Wish I had found this forum before I put mine together. Oh well,... lol
Took it apart, sealed it and put it back together. Took about 36 hours for seal to fully cure.
Followed instructions for seasoning it, but initially couldn't get heat off 350. So I put in a water pan, and heat came down to 240ish and stayed there for 2.5 hours.
However, I couldn't tell if/where leaks were as charcoal didn't put off any/enough smoke.
Once it cooled off, I redid fire (layer of charcoal, 4 softball sized soaked chunks of hickory, another hefty layer of charcoal). Once top layer of charcoal burned down (fuel off)m I added 3 more pieces of soaked Hickory to top of fire. Once smoke got rolling so I could find leaks (2 on smokebox door) and I made sure heat was steady, I loaded it up.
I have 2 Cornish hens at back of top rack behind the 3 potatoes.
next rack down are 4 chicken breasts.
2 hours in, I put in some whole garlic on middle rack and bacon wrapped mushrooms on bottom rack.
Fingers crossed. My first time with a "smoker". Will post after comments once finished and sampled.