Need recommendation for a new smoker.

[davidski]

 Let me know how it goes.

tell me you mods again?

Im thinking about:

Gasket
latches to hold down top tight
defuser/plates

either welding the box halves and then weld to the smoker... or use that red heat caulk stuff. 

 

[hudson views]

I went with the loaded wichita its awesome!!

 

[davidski]

i dream of the day where i have a smoker i cannot move myself with multiple shelves. super jealous sir. 

On a side note, i wonder if i can weld 2 L brackets in my OKJ and put a 1/2 rack up there. hmmmm

 

[vegasrc1]

i dream of the day where i have a smoker i cannot move myself with multiple shelves. super jealous sir. 


On a side note, i wonder if i can weld 2 L brackets in my OKJ and put a 1/2 rack up there. hmmmm

All I really did for mods is the fire grate. Also I use a small water pan on the grill near the fire box. My two thermometers on top show cook temps within 10 degrees each side.

My lid does leak a bit only after adding fuel/wood. Once the smoke settles it won't smoke as bad. Was going to use gasket to seal it up but decided not to. What I wanted to mod is the heat plate and water pan, extra shelf in cook chamber, fire box and gasket. All sold at the website I think you mentioned in a earlier post. I may add mods in the future but they are not needed. Sure mods may help with temp regulation but I decided to learn this offset and dream of upgrading to a heavier gauge smoker eventually.

 

[davidski]

fire grate mods? you mean spinning the grate and getting it higher off the metal?  

 

[vegasrc1]

fire grate mods? you mean spinning the grate and getting it higher off the metal?  

Yes, also take a second grate from the cook chamber and put it in the fire box. That way you have more to hold your coals. First time I only used one grate and my coals would fall off the grate to either side. With the second one I don't have them falling into the ash. I will try to post a picture of it later.

I had trouble maintaining a temp over 225 when the fire grate was low. It would smother the fire once ash built up. Yesterday I smoked 12+ hours and ash never reached the grate. Before turning the grate I had to remove ash every 2 hours to keep the fire going.

 

[joe black]

The only problem of a heavy smoker is that you can't turn it to catch the wind. Mine is 800#+ and it does not move at all. But, I would not give up size and thickness for mobility.

If you remove the existing fire grate and get a charcoal basket, you will kill two birds with one stone. You can make the basket where it will sit a little higher and removing the existing grate will allow more air to move through the coals. With my basket, I can keep all of the coals together and still have enough space for splits.

Good luck and keep at it, Joe

 

[vegasrc1]

The only problem of a heavy smoker is that you can't turn it to catch the wind. Mine is 800#+ and it does not move at all. But, I would not give up size and thickness for mobility.

If you remove the existing fire grate and get a charcoal basket, you will kill two birds with one stone. You can make the basket where it will sit a little higher and removing the existing grate will allow more air to move through the coals. With my basket, I can keep all of the coals together and still have enough space for splits.

Good luck and keep at it, Joe

I would suggest a basket also but I would set it on one fire grate. I want to do this mod but I have been lazy to go get expanded metal and make one but I will eventually. The basket would keep the fire in one spot making it more efficient and let you preheat wood without them catching fire(happens to me sometimes).

 

[davidski]

yep. got the basket already i made for the brinkmann