modifying smokers

[averagedave]

is

 

[jarjarchef]

Some of the char grillers come with the side fire box as a kit and as you purchased sometimes they are seperate. Over the past several years I have gotten both.

To answer your question about just using the cast iron grate, yes and mostly no.

Yes you can but the fire will be too close to the top of the fire box and not allow for good air flow.

No because of the air flow. It will also kill the paint at the top even faster. Get a rattle can of high heat black paint. After your cooks allow the fire box to cool a bit and then reapply some paint to the areas that it is coming off. If keeping outside I would also invest in a cover, or it will only last a couple seasons......

On the last couple char grillers I assembled for myself and others there is a lip just above the ash pan. I built a frame for the expanded metal that sat on that lip. I used the cast iron grates for the bottom of the charcoal basket, after trimming them. This way it was about the same level as designed, but I could still remove the ash pan during long cooks.