New to everything!

bamber · Jun 27, 2015

Hi everyone

I'm Bamber, I'm 26 and from Manchester UK.

I'm completely new to BBQ's and smokers, now it's approaching summer time in the UK I've decided to take my love of cooking and eating to the next level.

Being inspired by Big Poppa Smokers I intend on buying their kit as I'm not much of a DIY'er and they've made it look really easy.

Whilst waiting to secure my drum and BPS kit I've managed to pick up a 1993 Weber Kettle with very little wear and tear, for £10 off eBay, I've cleaned it up and had my first novice burger session on it.

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bamber
Jun 27, 2015

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bamber
Jun 27, 2015

Looking forward to reading some posts and getting some good tips off you guys.

Thanks

Bam :sausage:

gary s · Jun 27, 2015

Good morning and welcome to the forum, from a rainy day in East Texas and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about everything.

Gary

bluewhisper · Jun 27, 2015

Welcome to the board, Bamber! Those Webers can do a lot, I grew up with one of those. They're good for the middle territory between grilling and smoking because they offer excellent air flow control.

bamber · Jun 28, 2015

Thanks very much for the welcome guys!

Just checked and I got it wrong it's actually a 26 year old kettle...almost as old as me, Kettle born 1989 and myself 1988.

Grilling up some chicken, burgers and some corn for dinner today...attempt number 2 and I'm hopeful!

:grilling_smilie:

kc5tpy · Jun 28, 2015

Hello and Welcome to our addiction. Many good folks here with a load of experience that they are more than willing to share. If you have specific questions just start a thread and someone with experience will be along soon to offer advice. 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. Spend some time doing some research on the forums, tons of advice and recipes already available there. Check out Jeff’s 5 day smoking E-Course ( link below ) that will help you get started. Couple other good threads to help you get started included. We look forward to your contributions. Have fun. Good luck. Keep Smokin!

Danny

http://www.smoking-meat.com/smoking-basics-ecourse

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/177452/new-to-smoking-or-have-a-new-smoker

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/178240/smoke-color-chart

My "stock" Hello. Before you purchase anything, Stick with that Weber. It's about how you use it. No necessarily the type smoker. Give us a chance to help. LEARN on the Weber and then move on if you feel the need to. You bought the RIGHT Weber. That Weber will smoke a 2-3kg brisket or pork shoulder. Not big enough? Give us a chance Mate. Keep Smokin!

Danny

bamber · Jun 28, 2015

I'll take up that brisket challenge Danny!

Thanks very much for the welcome and advice.

Cheers

Bam

kc5tpy · Jun 28, 2015

Start here Bamber.

Danny

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/181613/lets-talk-brisket

smokewood · Jun 28, 2015

Hiya Bamber, Welcome to the forum, there is something wrong with your photo's.... I can see the sun and there's a blue sky over Manchester, it should be grey!

I'm just up the road, on the other side of the M60, so not a million miles away.

Have a look at the UK Smokers As the name suggests It's just a group for people based in the UK. It's a great forum with plenty of information, here's the link

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/groups/show/38/uk-smokers

Danny is our lead and does a cracking job. It's great forum as there are differences in products & also different cuts of meat that you can't get in the UK, so we can usually steer you in the general direction, so it's very informative.

If you are free on the weekend of the Saturday/Sunday 1st & 2nd August we are having a BBQ/Smoking Weekend. It is open to everyone, and everyone's welcome so please think about attending.

It's being held on a campsite http://www.woodhallcountrypark.co.uk/

It's not a competition, it's just a get together for like minded people who have a passion for smoking food. Most people are contributing a dish, but if you are still a bit unsure just bring along the ingeredients and we will all show you 1001 different ways to cook it!! There will also be a few tutorials thrown in for the newer members, so there is an opportunity not to be missed, and there are quite a few newer members attending so you are not on your own.

Hope to see you at the weekend

Smokewood

kc5tpy · Jun 28, 2015

Hey! Bamber. My speciality tutorial is a secret! Step 1 is where do I buy beer? The next step will all be revealed upon arrival!

Serious now. If there is something you would like to see, let use know. One of us will take it on and walk you through it. We just want to help. Keep Smokin!

Danny

smokin monkey · Jun 29, 2015

Hi Bamber, welcome to our "Family" and addiction.

We should start a new group for "Classic" Smokers! Good looking Weber in Red, not many of them around.

Have fun playing with your new toy, and I am sure Wade (The Master of the Weber) will be along soon and he will help you with that Weber!

Smokin Monkey [emoji]133660013031[/emoji]

bamber · Jul 4, 2015

Thanks very much guys!

I'm just awaiting on a BBQ thermometer and a meat thermometer...and also for a decent bit of British weather and I'm going to give some pulled pork a go.

