Hey all I'm James and am from bfe, state of PA, if ya'll wanna know, that just means anywhere outside of Philly or *hitsburg* Sorry Ravens fan here. Anyways kinda, new to the whole smoking meat thing, Have a smoke hollow 4 in 1 w/ the offset firebox that i have purchased and been working on modifying to have it meet my needs. some of what i have done is seasoned it obviously but not before i purchased some gaskets and food safe rtv sealant and hit the spot welds on the charcoal grill box and smoke box. FYI do NOT buy the big rtv sealant tubes that are meant for your caulk gun. If you are anything above the size of a toddler you will not be able to hit all the corners and instead will be "finger painting" your seams. Don't get me wrong, if i can get it sealed up and operating around 224-250 consistent temp I will be happy happy happy. The reason i enjoy this smoker/combo is because well simply i work anytime i can to make ends meet as i'm sure the rest of us do, so the sear burner and gas grill come in handy on nights where its just blamo cook it and move on... but I have discovered the love of a true bbq, not only the smells and the sights but also, the showmanship, which i truly believe is something that is part of being an outdoor cooking master, you have to love to cook it, and to do so with some flair! Look forward to posting and reading some my fellow "meat head" posts!