Char-Griller Smokin Pro

brennan · Jul 24, 2007

Anybody have this smoker? I found one at Lowes for $119 and the smoke box is sold seperately at about $57 for a total of about $176. From the pricing I've done online, this is at least $10 cheaper than even the manufacturers site. I've found nothing but good reviews on it and now my final step is asking my friends here. Is there anything about this smoker I should know about, can I get a better one for less, or is this one of the best smokers I can get for the price range (<$200). It will fit well alongside my weber performer on my patio so I probably can't go much bigger.

mrgrumpy · Jul 24, 2007

I might be able to answer some of your questions.... since I have 2 of them.

IMHO, for the price, you can't beat them. After you get it, you may have to make a couple of small adjustments to it.

I extended the vent down to the cooking grate with aluminum drier vent. That helped even out the cooking temps.

The sfb coal grate is too low, and it will fill up with ash and smother out your fires if you use charcoal. I used a piece of expanded metal and just placed it on top of the sfb cooking grate.

And whatever you do, do not rely on their temp gauge. Some have reported them off as much as 50 degrees, mine included.

Other than that, they are great, hold heat well, have a nice sized cooking surface, and are just real nice to use. You can't beat the price. If you wait for a few months, when everyone starts to put them on sale for the winter, you can probably get one real cheap. My last one was &74.99 for the main chamber, but I had to end up paying full price for the sfb as I could not find one on sale, so overall, I still came out good.

Bill

gypsyseagod · Jul 24, 2007

i almost just bought 1 but my lowe's wanted $130 plus $59 for the sfb so i went w/ a second brink smoke-n-pit. now it's getting to be work. but here's a great thread for mods that will work on all the above. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ead.php?t=1458

brennan · Jul 24, 2007

Thanks for the advice. I couldn't wait so I went ahead and ordered one from amazon.com cause in the end it turned out to be cheaper and I got free shipping

. Now I gotta rearrange my patio to accomidate my new friend. I guess its time to get rid of my old rust bucket weber that I got for free from my wifes Grandmother. The thing HAS to be older than me. I might even let the wife use the flower pots from my old flower pot smoker (HA! yeah right, that thing may be small but its a kick butt little smoker and a great conversation piece).

By the way, MrGrumpy, you got some pics of your mods? I heard of using the dryer vent to extend the chimney to the bottom but I like purdy pictures, they help me understand better. I was planning on getting a different thermometer for mine when it comes too as I was led to believe that this smoker came with the infamous "too cold/ideal/too hot" thermometer with the ideal portion taking up half of the thermometer.

Will one thermometer suffice for a smoker this size or am I going to want to mod it to put thermometers on either side of the smoker or something?

hawgheaven · Jul 24, 2007

Hey Brennan, all I can say is, you can't beat it for the price. I have one and absolutely love it! As mrgrumpy said, it needs some minor mods right out of the gate, but they are simple and inexpensive. I have modified the crap outta mine... just because I thought it needed it... and I love to tinker...

Go for it dude!!!

brennan · Jul 24, 2007

If its not too much trouble, feel free to hijack my thread with pics of mods. I used to be an aspiring PC modder but that was just too expensive...now I need a use for my dremel and the rest of my tools.

So please, post pics of your mods.

gypsyseagod · Jul 24, 2007

did ya ever get the 17" spinners for the wheels???

mrgrumpy · Jul 24, 2007

Ok, let me see what I can do. I haven't posted too many pics here, so let's see what happens

This should be the expanded metal for the sfb for the coals.

Here is the wheels I added to my first one. If you do go with this type of wheel, let me know and I will step you through it.

I hope this one shows the vent extension.

Nope.... I will keep looking if someone else doesn't post one before me.
Hope these help some.

Bill

moltenone · Jul 24, 2007

Brennan, you made a good choice imho i've had mine for three years i think
and it has worked perfect for what i've smoked ,i added a thermometer to the fire box and it lets me know what i need to do in advance.
my other thermo. on the cookin' side has worked as it should,i also picked up the charmglow remote thermo. for $30.00 at home depot , that i can monitor meat temps from inside the house,it also works great .

good luck smokin'

Mark

hawgheaven · Jul 25, 2007

Nope. Saved up for the hydraulics...

Stay tuned...

gofish · Jul 25, 2007

Try this link ........... there are a lot of the same topics being addressed. It also has a lot of pics ........ there are some of the aluminum dryer vent, charcoal boxes ......... and lots of others. This should help (or confuse) alot

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ht=extend+pipe

BTW ........... I have one and really like it .............. have thought a few times about getting a bigger smoker, but will probabbly just buy a second one like Mr Grumpy!

bbq bubba · Jul 25, 2007

See!! I told ya a month ago to stop playin with your pot and get a real smoker!!

