Bought a used New Braunfels for $50

[johnnylaw101]

Found this on Craigslist & bought for $50. VERY heavy... My son wants to do a rehab on it by himself and take it with him to college next fall. He’s home needing a project... Thoughts ?

 

[Aledavidov]

Great find

 

[radio]

great smokers! Either make a baffle plate, or don't use the third of the grate next to the firebox. I had to seal mine between the firebox and cooking chamber as there was a good sized gap in there, and also used red RTV silicone to make a gasket for the lid. I put new wood on the front shelf, new handles and sanded and re painted mine. That is it in my avatar
I also found a New Braunfels Bandera vertical smoker and rebuilt it. Keep your eye out for one of those to refurb as I like it even more than the horizontal

 

[johnnylaw101]

I think it has a baffle ? I’m new, but in the picture of the smoke chamber there is one ? Is that the baffle ?

 

[radio]

I think it has a baffle ? I’m new, but in the picture of the smoke chamber there is one ? Is that the baffle ?

yes, that is a baffle. these are good old smokers and a lot heavier than the newer stuff on the market. Get you a caulking tube of red or black RTV silicone and make a gasket for the cooking chamber lid. Clean the inside lip of the lid, preferably down to bare metal, run a hefty bead of silicone all the way around just inside the lip. put plastic wrap on the edges of the chamber, then close the lid to squeeze the silicone to fit the smoker. allow to cure for 24 hours, then peel off the plastic wrap and you have created a gasket to seal the cooking chamber. Build a fire in it to get rid of any nasty fumes and start turning out some great Q. Don't forget to take pics

 

[johnnylaw101]

Thanks for the advice... my son scraped off the old seal that was disintegrating.

Question: I've also heard that a heat diffuser (aka heating plate?) that has holes that get bigger as it moves away from the firebox ? Helps spread out the heat more evenly... are those sold by anyone online?

 

[radio]

Thanks for the advice... my son scraped off the old seal that was disintegrating.

Question: I've also heard that a heat diffuser (aka heating plate?) that has holes that get bigger as it moves away from the firebox ? Helps spread out the heat more evenly... are those sold by anyone online?

there are some being made. just google "diffuser plate" or "tuning plate" and you should get some results. You could also drill the existing one as it really isn't exact science. A cutting torch would be faster, but not pretty

 

[kawboy]

Looks like the one I picked up a couple years ago. Love mine. About all I did with mine was extend the chimney (both ends) and the baffle. Nice find!