Char-Grill with new side firebox

[ristau5741]

I've had a horizontal barrel Char-Grill  for a few years, used for smoking successfully in the past,  I recently added a side firebox to it,  yesterday when I was trying to season it, I couldn't get the smoker over 200 degrees. tried for like 3 hours till I ran out of lumps

I used to fill a briquette chimney half full,  get it burning on one side of the unit, and put my meat on the other, using this same plan for the side-box was not successful,  apparently the dynamics of the heat flow and air flow changed completely. seems that I got to get that firebox stoking hot for the heat to transfer over to the other side.

anyone that's had a horizontal barrel and added a side box, I'm looking for some insight or tips to make this addition successful.

tia

 

[jus7inhay5]

Mine wasn't added, but I'm assuming it may be the chinsey metal that mine was made out of.  I smoked some chicken last night after sealing the chamber a bit with some stove gasket and wrapping the top in a water heater blanket.  Temp got up to 255 quickly and held there for about 90 minutes before starting to drop I have some other mods as well, but I think sealing the cooking chamber and adding the water heater wrap really helped keep the heat in.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[cliffcarter]

 
I used to fill a briquette chimney half full,   get it burning on one side of the unit, and put my meat on the other, using this same plan for the side-box was not successful,  apparently the dynamics of the heat flow and air flow changed completely. seems that I got to get that firebox stoking hot for the heat to transfer over to the other side.

tia

I use two fully lit chimneys of lump to fire up the Char-Griller. Leave the vents wide open until the temp hits at least 250° before closing the intake vent to 1/2, if the temp keeps rising close it all the way. The CG will settle back to the 240°-250° range. YMMV.

 

[venture]

How are you measuring your temps?

The stock therm on my CG will read about 175 when the actual pit temp is 250.

Good luck and good smoking.