New smoking enthusiast in KY

[HempKnight]

Hey everyone!

My wife just bought me a smoker for my birthday. It is a char-griller pro series 2019. I have added 2 new thermometers just above grill level. I also added high temp rtv sealant and lava lock thermal gasket around the chamber lid and firebox . I also sealed the exhaust stack.
I also made a basket from ungalvanized expanded metal and angle iron.

 

[Sowsage]

Welcome. Great mods to your smoker. I think you will find the basket great for longer cooks. Looking forward to seeing your new toy in use!

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Welcome to the addiction neighbor from Middle TN! Nice smoker!

 

[HempKnight]

Thanks Sowsage. My birthday was this past Sunday, August 25th. Unfortunately it has rained the past three days so I have not been able to season the smoker yet. I have sealed it the best I can as that is the number one complaint I have read about on the smoker & seen on YouTube.
I picked up a small load of applewood from a buddy of mine, and snagged a few small bags of chunk mesquite and hickory from Home Depot.

 

[HempKnight]

Welcome to the addiction neighbor from Middle TN! Nice smoker!

Thanks! I was a kitchen manager for a while at Famous Daves BBQ. I absolutely love the flavor of a well smoked piece of meat. I'm very much looking forward to starting my new culinary hobby!

 

[noboundaries]

Welcome to SMF! Nice new toy...and a REAL smart wife! There's only one problem, it's too clean. Baptize that baby in smoke and post your inaugural effort to feed the home crew. It's gonna be great!

Enjoy the forum.

Ray

 

[pigbark]

Welcome.. Nice mods, i took my charcoal holder and flipped it upside down and took some rolled up alum. foil and filled the gap up.. it helps with the hot spot on the FB end.. you will love that one, its the one that gets you hooked..

southern Indiana here..

 

[HempKnight]

Welcome to SMF! Nice new toy...and a REAL smart wife! There's only one problem, it's too clean. Baptize that baby in smoke and post your inaugural effort to feed the home crew. It's gonna be great!

Enjoy the forum.

Ray

Thanks Ray! I will definitely be breaking it it as soon as I possibly can. It has rained everyday since I got and modded it. I'm hoping to get it seasoned asap, and get my first smoke going. I'll definitely post pictures when I get it going!

 

[HempKnight]

Welcome.. Nice mods, i took my charcoal holder and flipped it upside down and took some rolled up alum. foil and filled the gap up.. it helps with the hot spot on the FB end.. you will love that one, its the one that gets you hooked..

southern Indiana here..

Great tip, thanks a lot! Do yo have this same model smoker? This is the char-griller outlaw. How is it in holding an even temp for long periods?

 

[Sowsage]

Thanks Sowsage. My birthday was this past Sunday, August 25th. Unfortunately it has rained the past three days so I have not been able to season the smoker yet. I have sealed it the best I can as that is the number one complaint I have read about on the smoker & seen on YouTube.
I picked up a small load of applewood from a buddy of mine, and snagged a few small bags of chunk mesquite and hickory from Home Depot.

Happy birthday man! My wife's is the 26th lol! Hang in there the rain will pass. Is this your first smoker?

 

[pigbark]

Great tip, thanks a lot! Do yo have this same model smoker? This is the char-griller outlaw. How is it in holding an even temp for long periods?

yea I have a 8 yr old Outlaw that's due for some work now but it's been a good one for the money.. I used wood and lump mix.. mine had the same upgrade mods you have.. it held temp fairly well after the mods.. once you get the air flow dialed in, your fine.. add a little more fuel here n there and sip that KY Bourbon.

 

[pigbark]

https://bbqsmokermods.com/oem-smoke...by-lavalockr-fits-most-models-except-duo.html

I am going to get one of these to put on since my charcoal rack is burnt up..

 

[HempKnight]

yea I have a 8 yr old Outlaw that's due for some work now but it's been a good one for the money.. I used wood and lump mix.. mine had the same upgrade mods you have.. it held temp fairly well after the mods.. once you get the air flow dialed in, your fine.. add a little more fuel here n there and sip that KY Bourbon.

Right on that sounds good. That is the one thing I was worried about was how hard it would be to manage the fire to hold a consistent temp.

 

[HempKnight]

https://bbqsmokermods.com/oem-smoke...by-lavalockr-fits-most-models-except-duo.html

I am going to get one of these to put on since my charcoal rack is burnt up..

I watched a YouTube video where a guy takes the 2 sear plates that are provided for the firebox and turned them into baffles. He takes them and wrapped them in heavy duty foil. He then shows the temp with them in place and without and he holds temp with only a 1 degree difference.

Check out the video here, it may save you some $$ :

 

[pigbark]

nice .. I'll do something like that I'm sure. it all depends on the cooking chamber wall that the FB mounts to.. it may be to far gone .. it has had use since day 1.. my wife and I have been talking about a new Lang or building a brick style smoker here at the house.. weighing out the pros and cons ..

 

[JC in GB]

Welcome from Wisconsin. Hope you get some great cooks out of that rig.

JC

 

[HempKnight]

Welcome from Wisconsin. Hope you get some great cooks out of that rig.

JC

Thanks! I'm finally getting her fired up later today? I have 2 racks of ribs and a whole chicken I plan to cook using the spatchcock method. I plan on injecting the chicken with a creole garlic butter, then applying a nice poultry rub. For the ribs, we are using only a rub, not going to sauce them.

I have a nice load of apple wood and I'm picking up two loads of oak tomorrow morning. I'm going to be using Royal Oak Lump charcoal.

 

[gmc2003]

Nice job on the mods, and good luck on your maiden voyage. Be sure to let us know how it turns out. I started out with a similar smoker the Duo. It took some babysitting, but put out some good grub.

Chris

 

[pigbark]

Thanks! I'm finally getting her fired up later today? I have 2 racks of ribs and a whole chicken I plan to cook using the spatchcock method. I plan on injecting the chicken with a creole garlic butter, then applying a nice poultry rub. For the ribs, we are using only a rub, not going to sauce them.

I have a nice load of apple wood and I'm picking up two loads of oak tomorrow morning. I'm going to be using Royal Oak Lump charcoal.

On the 8th day there was Smoke and Fire and Man was Addicted to it.

 

[chopsaw]

I had a char griller years ago . Turned out some great food .
Welcome .