So i havent been around on the forums much lately as I have been busy and still never quite got used to the new forum design. I miss the old forum :o(
Anyhow i finally picked up a New Braunfels Bandera! It only took me 4-5 years to finally find one in the Atlanta area after searching 2-3 times a week! She is in pretty good condition and only lacks the badge on the front door. I am running a test smoke right now and will get a few sessions in before the new year and then she gets overhauled. After the new year i will completely disassemble her, sand her down, repaint her and put her back together. Ill be adding oven gasket around the door on the smoke chamber and the firebox, Ill be adding fire bricks in the firebox and bottom of the smoke chamber, ill be putting 2 new thermometers in the door, having a nice custom badge made to replace the missing one.
Ill also be adding additional support with some square steel tubing where the firebox and smoke chamber meet both in the front and back. Ive noticed these things start to sag a little over time so i want to add some support. Im debating completely enclosing the bottom with nice wood or something for storage and to look good.
There is already a baffle in place but i will be modifying it slightly. Ill also be building a charcoal basket. I am doing my first test run with all wood but have a feeling i will be going about half wood half lump charcoal in the long run.
If anyone else has advice or something i have forgotten that i should do to her let me know. I have of course read everything on the Bandera over the years but may have missed something. Once i refurb her ill certainly create a thread for that!
Here are a few pics!
This first test run has a 9lb butt, a whole chicken, 1 slab of baby backs, 15 chicken legs, about 30 wings, and a bacon wrapped pork sirloin tip roast.
Oh, id also like to get ahold of 3 more shelves, preferably the same as whats in there. I wonder if i call Charbroil if they will at least have the original shelves?
Anyhow i finally picked up a New Braunfels Bandera! It only took me 4-5 years to finally find one in the Atlanta area after searching 2-3 times a week! She is in pretty good condition and only lacks the badge on the front door. I am running a test smoke right now and will get a few sessions in before the new year and then she gets overhauled. After the new year i will completely disassemble her, sand her down, repaint her and put her back together. Ill be adding oven gasket around the door on the smoke chamber and the firebox, Ill be adding fire bricks in the firebox and bottom of the smoke chamber, ill be putting 2 new thermometers in the door, having a nice custom badge made to replace the missing one.
Ill also be adding additional support with some square steel tubing where the firebox and smoke chamber meet both in the front and back. Ive noticed these things start to sag a little over time so i want to add some support. Im debating completely enclosing the bottom with nice wood or something for storage and to look good.
There is already a baffle in place but i will be modifying it slightly. Ill also be building a charcoal basket. I am doing my first test run with all wood but have a feeling i will be going about half wood half lump charcoal in the long run.
If anyone else has advice or something i have forgotten that i should do to her let me know. I have of course read everything on the Bandera over the years but may have missed something. Once i refurb her ill certainly create a thread for that!
Here are a few pics!
This first test run has a 9lb butt, a whole chicken, 1 slab of baby backs, 15 chicken legs, about 30 wings, and a bacon wrapped pork sirloin tip roast.
Oh, id also like to get ahold of 3 more shelves, preferably the same as whats in there. I wonder if i call Charbroil if they will at least have the original shelves?
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