Hello from Maryland's Eastern Shore!

bigjoesimpson

Newbie

Original poster

Feb 17, 2013

16

11

Eastern Shore, Maryland

• Feb 20, 2013

• #1

Greetings all!  My name is Joe, and I'm from Pittsburgh (though home for the last 19 years has been that little spit of Maryland between the ocean and Chesapeake Bay).  Just picked up my first purpose-built smoker today, the Master Forge 36" charcoal model from Lowes.  Recently discontinued, and on sale for $48...another $30 for some sheet metal, steel rod, fasteners, etc., and I'm looking forward to modding it out Saturday morning, seasoning Saturday afternoon, and smoking Sunday. 

I've done a little smoking before on the gas grill with indirect heat and chips in foil packs (and more foil & duct tape to seal up the gaps...not a pretty sight!), looking forward to doing it with lump coal!

 

s2k9k

AMNPS Test Group

Sep 8, 2011

11,324

182

SEUSA

• Feb 20, 2013

• #2

Hi Joe! 

to SMF!!! We're happy you found us! You've come to the right place, we have over 45,000 members who just love to share their experience and over 900,000 posts describing it! The search bar at the top can be your best friend when you are trying to find answers to your questions but you can still ask too if you want!

You might want to check out Jeff's Free 5 day E-Course, it will teach you all the basics plus a whole lot more!

 

kathrynn

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Jun 13, 2012

9,442

121

Madison, AL

• Feb 21, 2013

• #3

 to SMF!  We are so glad you joined us! You are going to love it here.


If you need any help roaming around the forums...just holler.  Will be glad to help out!

Kat

 

mdboatbum

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Apr 22, 2011

4,094

431

Washington, DC

• Feb 21, 2013

• #4

What's that little expression, "There is no life west of the Chesapeake Bay" ?

Welcome to the circus!! I don't spend nearly enough time across the bridge anymore, but plan to remedy that this summer. Hope you enjoy your time here.

 

pgsmoker64

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Apr 23, 2010

3,402

81

Prince George, Va.

• Feb 21, 2013

• #5

Hi Joe, Great to have you here.

 to the SMF, the best BBQ site on the web.  Whatever you need to know about the fine art of BBQ you can find it right here, from recipes to technical knowledge.

One thing you need to know about us is that we like to see pictures of your creations and your gear.  We call it Q-View and its basically the 

!!!

So, don't just talk about your food, show it!  Otherwise you may get a gentle reminder, like this...

  or this...

Good Luck and Get Smokin'

Bill

 

handymanstan

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Oct 27, 2012

989

48

Lansing Michigan

• Feb 21, 2013

• #6

Good day Joe,  Good luck with your new master forge.  Please show us your mods and let us know how the first time goes.  I just got one too and without mods I could not keep the temp down below 300*.  I hope to work on it this weekend.

Stan

 

roller

Smoking Guru

SMF Premier Member

Mar 10, 2010

6,040

57

N.E. Louisiana

• Feb 21, 2013

• #7

Welcome to SMF glad to have you here...

 

jimf

Meat Mopper

Jun 22, 2011

239

11

Olney, MD

• Feb 21, 2013

• #8

Welcome.  I went to college at Salisbury.

 

zahlgren

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 15, 2012

401

15

Central Illinois

• Feb 22, 2013

• #9

 

bigjoesimpson

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 17, 2013

16

11

Eastern Shore, Maryland

• Feb 22, 2013

• #10

Tomorrow's the big day, assemble and mods. I think I'll do a flat plate attached to a pivot on the bottom, with a control hande I can push/pull to regulate intake. For the top, a 2" hole, with another pivot plate for exhaust. Then a second thermometer at the height of the lower meat rack, some additional air holes in the fire basket, and 2 weber 7440 grates for additional airflow under the coals. Comments?

 

jp61

Master of the Pit

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Mar 6, 2011

2,882

189

NE Ohio

• Feb 25, 2013

• #11

 

bigjoesimpson

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 17, 2013

16

11

Eastern Shore, Maryland

• Feb 25, 2013

• #12

I started a thread with the mods & pics...looking forward to any and all feedback.  One thing that surprised me was there was no problem holding temp.  Seemed like a lot of the comments I've read about this smoker noted that folks had a hard time keeping the temp up...I had just the opposite.  After 45 min, I was over 325 (both the stock and my aftermarket thermo said so).  I closed the bottom damper I added, and was able to get it down some, but it was still high 2's, low 3's.  Do you think another top damper would help?

See pics at: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/136945/new-smoker-mods-pics-included#post_941551

-Joe