Lots of useful advice on this forum so I think I'm pretty much set.

I'll try post some pictures on the way.

wade · Jul 4, 2015

Bamber said:
Thanks very much for the welcome guys!

Just checked and I got it wrong it's actually a 26 year old kettle...almost as old as me, Kettle born 1989 and myself 1988.

Grilling up some chicken, burgers and some corn for dinner today...attempt number 2 and I'm hopeful!

Ahhh a lovely antique Weber

. They never die. I still have the lid of my original red one that I bought 20+ years ago - but unfortunately through hard work the bowl finally rusted through where one of the legs attached. Yours looks as if it has a lot of life left in it yet.

Get yourself kitted up with a dual probe digital thermometer and you are away. Before you start to try low and slow cooking on it, how tightly do the air control vents in the bottom fit. Over the years these can get bent up a little and not sit snug. If they are loose or there are still big gaps when they are closed, you may want to get yourself a replacement set of vents - they are not expensive - though more than £10 !

Let us know when you want to try some ribs, pork or brisket or you want to try your hand at beer can chicken and we can give you a few hints and tips.

Cheers

Wade

p.s. Welcome to the forum

smokewood · Jul 5, 2015

Evening Bamber

Hope you are OK. Will you be attending the Smoking weekend, more details can be found here if you have not seen the threads http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/221028/important-information-please-read

Can you give us an answer either way as we need to finalise numbers and all that.

Regards

Smokewood

bamber · Jul 5, 2015

Wade said:
Ahhh a lovely antique Weber Thumbs Up . They never die. I still have the lid of my original red one that I bought 20+ years ago - but unfortunately through hard work the bowl finally rusted through where one of the legs attached. Yours looks as if it has a lot of life left in it yet.

Get yourself kitted up with a dual probe digital thermometer and you are away. Before you start to try low and slow cooking on it, how tightly do the air control vents in the bottom fit. Over the years these can get bent up a little and not sit snug. If they are loose or there are still big gaps when they are closed, you may want to get yourself a replacement set of vents - they are not expensive - though more than £10 !

Let us know when you want to try some ribs, pork or brisket or you want to try your hand at beer can chicken and we can give you a few hints and tips.

Cheers

Wade

p.s. Welcome to the forum :biggrin:

Hi Wade thanks very much for the warm welcome!

I must admit I wanted a shiny new UDS at first but I'm loving the retro'ness of my kettle.
Not too sure about the vents at the bottom even though they are a bit rusty they seem to be working fine...I think.

I do think I need a new cooking grate though, I've felt ill after a few cooks even though the food was cooked correctly...perhaps I need a fresh new one?

I've ordered my thermometers so I'm hoping to smoke some pork in the next week or so as soon as I get a decent sunny day off work.

Thanks

Bam

bamber · Jul 5, 2015

smokewood said:
Evening Bamber

Hope you are OK. Will you be attending the Smoking weekend, more details can be found here if you have not seen the threads http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/221028/important-information-please-read

Can you give us an answer either way as we need to finalise numbers and all that.

Regards

Smokewood

Apologies Smokewood I work shifts and I'm unavailable that weekend I'm afraid :th_crybaby2:

Will there be pictures posted after the weekend? I'd like to see what I've missed out on.

Bam

smokewood · Jul 5, 2015

Sorry you can't make it, but thanks for getting back to us

bamber · Jul 16, 2015

Just a quick update, I've installed a thermometer to the kettle (alright it's not very central but I'm no master DIY'er).

image.jpg

bamber
Jul 16, 2015

Going to try and do a little pulled pork on my next day off work.

bamber · Jul 16, 2015

Oh and here's a mention for @Wade I've checked the air control vents in the bottom of my kettle, they're quite flexible and seem to lift off the base quite easily.
I've not checked to see if it holds temperature yet but judging by the pictures below do you think I might need a new set?

image.jpg

bamber
Jul 16, 2015

image.jpg

bamber
Jul 16, 2015

Thanks in advance

Bam :grilling_smilie:

wade · Jul 16, 2015

You can buy replacements for these vents but you may find that the existing ones just need adjusting.

Remove the adjusting handle from the under side of the vents by removing the little fixing screw. You may need to give it all a good soaking of WD40 to get it to release.

Once you pull the adjusting handle out it releases the spring clip and the air vanes will be released.

Once removed, gently bend the vanes backward from the central bearing and this will make them sit more tightly against the kettle body when they are replaced.

Push back through the body, replace the spring clip and hold in place with the adjusting handle.

Finally lock everything in place again with the fixing screw.

It will be as good as new

bamber · Jul 16, 2015

Thanks very much wade I'll give this a shot on my next day off!

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