Hey Guys (and gals!) ....
I found the SMF forums last week while digging for info on a smoker I was going to buy ...
Always heard great things about the New Braunfels Smokers, and ran across one locally on craigslist. Basically the ad was ... "husband is gone, time to move his cooker" .... he must not have been much for cooking (recently). I know the newer Charbroil version has thinner metal and a bolt-on firebox. Not this one, must have been an original New Braunfels, as it's got 1/4" steel cooking pit and firebox, welded together. And is HEAVY! She was asking $200 and I got it for $150 ...
I'd love to know from other Forum members if they recognize anything about this smoker, years, etc ... It is a New Braunfels (had a crumbling label on the chimney end) - with 'Chuck Wagon Cooker' on the side of a chuckwagon image. Label was falling apart, so that's all I officially know. Theres what might be a manufacturing code or serial # inside the main pit lid - Y1316. Any other comments or info is mucho appreciated.
Pretty rough shape, on the surface, not sure this dude ever cleaned this out. I spent Friday afternoon getting dirty with my hand sander, some 80 grit sandpaper, a drill and wire-bristle cup that removed a ton of firebox rust, gave the pit exterior a good sanding and hit it all with 3-4 cans of high temp Rustoleum (1200 degrees). I fired up an obligatory first burn that night and painted another coat or 2 while it burned off the ickys inside ...
BEFORE (after sanding, before paint)
Found some replacement grills at Home Depot on Saturday and we were in business ..
AFTER (for now ... ;))
24 hours later after it had arrived at our address, we had to test drive it with a tenderloin that had been in the freezer .. Hormel Lemon Garlic tenderloin, straight from the package, nothing added.
Results were mixed .... we thought the taste was right on, and we thought the texture was a little rubbery. Might it have just been the processed / packaged tenderloin or indeed over-extended cooking times???
Any comments or suggestions welcome if you've had tenderloin experiences, I'm pretty new to hardcore smoking ... I've been grilling since I could flip burgers on the grill with my dad, 30+ years ago .. but this is my first experience owning an offset smoker and I'm all ears to those more experienced.
Tenderloin was ~1.5lb placed on the grill closer to the firebox than not. Temps generally stayed between 225-250 (gotta love the new toy that plays right the first time!!!), it did fall as low as 180ish and got as high as 320ish, but never for an extended period of time.
We're doing a beer can chicken tonight. I bought a beer-can chicken stand on clearance at the grocery store probably 3-4 years go, it's sat in the cabinet - guess it's time we put it to good use.
If there's such a thing as BBQ "pRon", I swear I feel like I just found the stash .. love the SMF!
We're a Mid 30s couple in Fort Worth, TX - shes a TCU grad, I'm a Baylor Grad originally from Houston, we love good friends, good food and good music, often traveling to see our favorite band, Widespread Panic, across the country, making gobs of friends nationwide. Need to hook me up a trailer pit and go on tour .... veggie burritos, sheesh, how bout a slab of ribs, bro or a sausage (on a stick, maybe) ? 1 for $3, 2 for $5 .. good times!
And since it would seem relevant to these parts ... here's the TCU Football Lettermans BBQ Smoker wagon, only 3 places down from our football stadium tailgating spot, selling $10 all-you-can eat BBQ plates,complete with satellite on top and flat panel TVs showing the game(s) on the front. I brought my grill the first game, and never saw the need after that .... you blame me?
My first post ..... glad to be here ..
dave. in TX
I found the SMF forums last week while digging for info on a smoker I was going to buy ...
Always heard great things about the New Braunfels Smokers, and ran across one locally on craigslist. Basically the ad was ... "husband is gone, time to move his cooker" .... he must not have been much for cooking (recently). I know the newer Charbroil version has thinner metal and a bolt-on firebox. Not this one, must have been an original New Braunfels, as it's got 1/4" steel cooking pit and firebox, welded together. And is HEAVY! She was asking $200 and I got it for $150 ...
I'd love to know from other Forum members if they recognize anything about this smoker, years, etc ... It is a New Braunfels (had a crumbling label on the chimney end) - with 'Chuck Wagon Cooker' on the side of a chuckwagon image. Label was falling apart, so that's all I officially know. Theres what might be a manufacturing code or serial # inside the main pit lid - Y1316. Any other comments or info is mucho appreciated.
Pretty rough shape, on the surface, not sure this dude ever cleaned this out. I spent Friday afternoon getting dirty with my hand sander, some 80 grit sandpaper, a drill and wire-bristle cup that removed a ton of firebox rust, gave the pit exterior a good sanding and hit it all with 3-4 cans of high temp Rustoleum (1200 degrees). I fired up an obligatory first burn that night and painted another coat or 2 while it burned off the ickys inside ...
BEFORE (after sanding, before paint)
Found some replacement grills at Home Depot on Saturday and we were in business ..
AFTER (for now ... ;))
24 hours later after it had arrived at our address, we had to test drive it with a tenderloin that had been in the freezer .. Hormel Lemon Garlic tenderloin, straight from the package, nothing added.
Results were mixed .... we thought the taste was right on, and we thought the texture was a little rubbery. Might it have just been the processed / packaged tenderloin or indeed over-extended cooking times???
Any comments or suggestions welcome if you've had tenderloin experiences, I'm pretty new to hardcore smoking ... I've been grilling since I could flip burgers on the grill with my dad, 30+ years ago .. but this is my first experience owning an offset smoker and I'm all ears to those more experienced.
Tenderloin was ~1.5lb placed on the grill closer to the firebox than not. Temps generally stayed between 225-250 (gotta love the new toy that plays right the first time!!!), it did fall as low as 180ish and got as high as 320ish, but never for an extended period of time.
We're doing a beer can chicken tonight. I bought a beer-can chicken stand on clearance at the grocery store probably 3-4 years go, it's sat in the cabinet - guess it's time we put it to good use.
If there's such a thing as BBQ "pRon", I swear I feel like I just found the stash .. love the SMF!
We're a Mid 30s couple in Fort Worth, TX - shes a TCU grad, I'm a Baylor Grad originally from Houston, we love good friends, good food and good music, often traveling to see our favorite band, Widespread Panic, across the country, making gobs of friends nationwide. Need to hook me up a trailer pit and go on tour .... veggie burritos, sheesh, how bout a slab of ribs, bro or a sausage (on a stick, maybe) ? 1 for $3, 2 for $5 .. good times!
And since it would seem relevant to these parts ... here's the TCU Football Lettermans BBQ Smoker wagon, only 3 places down from our football stadium tailgating spot, selling $10 all-you-can eat BBQ plates,complete with satellite on top and flat panel TVs showing the game(s) on the front. I brought my grill the first game, and never saw the need after that .... you blame me?
My first post ..... glad to be here ..
dave. in TX