Just kiddin, you'll be very happy with a Chargriller, minor mods make it a real workhorse!
My big drum smoker is modeled after the chargriller, just a lil bigger.

brennan · Jul 25, 2007

Thanks foir all the pics and posts and help! I'm no longer second guessing myself and am just anxious for it to get here! For a second there, I was thinking that you extended the chimney all the way down past the grates. Down to the grates makes more sense.

Grumpy, I think the one I got already has wheels.

gofish, thanks for the link to that thread, it was exactly what I was looking for.

Now...While at lowes, I noticed there was a damper on the chimney, would that allow good smoke build up withought too much heat build up without modding?

deejaydebi · Jul 25, 2007

Brennan -

I know I've been droolin' over one for about 8 months! Promised Gunslinger (where ever he's got off to) I'd build one first before I bought one. Got the side fire box for the barrel smoker I am trying to get build sometime in my lifetime!

If Bill 's got one(Mr Grumpy) that all the recommendation I need - it's a good smoker! And that's a good price!

brennan · Jul 25, 2007

Debi, I wish I had the space to build my own smoker...I'd be pissin my wife off to no end with the tinkering I'd be doing. Then there's that whole money deal. I think I got the best deal out there for my time/money/space. That, and I'm glad I'm getting outta that little Flower pot. I'm still keeping it though, I can still do a couple fattys on it if I run outta room on the big guy...oh...I should change my sig.

ammjr · Jul 25, 2007

Definitely a good choice, Brennan. I've had mine for 3 years. The thing I like most about it is the sheer size. I throw a pool party every year and if I don't smoke the main course, I pop some coals in the main chamber and grill enough food for 20 or so. Congrats!
- Anthony

flagriller · Jul 25, 2007

I have the CharGriller Super Pro with the SFB and like it very much. When you put it together do the mod then, it's easier. Get some furnace cement to use when you install the chimney, and the SFB. Don't be afraid to use alot, it should ooz out when you tighten things up. Just wipe it off. Add two thermometers just above grate level about 3-4 inches from the sides, and do the vent mod. Before you use it, let it sit overnight so the cement will cure, you'll know because it very hard, in fact it can be drilled! I used lard to season the grates, coated them well and put them in the oven at 300* for 3 hours, then re-coated and back in the oven at 200* for two hours, then cool. Repeat process. This gives them an almost non-stick property, although you still need to wipe with EVOO befor each use. I do not recommend seasoning the grates in the griller, it puts ash on them, the oven is much cleaner, but the lard does smenn a bit. Put them on Al-foil so as not to dirty the oven.
After the cement is cured, spread the inside with oil, use alot, the lite her up, one fire in the SFB and one in the cooking chamber, keep it going for a few hours.
This si how I did mine, and I'm sure there are many other ways, but this has worked for me for many years. I have a 10 year old grill that is still in fine shape and the grates are still performing well.

Just my 2cents FWIW

hawgheaven · Jul 25, 2007

Brennan, glad you got the CG... it is a nice piece of equipment.

As for the wheels, yes, it has two very small, cheap ones that make it difficult to move around if you are on grass, stone or dirt. I went nuts and installed four hand cart wheels on mine... now it looks like it's ready to do some off-roading!

The damper on the chimney should stay wide open while you are smoking. Adjustment for air flow should be done at the firebox.

brennan · Jul 25, 2007

You think JB Weld would work in place of furnace cement? I have it on hand and therefore I won't need to explain to the wife why I'm buying something I'll use only once. Also What purpose will this serve? I assume it's for added durability and stability but I want to be sure. Will the same method work with the chimney mod as well or will I need to get some rivets and brackets to mount the mod?

You got some pics of how this mod works? I don't want to make extra holes before I know all the hows and whys and end up with an oversized lawn ornament.

Lard, oddly enough, is hard to come by here (prolly the Cali helath nut mentality). I'm assuming I can use crisco or some other shortening to cure my grates as thats what I used on my cast iron cookware. Thats also a good idea aout the foil...wish i thought of that when I did my pans. The oven still hasn't recovered from that.

I'll keep the wheel thing in mind for the future, I'm not planning on moving this thing far from my patio.

Thanks for the info on the chimney damper, I was thinking maybe there was a possible work around for the chimney extension mod.

Thanks for all your input, all the info provided so far has been really helpful, please keep it up. I plan on posting a step by step thread on all the mods I do for future cg owners. Of course there'll be tons of pics.

Thanks again guys. Counting the days til my smoker comes in!

deejaydebi · Jul 25, 2007

That's the problem I have - I don't have the place or the equipment so I am at the mercy of my Brother-in-law and sister. Getting together has been imposible lately they live about 30 miles away - so it sits and waits. It is alot cheaper to buy one unless you have a way to get free stuff.

Now you know that flower pot is what got you started you owe it to her it keep and care for her for life!

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