Greetings from NJ

[bryan b]

Hello everyone,

Name is Bryan.  Im from Burlington NJ.  Just found this site while looking up information on how to smoke.  Just got my first smoker, ECB style, from walmart the other day.  Long time griller just never tried smoking.  Ive fired it up twice now just to practice working it and to see how hard it is to control the temperature.  Seems to peak near 275.  Makes me wonder if i'm loading too much lump coal at a time.  I look forward to rummaging through all the info i can on here on mods and mainly technique.  Smoke on!

 

[tropics]

 
Hello everyone,

Name is Bryan.  Im from Burlington NJ.  Just found this site while looking up information on how to smoke.  Just got my first smoker, ECB style, from walmart the other day.  Long time griller just never tried smoking.  Ive fired it up twice now just to practice working it and to see how hard it is to control the temperature.  Seems to peak near 275.  Makes me wonder if i'm loading too much lump coal at a time.  I look forward to rummaging through all the info i can on here on mods and mainly technique.  Smoke on!

Bryan Welcome to SMF Check the WSM forum for some mods,charcoal basket,gaskets for the doors,etc 

The thermometers that are installed are normally off,you can take it out and check it with boiling water,should be around 212* F

Have fun with you new hobby

Richie

 

[submariner]

Welcome and I am sure some of the guys will step in with the mods you need.

 

[bryan b]

I'm approaching zero hour for starting my first smoke. Any tips on how much charcoal to load? Is it better to load more at first so it runs longer or is having to put more on mid smoke ok?

 

[sauced]

Welcome to the forum!! Look in the group section....there is a New Jersey smokers group, join up!
As far as your smoker, are you using wood? I usually start off with a 1/2 full chimney, then add wood as needed to hold temps.

 

[bryan b]

Wood? If by lump charcoal then yes. Unfortunately I didn't purchase a chimney yet.

 

[sauced]

What are you using to smoke with (wood)? Hickory, apple etc.

 

[bryan b]

Oh. Hickory chips. I should have gotten chunks because when I did a test run the chips don't smoke for very long.

 

[sauced]

Ahh....see you are learning already! Lol. Get a chimney starter, wood chunks for next time.
Keep an eye on the temperature and add charcoal as needed to keep temperature up. Also, what smoker do you have?

 

[bryan b]

IMG_5038.JPG

• bryan b
• May 27, 2017

Little cheapo from Walmart.

 

[bryan b]

Definitely having issues that mods probably will help. Had great temp around 250 for about an hour. Shoveled a little more charcoal in because the pile looked small and now I can't get the temps back up over 200. I'm assuming I need to drill holes in the pan for air and to shake ash out.

 

[joecapo]

Hello everyone,
Name is Bryan.  Im from Burlington NJ.  Just found this site while looking up information on how to smoke.  Just got my first smoker, ECB style, from walmart the other day.  Long time griller just never tried smoking.  Ive fired it up twice now just to practice working it and to see how hard it is to control the temperature.  Seems to peak near 275.  Makes me wonder if i'm loading too much lump coal at a time.  I look forward to rummaging through all the info i can on here on mods and mainly technique.  Smoke on!

For starters get a new thermometer, and as for the coal pan on the bottom, get some type of grate to keep the coals from being smothered in accumulated ash. Has made smoking much easier.

 

[bryan b]

IMG_5055.JPG

• bryan b
• May 27, 2017

Well that came out pretty good. As for cleaning up after this do you guys wash the racks or just leave it?

 

[joecapo]

IMG_5055.JPG

• bryan b
• May 27, 2017

Well that came out pretty good. As for cleaning up after this do you guys wash the racks or just leave it?

Looks good Bro. Clean up can be a bitch. I whipe the racks, but thats just me.

 

[sauced]

Looks good....yes, wipe the racks.

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome to the forum!

Looks like your doing fine with your new smoker!

Al