My 3yr old ECB

[smokemaster]

This is my modified ECB.
I made the usual mods. Top vent, added vents and legs on charcoal pan and moved smoker legs to the outside.

My charcoal pan wasn't the most stable so I use a Smokey Joe bottom as a charcoal pan.

The Smokey Joe is higher than the modified ECB charcoal pan. I had to raise my ECB a couple of inches so the charcoal wasn't too close to the water pan. A friend of mine made the new legs.

Top Vent

The threaded rods made for an unstable pan

Vented charcoal pan

Smokey Joe vents and legs are better

New longer legs. Original in the front

Lit and loaded Minion method

I use a large pizza pan to catch ashes

Left: Taylor remote thermometer. I use it for smoker temps. Right: Taylor for meat temp.

My addition. She's got 3 more racks in the top section. Still need to work on temp control. Only got to 176 degrees F at the top during a test cook. The top rack in the bottom section was 250F.
Any recommendations??

I also have a Charbroil Silver Smoker. I made the normal mods (baffle, lowered smokestack, seal gaps, charcoal basket and tuning plates), I'll post pics.

 

[bwsmith_2000]

Smokemaster,
Great looking smoker. I'm afraid I dont' have any answers regarding the temp variation..... perhaps a small fan in the lower unit? Anyway, good job on the mods.

 

[larry maddock]

hello hello,
whats the wood or charcoal situation iin the father land??

 

[smokemaster]

Larry, I can get lump charcoal here, but the pieces are pretty small (fall through my charcoal grate) and it's expensive. I've been looking for a better local supplier. The German charcoal isn't the best. Alot of pressed wood and fillers.
I use Royal Oak charcoal and oak wood most of the time. I'll use just wood on my next smoke.

 

[dgross]

Mabey you need an insulating blanket around the middle and make sure its foil backed so that you can't set it on fire. I beleive that some of the temp problems you are having are due to heat loss in the 'chimney' modification and the insulation may help. Good luck and happy smoking!!

 

[smokemaster]

Thanks for the tip. I may end up cutting the extension down by half and see how that works.

 

[squeezy]

You could call that one ... the Brinkmann - Michael Jordan ...

 

[deejaydebi]

I was tinking about extending my ECB like that. Let us know how it ends up.

 

[domn8_ion]

That thing is huge. Probably the reason for the temp variance. Try the welding blanket, if it works, gold. If not, you'll probably need to shorten it. But try the blanket first, then shorten it by a few inches at a time. It will take time, but could well be worth the extra time involved.