Char-Griller Smokin Pro with firebox- Mods

the duster · Jan 27, 2013

Hey Captain 480,

I am a Newbie also so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I believe the cast iron grates in the SFB are for grilling seeing that if you do not use the SFB as an SFB it can be a stand alone portable grill. I am having good luck with just turning the Smoke chamber pan over and using a bread pan of water as a baffel on the SFB side of the smoke chamber. I have noticed the biggest benifits from extending the smoke stack and covering the smoke chamber with a welding blanket as it is mentioned on this post often. It is twnety degrees out and I am holding temprature between 220 and 240 for three hours now. good luck!!

the duster · Jan 27, 2013

Thanks again cliffcarter,

I am assuming that I just can't go to my wood pile and grab any log to use for cooking. How have you found the best way of finding good cookin splits? It sounds as though you may have a large stand of trees but I am hoping that you can shed some knowledge on it. I also only use lump charcoal. Thanks again for your help and patience with the newbie!!!

captain480 · Jan 27, 2013

Thanks Duster! I'm with you - I suspect the grates are for grilling if you choose like you had mentioned. Turns out that they work pretty well actually! Now that the grill is seasoned I'm going to do just that. Flip the main chamber coal pan over and with the help of a couple bricks try to get it to fully cover the SFB opening because as you know, flipping it still leaves it open just a bit. As far as extending the stack already done and works like a charm :) Minimal leaks. Next week we throw some food on it.

pbjohnsen · Jan 27, 2013

Check Craigslist for free wood. I've gotten white oak, apple, and pear wood for free from Craigslist. Also check local apple orchards or tree trimming companies to see if they would work with you to acquire some good hardwoods.

cliffcarter · Jan 27, 2013

the duster said:
Thanks again cliffcarter,

I am assuming that I just can't go to my wood pile and grab any log to use for cooking. How have you found the best way of finding good cookin splits? It sounds as though you may have a large stand of trees but I am hoping that you can shed some knowledge on it. I also only use lump charcoal. Thanks again for your help and patience with the newbie!!!

Maybe you can, what kind of wood is in your wood pile? I use maple, black cherry and apple, others have used ash and many of the oak varieties.

I cut my splits about 9-10 inches long and about 3 inches at the thickest part, this size works well in the CharGriller IMHO.

the duster · Jan 27, 2013

cliffcarter said:
Maybe you can, what kind of wood is in your wood pile? I use maple, black cherry and apple, others have used ash and many of the oak varieties.

I cut my splits about 9-10 inches long and about 3 inches at the thickest part, this size works well in the CharGriller IMHO.

I am not sure seeing that I bought a chord to burn in teh fireplace last winter but it is time to order again so I will have to be a little more specific. thanks for the info!!!

the duster · Jan 27, 2013

pbjohnsen said:
Check Craigslist for free wood. I've gotten white oak, apple, and pear wood for free from Craigslist. Also check local apple orchards or tree trimming companies to see if they would work with you to acquire some good hardwoods.

Thanks, That has me thinking and I have all ready idnetified a few people to call.

thsmormonsmokes · Jan 28, 2013

Captain480 said:
Quick question for everyone. Naturally I see everyone makes adjustments to the SFB of these Chargrillers but check out mine....I just purchased it and begin modding today if this rain lets up. I'm not sure i need to actually modify my SFB because they've included actual grates to cook on like the primary chamber....I'm going to go with jackpot here. Thoughts? Maybe they Chargriller listened to it's fan base? I did however remove the lame rack on the bottom of the ash collection tray. Not sure that's required any longer considering. Also...I'm thinking more and more about the main chamber ash collection tray. Flipping it like everyone does perhaps with some bricks as I've seen before with some evenly spaced holes drilled seems to be an effective free alternative to a tuning plate.

We season today....we smoke SuperBowl Sunday :P

photo.JPG

captain480

Jan 27, 2013

The main reason I removed my grates you've pictured above and opted for a basket was for Minion Method cooking (My basket is pictured on page 12, I think). You simply can't put much fuel in that small of an area. I burn charcoal briquettes. I prefer lump, but Lowes sold Kingsford briquettes at $9 per 40 lbs last year around Labor Day. I think I bought 200 lbs. I just can't pass up on a deal like that.

Anyway, that will give you all the airflow in the world you need, which is good, but you will probably be limited to burning splits or pretty small piles of charcoal at a time. If you don't mind tending to it constantly, that's not really a problem. It might also make it harder to maintain temps during colder weather due to smaller fuel volume, but that's a guess.

venture · Jan 28, 2013

My basket is shorter and sits in lower.

