Smokin-It # 3 Arrived!

smoke happens · Feb 3, 2013

EDIT - deleted some pics in here, little overkill first go around.

So I finally got the # 3, ended up showing Saturday when the tracking # showed Monday. Needless to say I was stoked to have it in time for the SB smoke. Great smoker. As everyone else has stated this thing is a TANK. Setup took about 1/2, just a matter of unboxing, screwing on the wheels/casters and washing it out. I just hosed it out with water, scrubbed with a clean cloth, and washed again. Hosed off inside and out just to get the oils/packing material off of it. Ran it at 250* dry to burn off all the water inside for about an hour, then did a 6 hour break in and seasoning with 6 chunks of the wood that came with it.

So at this point, it's time to make this smoker mine. I ordered a few decals to put on the smoker, so much stainless it just looked like a canvas that needed some personalization. So, that's what I did. I'm an aerospace guy, hence the aviation inspired livery. This is what my Smokin-It # 3 looks like now.

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I'm seeking suggestions on what to name it now, feel free to weigh in....

Currently "The Warthog" is what I'm going with. I'm a big A-10 fan, plus it is pork, sooo.......

Anyway, thanks for watching

Andy

chef willie · Feb 3, 2013

Awesome.....strikes fear in the hearts of lesser smokers.....LMAO......enjoy the ride on that first smoke and enjoy the SB party

dad of four · Feb 3, 2013

I think your computer is broken... It accidentally uploaded every photo you took!

suya · Feb 3, 2013

Congratulations!

Very interested in hearing your experience with your SB smoke in the #3 and your overall impressions of this unit.

tjohnson · Feb 3, 2013

Rock On Andy!!

fatboymccoy · Feb 3, 2013

Just call it the Wart Hog, or killer Hawg, or Smokin' Hawg, or The Smokin' Mustang, or P-51 #3,something like that.

Great looking rig.

chef jimmyj · Feb 3, 2013

Congrats...Great pics, would like to see some of the inside with shelves and such...JJ

smoke happens · Feb 3, 2013

dad of four said:
I think your computer is broken... It accidentally uploaded every photo you took!

Yeah, proud new papa is all.....

bdskelly · Feb 3, 2013

GREAT looking Rig. I hope you post a few MORE photos of the SB feast. I've had my eye on one of these. Just trying to think of how to explain the expense to the misses. So... your help in that matter would be greatly appreciated I've got a pork butt on my cheepo ES unit for our SB shindig Let us know how yours turns out! b

danbono · Feb 3, 2013

Hi The smoker looks more like a P 40 Warhawk to me?

Dan

old sarge · Feb 3, 2013

Impressive!

mneeley490 · Feb 3, 2013

Very cool, indeed! Now we just need some video of you smoking to the soundtrack of Ride of the Valkyries.

smoke happens · Feb 4, 2013

Here was the start of the SB smoke, Q view was a problem yesterday (time, alcohol consumption, battery power, etc. Perfect storm really), so my bad. Guess the battery does need to sit in the charger the right way after all.

Ribs coming out to be wrapped (did 2-2-1) and legs going in...

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Ribs getting wrapped, awesome bark at this point - best ever to date for me

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Everybody back in for 2 hours

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I also did some ABTs but was afraid to smoke, then package and rest in the cooler for fear of them getting mushy. The SB party was at a friend's house, so for the last hour of the 2-2-1 on the ribs and the last hour of the chix legs I used his oven. Did the ABTs in the oven as well.

Ribs were awesome, had a great bark and were some very tasty snacks. I used hickory chunk since that was all I had and it came with the smoker. I prefer fruit woods, so I could tell the difference. Did not want to tinker with the AMNPS to see if it worked since I did not have time, but that's on the list for this afternoon. The chix legs were entirely too salty for me, everyone else like them though. I must have really screwed up the salt in the brine mix, they brined overnight and I had a bit of # 1 cure in it to give it the hammy flavor as well. That was perfect, just too much salt.

I had my ribs already trimmed thinking they were going in BGES, but the Smokin-It # 3 is deep enough that you would not have to trim up a full rack of ribs. You could get 10 full racks of ribs in the unit without any problem at all.

I did notice the same temperature swings Willie had, +/- 20* or so from 250* set point while empty. Loaded I never really bumped too far past 250* though, but still got down to 220* - 230*.

I'll post more performance characteristics as they become available.

old sarge · Feb 4, 2013

I would say you had a successful first smoke in the new smoker. Ribs look good.

smoke happens · Feb 4, 2013

Did the AMNPS test in the Warthog tonight. All went well, although I did run the smoker empty so no steam or vapor coming off the food. It was under heat, set point was at 250*. All pellets burned in a row, no unburned pellets or row jumping. Just a nice pile of ash when I was done, just like in the BGES.

Now that I am feeling good with this I will try the AMNPS with a load of food in it next. I did notice there was significantly less creosote or staining using the pellets vs the wood chunk, so that is good news for cleaning up (among other things).

Loving this rig so far, why did I wait so long?

old sarge · Feb 4, 2013

I take it the Smokin-it is still intact? No holes drilled?

smoke happens · Feb 4, 2013

Correct, no holes. If I were to drill a hole I would drill it just inside the front door on center on the other side of the lip. There is a low spot there so it would double as another drain hole. Also, the bottom of the unit is not insulated, so no worries about getting through 2 layers of stainless and screwing up any insulation. Don't see a need at this point, but if that changes during a smoke with a load in I have a plan.

Also, to anyone who is considering one of these fine machines, I would order the cord keeper. I did not, now I need to or fashion my own. Need to be sure the cover will still fit with the cord keeper first though. I did not order the stand either, for what it cost I can fashion my own for much less. Will it be stainless, no, but with shipping I would have been flirting with $1k for the setup and that's just too rich for my blood at this point.

old sarge · Feb 4, 2013

Regarding the cover and cord keeper: My brother has the cord keeper on his 3 and the cover fits, but is somewhat tight according to him. But he manages. I don't know how much fiddling he has to do though.

smokinjoe52 · Feb 5, 2013

These are great smokers. I am not sure why I limited my smoked food to those things you can make in a Little Chief for so many years.

It seems that running at a lower smoker temperature, say in the 140 - 170 range requires more airflow. I did find that my AMAZEN smoker flamed out at those temperatures when I did not have enough airflow. It did not happen all the time, but enough that I did not trust it until I had 2 holes open at least 1/2". Just something you may want to test out if you are going to do salmon, beef sticks, sausage, etc.

I guess it's because the hotter the temp. the more/faster the air rises out the top, and air is drawn in the bottom. That's the only thing I could think of as to why it happens.

YMMV

Smokinjoe

chef willie · Feb 5, 2013

Smoke Happens said:
Correct, no holes. If I were to drill a hole I would drill it just inside the front door on center on the other side of the lip. There is a low spot there so it would double as another drain hole. Also, the bottom of the unit is not insulated, so no worries about getting through 2 layers of stainless and screwing up any insulation. Don't see a need at this point, but if that changes during a smoke with a load in I have a plan.

Also, to anyone who is considering one of these fine machines, I would order the cord keeper. I did not, now I need to or fashion my own. Need to be sure the cover will still fit with the cord keeper first though. I did not order the stand either, for what it cost I can fashion my own for much less. Will it be stainless, no, but with shipping I would have been flirting with $1k for the setup and that's just too rich for my blood at this point.

Great thread Andy....your artwork has been well received. I should have ordered the cord keeper...didn't at the time, might in the future. Nice to know from Old Sarge the cover still fits with it attached. Still have yet to try a smoke with the AMNS working....lotz to do yet...lol. Enjoy...

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