New OK Joe

[Yjaytom]

have an MES smoker that the control panel died on, to the tune of $100, that coupled with the fact I’ve wanted to step up to a wood/charcoal smoker and Walmart had a Highlander for $184, I bought myself a late Christmas present. To boot? It was the last one and the display so I got it assembled for no cost. I’ve began modifying it with door seals, a dampener, a charcoal basket, and pinched down the opening from the fire box to the cook chamber a bit. I used it one time on some ribeyes before the mods and they turned out great. Today I will do a roast or something (whatever is on sale) and see how it goes. Those of you with a similar smoker, you think my internal mods are a good starting point?

 

[Yjaytom]

I’m gonna give a 3lb chuck roast I just bought a whirl this evening. I’ve done them a lot on an electric smoker but this will be new territory on the OK.

 

[Yjaytom]

In the smoker at 1:20pm.

 

[gmc2003]

I usually suggest using a new smoker before modding it. Some mods are unnecessary. Yours look like a good start. My only question is about the vent extension - is that galvanized metal?

Chris

 

[Yjaytom]

It’s aluminum. Made sure to check.

 

[Yjaytom]

Came out good. Simple SPOG for seasoning. Now to continue learning how run the smoker and regulate temp. It was a constant chore. I ended up removing the baffles because I was hanging around 190 near the fire box opening. When I removed them, I got up to 320 so hat to pinch down the intake. Held about 290 for a couple hours. The temp difference across the smoker was huge. It didn’t matter since I was only doing one small piece of meat, but will have to work that out for future smokes.

 

[hardcookin]

Fire management takes a little time to master. Figuring out what size split you want to use and when. After awhile it becomes 2nd nature.
Smoking with an offset you will be cooking in a range 275-300 the more experience you get the smaller your range will get.

Looks like a good first smoke!!

 

[Yjaytom]

I was happy with it. Was actually a nice pink inside. I’m gonna give some ribs a whirl today.
I just ordered a 6 probe Bluetooth thermometer to help with tuning the heat thru out the chamber and however many meats I put in. Just for giggles I’m going to make some minion bars for my charcoal basket with steel I just have laying around and see how that works. Reducing fuel consumption would be fantastic.