Fab

 

[BenCarlson]

Thanks for the replies, gents! I really love this Bell Fab rig. I'm surprised they aren't more popular around here for the price.

 

[NoCoPK360]

Congrats on your new smoker. I went all in and did a brisket on my recently acquired Bell Fab smoker. Turned out really good. The temp got away from me briefly at the beginning but once I had everything dialed in it held at the temp I wanted. Really happy with the smoker and agree for the money they are hard to beat. Solidly built and perform well.

 

[BenCarlson]

Thanks and congrats to you as well, sir! I have a brisket and a package of spare ribs in the freezer that will get on in the coming weeks.

I still haven't gotten to use the bars Craig fabricated for me to hang sausage from, which was my only customization to the smoker, but that'll also be remedied in the upcoming weeks as I pick up some back fat from my butcher today.

I couldn't agree more about the smoker holding temps. It almost made it seem easier than I was expecting it to go. Then again I was probably in my own head about that, haha.

 

[Displaced Texan]

First cook on mine a few days ago as well. 3 racks of ribs. Turned out good. Will do some brisket next week.

 

[BenCarlson]

Nice! Congratulations on the new smoker! I am absolutely in love with mine.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Nice! Congratulations on the new smoker! I am absolutely in love with mine.

Thank you. Got it last Fall but with work schedules, etc., hadn't been able to pull it out until now.

What temp gauges do you use on yours? I had Craig make. atoning plate but I think it probably is not needed.

 

[BenCarlson]

I just bought 2 Tel-Tru gauges with the 4 inch stem. They fit the ports perfectly

 

[Displaced Texan]

Okay thanks. My gauges read about 40-50 degrees lower than my Inkbird IBBQ-4T, however, I just figured out I was using those probes incorrectly. I'll do a boiling water check on my analog gauges.

 

[Displaced Texan]

I just bought 2 Tel-Tru gauges with the 4 inch stem. They fit the ports perfectly

Just ordered 2 of them myself with the 4 inch stem.

 

[Displaced Texan]

B BenCarlson , curious where you build the fire. Do you do it on the bottom of the firebox or on the grates? He provided me with some grates to place in there.

 

[BenCarlson]

B BenCarlson , curious where you build the fire. Do you do it on the bottom of the firebox or on the grates? He provided me with some grates to place in there.

So i tried using the grates for the first time yesterday, per Jake's recommendation. Absolutely hated it. Will NEVER use them again

 

[Displaced Texan]

So i tried using the grates for the first time yesterday, per Jake's recommendation. Absolutely hated it. Will NEVER use them again

Does yours have the ash dump? Do you use it to help moderate temps in the chamber?

 

[BenCarlson]

So i tried using the grates for the first time yesterday, per Jake's recommendation. Absolutely hated it. Will NEVER use them again

Does yours have the ash dump? Do you use it to help moderate temps in the chamber?

I have an ash dump, but don't use it to moderate the temps. The air intake is plenty big to burn a clean fire. I moderate temps by adding or not adding wood. Too much lump fell through the grates to get the wood ignited properly. Maybe I did it wrong but I hated the grates

 

[Displaced Texan]

I have an ash dump, but don't use it to moderate the temps. The air intake is plenty big to burn a clean fire. I moderate temps by adding or not adding wood. Too much lump fell through the grates to get the wood ignited properly. Maybe I did it wrong but I hated the grates

I see. My damper is not tight. I talked to Craig and he said it is welded so I can't do anything ti tighten it. I have been using the ash dump to moderate temps, but I agree it would be a better coal bed w/o the grates. Maybe Jake will tell us his technique.

 

[TNJAKE]

I have an ash dump, but don't use it to moderate the temps. The air intake is plenty big to burn a clean fire. I moderate temps by adding or not adding wood. Too much lump fell through the grates to get the wood ignited properly. Maybe I did it wrong but I hated the grates

You have the big grate with the expanded metal grate that sits on top of it?