Hey SFBD,
I live in Columbus, OH now but grew up in LaPorte. Used to go to South Bend/Goshen/Mishiwaka all the time. Used to do inventory in the Martin's supermarkets in SB.
I have the
CharGriller Pro. My first attempt at smoking for real was with the
Chargriller. I have only had mine since December. Get a digital thermometer. The Maverick ET-73 is a nice Thermometer. Dual probes. One for the smoker, one for the meat.
What I do for fire is...
1.) Natural lump charcoal. (walmart Royal Oak, 10 lbs, $6)
2.) Hickory wood chunks (Walmart $4)
3.) I have three chimmney starters. Fill all three. with charcoal.
4.) Light one. Once it's nice and hot, dump it in the firebox.
5.) Dump the two unlit chimmney fulls on the hot coals.
6.) Close the lid, open the damper.
7.) Open the smoke stack all the way.
8.) Once you are up to temp (220), add one large chunk of hardwood, just outside the charcoal.
9.) You will have smoke in about 5 minutes.
10.) start smoking.
This starter will give you about 1.5 hours of heat. I start another chimmney at about the 1 hour mark and then add another chimmnet ever hour and hardwood as needed.