Need a little help

[cincycuse]

I got a new Brinkmann Smoke N Grill over the winter and plan to use it this weekend. I have never smoked before and have some general questions.

First, does it need to be cured before its first use? I see a lot of threads mentioning mods, where can I find these mods?

Lastly, what it the process for getting heat started? Do I use charcoal and then my hickory or can wood be substituted for charcoal or can just hickory be used?

I know this is very basic but after reading threads all day long I'm confused.

Oh, I did sign up for the 5 day course but only day 1 has arrived and I'm curious.

Thanks

 

[ron50]

Welcome to SMF and congrats on your new smoker. Any new smoker needs to be seasoned which is just making sure its clean inside, burn off any residue and spraying or rubbing a light coat of cooking oil on all the interior surfaces and bringing it up to temp for a bit. The throw in a chunk or two of smoking wood and let it burn out.

For your smoke, use charcoal as your fuel source and add a chunk or two of a good smoking wood like hickory as your smoke source. Remember you want just a light thin blue stream of smoke. Not white billowing amoutns of smoke. If you can smell it, it is doing its job. repalce the wood as needed to keep the stream thin and blue.

Don't be afraid to ask any question you may have, that is why we are here.

Good luck.

 

[keith54]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I wood for sure cure the smoker b4 doing a smoke bbq. For your first smoke I recommend that you start with come lump charcoal. There are several good brands,stay away for the Cowboy brand. I have never used it,put most people here say its not very good. When I start a fire I uses a charcoal chimney. They can be bought at most stores that carry grill,smokers and supplies. Just roll up 2 or 3 sheets of newspaper and stuff it in the bottom. Next fill it up with the lump coal. Light the newspaper and 20 min. later you'll have fire.

Hope thats enough info to get ya started. I'm sure other members that have the same model smoker as yours will help you out with the mods.

Good Luck.

keith54

 

[kratzx4]

Cincy, welcome to SMF everything that has been said so far. Lowe's carries the cowboy brand, and as stated stay away from it. Check out Wal-mart for Royal Oak lump make sure that it from the USA or Brazil it is rated very high on heat and low on ash. Be careful as Royal Oak also has product form other countries that are not that good. It will say on the bag where it is from. you will also find wood chunks or chips at Wally World.
Looks like I may work close to where your at. I am at Ridge Ave just north of highland across from the old K-Mart. Live about 25 miles east of eastgate mall. there are several others from the cincy area. Lots of good folk here to help you. so ask any questions you may have

 

[cincycuse]

Thanks for the help and welcome all, I appreciate it.

kratzx4 you are correct. I know that area well. In fact, I just recently bought some lumber at the Home Emporium.

Thank again.

 

[kratzx4]

I work next door to there on the rr track side. brick building CDC.

 

[flash]

Well, I would not light all the charcoal at once. Look up the minon method and follow that. Otherwise you'll be grilling if the coal are all going at once. Get a half dozen coals going in the charcoal smoker then pile unlit coals around the lite ones. good luck