I have never used either set of SFB grates that came with the smoker. The grilling grates are useless based on how I use the unit. The bottom grate just makes removing ash more difficult. This is why I use the basket.

Good luck and good smoking.

arkashby · Jan 28, 2013

I used the grates but only as a way to hold my basket as I have not added bars. I oppted to put them togather so they lay on the ledge just above the ash tray. so far I have no probs with temps.

smokyinmuskogee · Feb 13, 2013

I know I am asking about an old post, but I have not been able to find one of those "shaking baskets" anywhere. Is that something Lowe's used to have, but no longer?

the duster · Feb 15, 2013

Sailorfly said:
I know I am asking about an old post, but I have not been able to find one of those "shaking baskets" anywhere. Is that something Lowe's used to have, but no longer?

I have not found any yet and in teh thread it states that they stopped making them. :(

the duster · Feb 16, 2013

Also, I just did what Arkashby did and bolted the SFB grates together and used it to hold the basket I made out of the expanded metal 24" by 24" from Home depot. It took me about 30 minutes $20 for the expanded metal and $10 for the wire cutters or aircraft cutters whatever they are called. It was a tight fit at 12X12X6 so I had to bend the top of the basket to the curve of the side fire box and it fits snuggly now. Thanks all for your help. I will post pictures of the brisket I am doing tonight on QVIEW.

beaummiler · Feb 17, 2013

Love this iv had my char pro for around 5 years and have had a lot of great q from it aside from it junk temp gage i use oven ones and bbysittin its fire i have learnd a few things thats going to happen asap glad i happend on this thread

daveomak · Feb 17, 2013

Duster, morning.... Making the smoker air tight, especially the firebox, will save on fuel and provide better heat control.... Get a few hours smoke on stuff then finish in the oven... that is another solution... Dave

the duster · Feb 17, 2013

Hey Dave, The snow hit heavy at 2 am and I added more fuel around three then I fell a sleep and at 5:45 it was down to 160 but the internal temp was 185 so I pulled and tin foiled and put in a cooler with rags. I did not expect it to finish in just over twelve hours I was expecting 15-20 so I will have to throw it in the when we eat at 2 this afternoon. thanks for the idea.

dna3 · Feb 17, 2013

Hello, new to the forum. Just purchased the CG Pro and trying the mods advised on this site.
My question, what type of dryer vent should I buy extend the exhaust to grill level. I bought gas pipe and it's way too hard to bend properly. If the foil tubing too thin?

daveomak · Feb 17, 2013

DNA evening.... this link will take you to all the mods on the CG smokers..... there may be mods there you are not familiar with... Dave

Please take a moment and stop into " /Roll Call/ " and introduce yourself and get a proper welcome from our members.... Also, if you would note your location in your profile, it will help in the future when answering questions about smokin'... elevation, humidity etc....

We're glad you stopped in and joined our group... Enjoy the long smokey ride.... Dave

thsmormonsmokes · Feb 18, 2013

DNA3 said:
Hello, new to the forum. Just purchased the CG Pro and trying the mods advised on this site.
My question, what type of dryer vent should I buy extend the exhaust to grill level. I bought gas pipe and it's way too hard to bend properly. If the foil tubing too thin?

I used an aluminum dryer vent hose for mine. It doesn't need to be terribly strong. It just needs to extend the stack to grate level. You just have to be careful not to put food there that will crush your hose when you close the lid.

If it's a newer model, you're going to have a little trouble fitting dryer hose over the stack exit. They changed the design and now there's kind of a flange inside the smoker. I coaxed mine into shape with a pair of channel locks and an appropriate amount of profanity. It took a little doing, but it eventually fit the hose over it. Then I used a bit of tie wire to snug it into place (poor man's hose clamp). It's held like a champ.

Also be careful about incorporating any galvanized materials (hose clamps are usually galvanized, I believe). I don't think they make galvanized dryer hoses due to the heat of dryer exhaust, but I don't know that stuff that well.

the duster · Feb 20, 2013

DNA3 said:
Hello, new to the forum. Just purchased the CG Pro and trying the mods advised on this site.
My question, what type of dryer vent should I buy extend the exhaust to grill level. I bought gas pipe and it's way too hard to bend properly. If the foil tubing too thin?

Hey DNA3 I just made the same mod and have a newer version. I used a 3" vent elbow on mine. We have the newer models so the chimney is flared but the elbow will actually stick inside the stack, so I did that and then rapped foil around it so it would not leak. The funny thing is I wanted to see if it fit at lowes so I stuck it in the floor model and couldn't get it out so I think the next owner is getting a free mod :)

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