1st smoke ever.(X-rated)

[coyote]

%$#$# western lump $^%## cowboy lump $^%^%$ wind %$#% landmann smoker #$&^$# fubar/snafu #%&@@*
well it was the most discouraging thing I ever done besides trying to score with super models.
that western lump all it did was pop like fire works sending hot ambers with the smoke and heat to the meat and landin gently on top on the meat.then the wind, ash all over the meats. ( I now understand how folks come up with all the ingenious ideas for smokers)the temp would go to 250 then right on down to 190 are lower. I used 5 6.6# bags of western 3 10# cowboy started at 2000 hours ands the meat came off at 0930 hours it was done and hot. but not at all to my liking.
I did 3 baby backs and a fattie (4 logs two for the botttom and two for the top.and a geneous amount of good stuff in the center.0 and 24 ABTs which were done in 45 minutes.
any ideas except for given up and taking up heavy drinking??

 

[capt dan]

Wind is tough, especially on the side firebox types of smokers. Luckily for me the Lang is long and the ash settles in the reverse flow chamber before it makes it up to the meat. I went through wood pretty good yesterday as well, mostly well seasoned cherry. Just try it again on a calmer day, and write this one off to learning, and get away from the cowboy lump, It can ruin a good smoke on a calm day. In a few months you'll be laughin about it. Its all a part of the learnin process. Don't give up, the heavy drinkin is up to you!

 

[richtee]

VERY eloquently put, Sir...

Build a wind break, or roll it into the front of the garage with the door open. OR try dating Mother Nature.

 

[travcoman45]

Yall just had a rough smoke, everyone gets em sooner er later. Try sumtin different fer fuel next run, maybe come up within a spot outa da wind to smoke. Drinkin ain't bad, but keeper to moderation, the hangover won't make the smoke any betterin it was.

That be the neat thing bout this here art, experimentation, Keep yerself a good note book on each smoke, what ya liked, what ya didn't. Donta be afeard to try er again, you'll catch the spot yer lookin fer!

 

[bbq bubba]

Get some quality lump or charcoal for one....
What are you cookin on?

 

[ddave]

Man, coyote! If I didn't know better I'd say you were peekin' over my fence a couple of weeks ago and describing my smoke with a few embellishments of your own. It was a great read. I was laughing out loud -- only because I have been there too and very recently I might add. I hear ya, brother and I was ready to say the H*** with this s*** and get an afterburner or give up for good.

But you doh't want to do that. Find some better lump, like has been said and a spot out of the wind or a windbreak. I alos added a baffle and tining plates to my SnP since my disaster and in testing am very encouraged to try again. Hopefully next weekend without Cowboy lump.

Also, as bad as I think I screwed up the country style ribs that were sacrificed to the smoke gods that fateful day, I have been eating the leftovers. Pull a baggie out of the freezer once in awhile and toss it in the microwave and it does taste pretty good -- once you get past the ashy taste. And the dog WILL NOT LEAVE MY SIDE when I am snackin' on 'em. She comes RUNNIN' when I pull them out of the microwave.

So . . . hang in there brother. It's bound to get better.

Dave

 

[seboke]

Yeah, I've used that Cowboy crap once. It does make for a good lightshow at night... Thinkin they embed Rice Krispies in the coal...

 

[desertlites]

the cowboy lump sux-look at it,It's made from construction -cabinet off fall-and really not sure if it's all hardwood!It's everywhere here in AZ.but the reputation of it is starting to get out there-the price is dropping big time,soon they will have to rethink it.you need to get your smoker outta the wind.Wind and cheap coal means a very low temp burn,thats what happened.take care of those two issues and your next smoke will be much better.good luck.

 

[coyote]

thanks for the encouragement you all.
I will not give up.. from all the great Q-views here and recipes I am going to be eating good smoked things one day soon.
I for got to mention we had a weather warning going on that day. gust up to 60mph and seemed that it stayed 30 knots are better the whole day and night. unless I took that bad boy in the house, there was no place to hide from the WIND. and that wonderfull western lump and it's fire works effect would have burnt the house down with all it's snap crackle and poppin. looked like the display mr cone head did for his girls high school.

I wanted to try again sunday.and what a nice day it was. But we were invited to a friends for pizza ribeyes. no time to do an all day smoke.
but I did make 24 ABTs and a huge fattie I used my ole BBQ grill like a smoker and it worked. the fattie was great and we took it over along with the ABTs to our friends house. both were a big hit. most of us took our steaks home in a doggy bag.
the Fattie center had asparagus, chipolete peppers in abode sauce that i puereed, diced orange and yellow bells onion rings, portobello mushrooms, choped cilantro, then a thick layer of motzeralla cheese with Prosciutto then when it was enclosed latticed bacon on top and sprinkled rub all over the top.
I only get to use the puter at work when we have nothing going on..my wife and kids won't let me on the one at home..they need it for school..ya right. sorry about the late come back..

 

[richtee]

See? Yer on the brink, man! Keep on keeping on!

 

[travcoman45]

Yer movin long in the right direction! Just keep a tryin different things, yall hit the right combination!

 

[ddave]

Just caught my dog digging up cat poop and eating it in the backyard so I guess her endorsement of my smoked meat doesn't mean that much after all.

Dave

 

[smokin out the neighbors]

Coyote, I have been using Royal Oak from WalMart. It is not expensive, usually easy to find, and it seems to burn clealy and evenly

 

[seboke]

OMG - still laughing! Almost had a martini olive come out my nose!

 

[coyote]

BLAAAHAAAHAA...,to funny you and I have some things that just should not be talked about..I hate it when my beagle cat box dives for sand sausages..

 

[ddave]

Yeah, our cat's name is Cookie and our dog likes to dig up the dry ones by the trees in the backyard. You can hear her crunching them so my 9 year old son calls them "Cookie Crisps" like the breakfast cereal by the same name.

Dave