Beginner Problems

burnt fingers

Newbie

Original poster

Mar 19, 2010

26

10

So. Indiana

• Mar 20, 2010

• #1

Hi, I am a beginner at smoking. I have a BBQ Pro grill. I sprayed the inside with oil and started my coals and put into firebox. So far I can only get the temp upto about 150. Am I not using enough coals or what? Also where do you get a coal basket?

 

eaglewing

Master of the Pit

SMF Premier Member

Jul 4, 2008

1,132

365

St. Louis MO

• Mar 20, 2010

• #2

Do you have a pic of your rig??

The EXHAUST must be always wide open, temp is controlled by the air 'intake'.

Check my signature for a charcoal basket that's quick and easy.

But is you can't get a fire hotter than 150 your not allowing either enough intake or enough exhaust

 

gargra03

Fire Starter

Nov 27, 2009

69

10

Culpeper Va

• Mar 20, 2010

• #3

exactly what eaglewing said, also are you just using the temp gauge that came with the smoker ? If so those are almost always way off.

 

burnt fingers

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Mar 19, 2010

26

10

So. Indiana

• Mar 20, 2010

• #4

Thanks guys for the info. The plans for the basket look good, I'll get started on one tomorrow. The smoker I have is your basic barrel with an offset firebox.

 

meateater

Legendary Pitmaster

SMF Premier Member

Oct 17, 2009

8,983

63

Hendertucky, Nv.

• Mar 20, 2010

• #5

Always check your thermometers, most of the ones included are off some a little some a lot.

 

chef jeff tx

Smoking Fanatic

Nov 10, 2009

624

11

Kingwood, TX

• Mar 22, 2010

• #6

Howdy, welcome to the SMF!!

 

northern greenhorn

Master of the Pit

SMF Premier Member

Mar 11, 2010

1,028

10

McHenry, Illinois

• Mar 22, 2010

• #7

Welcome to smf, and you can't trust the thermometer that came w/ your smoker, these things can be off by as much as 50*

 

steevieg

Fire Starter

May 19, 2007

65

12

Loganville, GA

• Mar 22, 2010

• #8

I had the same problem with my first offset. What I didn't realize was that on mine there is a 'football' shaped piece of metal that I didn't punch out where the offset meets the main chamber. I couldn't get it up to temp at all. Once I removed that metal piece which increased the hole size between the box and chamber the temps were able to increase.

 

burnt fingers

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Mar 19, 2010

26

10

So. Indiana

• Mar 23, 2010

• #9

Thanks for all the great advice. My Home Depot didn't have the size I needed but did find it at a Tractor Supply. It cost a little more.

 

mballi3011

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Mar 12, 2009

14,477

58

• Mar 23, 2010

• #10

Like someone else asked are you going by the thermometer that came with your smoker cause they are always wrong and by alot too.

 

burnt fingers

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Mar 19, 2010

26

10

So. Indiana

• Mar 23, 2010

• #11

I have a cooking thermometer, can I just lay the probe on the grill to get an accurate temp. What is a good replacement thermometer. Also I am making a charcoal basket and was wondering if it should be a certain size.

 

blue

Smoking Fanatic

Oct 6, 2009

724

10

North of Detroit, South of Heaven

• Mar 23, 2010

• #12

Dont ley the probe directly on the grate. I put the probe trough a wine cork or a potato. The metal from the grate messes with the probe and you will get inaccurate temps. Some put the probe through a peice of wood as well. Something to suspend it over the grate.