Hello from freezing cold South Dakota! I just created an account today, but I have been studying, in the background, for six months or so.... I've been all over the net for smoking information, but I always come back here for the clear and consistent information and for the comeraderie you all seem to share. Anyhoo, a little about myself:
I have had an interest in smoking for a very long time. I inherited my love of cooking from my dad, who has been a chef his whole life. So, I've always been interested in new culinary adventures... I just didn't have a smoker, or the time and drive to look into it. A couple Christmases ago, my sister showed up at my place of work (Menards, a regional DIY/hardware store) asking if I'd help her pick out a gift for her boyfriend... he had been hinting at a smoker. So, I helped her pick one out. Fast forward to about a year later and my sister told me that her boyfriend had hated the smoker and had had no luck with it. Half out of guilt, half out of my interest in smoking, I purchased the smoker from her, and that began the adventure!
The smoker is a Grillpro 31840 vertical charcoal smoker. VERY basic smoker, and as sold, needs a few modifications before it holds a temp and works decently. I have added high-temp rope gasket to the door, cut down the useless charcoal basket (making it a tray for ashes), created a new, raised charcoal basket and added a latch to the door to hold it shut tight. Doing all that has turned it into a respectable, functioning unit that holds a 210-225 temp over three or so hours before needing more coals. A family member who smokes turned me on to this forum, and I've found the most useful info here. So far, I have smoked several pork butts, chicken, chipotle peppers, a 15 lb brisket (had to fold it over a folded metal stand to fit!) and most recently, a 5 lb tri tip. Tomorrow I'm doing two small butts (5 lb each, bone-in). So far, thanks in big part to the info here, everything has turned out amazing.
So, thanks for having me, and here's a few pics of my smoker and things I've smoked:
I have had an interest in smoking for a very long time. I inherited my love of cooking from my dad, who has been a chef his whole life. So, I've always been interested in new culinary adventures... I just didn't have a smoker, or the time and drive to look into it. A couple Christmases ago, my sister showed up at my place of work (Menards, a regional DIY/hardware store) asking if I'd help her pick out a gift for her boyfriend... he had been hinting at a smoker. So, I helped her pick one out. Fast forward to about a year later and my sister told me that her boyfriend had hated the smoker and had had no luck with it. Half out of guilt, half out of my interest in smoking, I purchased the smoker from her, and that began the adventure!
The smoker is a Grillpro 31840 vertical charcoal smoker. VERY basic smoker, and as sold, needs a few modifications before it holds a temp and works decently. I have added high-temp rope gasket to the door, cut down the useless charcoal basket (making it a tray for ashes), created a new, raised charcoal basket and added a latch to the door to hold it shut tight. Doing all that has turned it into a respectable, functioning unit that holds a 210-225 temp over three or so hours before needing more coals. A family member who smokes turned me on to this forum, and I've found the most useful info here. So far, I have smoked several pork butts, chicken, chipotle peppers, a 15 lb brisket (had to fold it over a folded metal stand to fit!) and most recently, a 5 lb tri tip. Tomorrow I'm doing two small butts (5 lb each, bone-in). So far, thanks in big part to the info here, everything has turned out amazing.
So, thanks for having me, and here's a few pics of my smoker and things I've smoked:
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