Noob just got a smoker for my birthday!!

kingdamo · Jan 2, 2015

Ok, so almost a year after visiting Texas, the missus finally relented and got me a smoker. The fella who made it, to be honest, made a bit of a botch job. Perhaps you guys might be able to confirm this!

I have uploaded pic after I had a few too many! But I can upload closer up pics.

On the larger drum, does the opening need to be sealed with a heat proof rubber or is it ok to have a small gap there?

Im also looking to use gas to heat the wood keep everything consistent.

Just below the tube connecting the 2 drums to the left is a small hole, I was thinking of putting a gas tube through it and using a gas pipe burner to keep a constant source going through. Something like this?

I would also be very curious to see what the more experienced of you would do

Oh and Hello from Ireland!!

.

smoker.jpg

kingdamo
Jan 2, 2015

themule69 · Jan 2, 2015

I don't see a stack. Yes you need to seal up all air leaks. If you just want to use gas use your oven and drink in the house. Take the time to learn how to control your smoker and you will have a lot better time.

I see this is your first post. When you get a chance will you drop by roll call so everyone can give you a proper SMF welcome?

Happy smoken.

David

kc5tpy · Jan 2, 2015

Hello. Welcome. I see this is your first post. Please take some time and swing over to Roll Call and introduce yourself so that we may give you a proper "Hello". All info you can provide us with such as smoker type, location and so on will help us answer any questions you may have, and pictures help a bunch. As for your question: Well first off I know Ireland is not part of the U.K. unless you are in N. Ireland but U.K. members have our own Group here. Since we are closer we can help with some things the members across the pond can't. I'd like to invite you to join our Group. The " Welcome to the Group thread will tell you more about me.

WOW! How do I answer this??? I mean no disrespect and I don't want to hurt your feelings or discourage you but have you used this yet and can you take it back and get your money? MAN I hate to say that! The inlet from the firebox ( small drum ) to the cooking chamber ( large drum ) I am pretty sure is too small. I see no exhaust on the cooking chamber. If you are talking about a gap around the door of the "larger drum" ( cooking chamber ) that shouldn't be there but could be sealed with high temp silicone if there is metal there to apply it to. It looks to me there is no metal to apply it to. What sort of vent, air control do you have on the firebox ( small drum )? That double door in the firebox ( small drum ) is cut in totally the wrong position. If you open that to add more chips/chunks/charcoal the coals will be falling out on the ground. Is there any charcoal grate in there at all? Is there a cleanout door on the back of the firebox so that you can get rid of excess ash build up? This was built by someone who saw a picture of a BBQ/smoker on the internet and thought he could make something like that. In my opinion this unit is not fit for purpose and unless you or someone you know is a welder it isn't going to be fit for purpose. Even if you are a welder you will have to rebuild the whole unit to make it suitable to smoke in. Now if you just want to build a fire in the large drum and grill some sausage, burgers and chicken it might do the job. I really HATE saying this! I hope you can get your money back! There is no sense sugar coating this. GET YOUR MONEY BACK. Below are some links to very cheap offset smokers. These need some modifications but you CAN modify them In the youtube vid notice the lack of smoke leaking. Another link included if you want to convert one to propane. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I just don't see how we could make that smoker work. If you can't return it post as many pictures inside and out and close up as you can ( EVERYTHING AND EVERY ANGLE ) and we will offer what advice we can to try and make it work for you. Sorry about the novel. Keep Smokin!

Danny

http://www.gardengiftshop.co.uk/acatalog/Offset-BBQ-Pit-Smokers.html

viking72 · Jan 3, 2015

I really don't know what to say, but start with getting Texas right.

DO NOT MAKE A FIRE IN THAT!

kingdamo · Jan 3, 2015

Well to be honest, I havent shown the missus that page just yet! She paid 400euros for this and another 250 for delivery. Having gone back to him on this, he is refusing to pay for a courier to return which means if we were to want a refund, we will be out of pocket for 500 euros, and thats after a refund!

