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Trey here in Canton, Ga. New to SMF AND smokers period and can't wait to get started!

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dtj16

dtj16

Smoke Blower
Original poster
Jun 15, 2014
99
10
Canton, Ga
Trey here in Canton, Ga. Dad to 3 kids- Service mgr for a millwork suppley company; wife's such a good cook she makes going out to dinner usually a disappointment. Got my first smoker @ 2 months ago, BTL PELLET fuel vertical smoker, after 2 months, the drive shaft separated from the motor and now I'm thinking of going to BTLE Horizontal offset. Thoughts or recommendations? I'm new to smoking meat and smokers period. Turned out some good stuff, 1 good brisket (2 bad) pork butts, chicken and ribs and now I feel like I need to relearn everything I gained so far. Any beginner tips for an Off set smoker Newb? My wife bought me the pellet for my bday swearing the sales rep at Costco said you can't go wrong. Yeah it was easy- set it and forget it but I wanted a real charcoal/ wood smoker and now I'm getting the chance to get one and I can't wait.
 
Hey Trey - glad you joined.  I grew up in Canton, GA right over in Hickory Flatt.

The Brinkmann Trailmaster is a good pit.  There are plenty of threads on the forum that discuss modifications that can be made for offset smokers - even specifically the Trailmaster.  I'd suggest making a charcoal basket for the side fire box.  Also, invest in a good thermometer.  You can either buy something like a tel-tru to replace your factory therm on the door, or you can get a digital therm - the maverick is a good one.  You also may want to add tuning plates under your cooking grate to better distribute heat across the cooking chamber.  Again, plenty of threads on here about how to make tuning plates.  I made them for my second string smoker (Charbroil American Gourmet horizontal) and they work pretty good.
 
Last edited:
Hello Trey, good afternoon and welcome from East Texas. Good advice from Hickorybutt.

Gary S
 
Thx for the tips Hickory and Gary- I saw the forum for baskets and looks pretty easy. Saw the tuning plates in you tube and assume I'll have to go to a metal shop or scrap yard to find tuning plates. Any recommendations on where to find them?
 
dtj16 said:
Thx for the tips Hickory and Gary- I saw the forum for baskets and looks pretty easy. Saw the tuning plates in you tube and assume I'll have to go to a metal shop or scrap yard to find tuning plates. Any recommendations on where to find them?
Click to expand...

I got some sheet metal at Lowes. I can't remember the gauge that I bought. But you will need something of decent thickness so that it can handle heat.
 
Hey Trey, the Boston butt can be tricky - best words of advice wait out the plateau and let that internal hit 185.  My butts I do a mix of brown sugar and salt, coat that bad boy and let it sit for a couple hours in the fridge. Get that smoker steady at 225 then put that bad boy on.  Put a tray underneath filled with apple juice then spritz or mop apple juice on top every hour or so.  Then all you have to do is crack a cold one of your choice.  Dependent on the size of your butt you could be in for the long haul - last butt I did was around 8.5 lbs and took 21 hours in my off-set smoker.  Well worth the wait.
 
Did you cut it yourself or take it and have it done? I'm no welder nor do I have those kinds of tools- but I'll improvise and try anything....
 
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