See below for the pics

This is the top of it, as you can see there is a chimney flue but a hefty gap at the top

photo 1 (1).JPG

kingdamo
Jan 3, 2015

You can see there are lips either side of the door so I can use the high temp silicone here, top and bottom looks tricky.

There is a plate underneath this grill. The smoke comes underneath this plate to the left and comes out at the right hand side and reverses back to the chimney.

photo 4 (1).JPG

kingdamo
Jan 3, 2015

This is the burner chamber, again gaps in the doorway

photo 2 (2).JPG

kingdamo
Jan 3, 2015

There is no other door to this chamber, just a basket which would hold the fuel. The idea for gas would be to put the grill pipe underneath this. There is a hole to the right just under the tube going to the large chamber which is in the next picture. I was thinking of threading the pipe through that hole

photo 3 (2).JPG

kingdamo
Jan 3, 2015

photo 4 (2).JPG

kingdamo
Jan 3, 2015

Let me know if there are other pics you need to see. Hopefully this is at least salvageable!

themule69 · Jan 3, 2015

I would say build a fire in it and hunt for and fix the air leaks. Then see if you can control the heat. Yes it could be converted to gas if that is the route you want to go.

Happy smoken.

David

kingdamo · Jan 3, 2015

The only reason I say gas is to manage the heat more effectively. Would you say using charcoal would be better?

kc5tpy · Jan 4, 2015

Hello. Please give us the name of the builder! We need to warn others about his work! We need to name and shame this sucker whether he is on the net or on facebook! His work is appalling! Looks like he made his cuts with an axe and those welds; well I have no means of describing them they are so bad! I have seen amateurs do better welding. 400 eros for that plus 250 shipping?? He should be ashamed of the work he is turning out! Even my Missus noticed the shoddy welds. That grill rack bothers me. I see what looks like a build up of a white "dust". Is it just the picture or does it have a white "dust in some areas? If so that is galvanized steel and I wouldn't cook anything on it. Sorry I get a bit worked up when folks are taken advantage of.

Expensive garden ornament! WOW! I am not sure where to go from here. The gap at the top of the door makes things tough. And no air vent to the firebox makes it almost impossible. Even gas requires some oxygen. Gas is about your only option at this point. Charcoal will not work without oxygen and you can't control the heat without a vent. You might stuff aluminium foil in the door gap. Below are a couple links that may be of some use. I'm sorry you and your Missus had your money taken by this fool. Can/do you weld? Do you have access to power tools?

Danny

http://users.wbsnet.org/n0yk/charbroil silver.htm

http://www.amazenproducts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=AMNPS5X8

kingdamo · Jan 29, 2015

It doesnt look like white dust, but it is rather well rusted! I'm guessing thats no good for putting food on even with a protective layer over it?

So I am going to see what I can do to salvage this. I will put stainless steel strips at the top and bottom and use heat proof silicone around to seal the cooking chamber.

Now my issue is the firebox. I'll do the same around the door with the strips and silicon but I've going through a shed load of youtube videos and the problem I have is the vent. The side is round so it would be difficult to find something I can attach to it.

Or, I can cut 2 pieces out of the side, solder the two pieces together to another piece of steel and screw that in to the inside.

The other 2 holes, I can just block up.

Do you guys reckon there is anything else I would need to do?

kingdamo · Jan 29, 2015

oh, where is the best place to buy peripherals for it?

Thinking mainly a thermometer but want to see what else is out there!

Search

Search

Noob just got a smoker for my birthday!!

kingdamo

Newbie

smoker.jpg

themule69

Epic Pitmaster

kc5tpy

Master of the Pit

viking72

Fire Starter

kingdamo

Newbie

photo 1 (1).JPG

photo 4 (1).JPG

photo 2 (2).JPG

photo 3 (2).JPG

photo 4 (2).JPG

themule69

Epic Pitmaster

kingdamo

Newbie

kc5tpy

Master of the Pit

kingdamo

Newbie

kingdamo

Newbie

Similar threads

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Spammer PMs, Anybody Else?

Questions for RecTeq owners

First attempt making sausage

Lost my dad yesterday

On the Edge of Trying Sausage Making