Replanted Texan

[kirkifer]

Greetings,

I am a replanted Texan who now lives in central Indiana. I brought my old New Braunfels Smoker with me when I moved back in 2005. I found the forum while looking for smoking woods chart. Frankly, I can't remember what is best to use. I like using Maple but recently I found a stack of Walnut. I was thinking it needed to be mixed with something else... So...

Here is some of my brisket. The New Braunfels smoker is a fairly simple unit, so I cook the brisket in a 200 degree oven for approx. 6-8 hours prior to smoking. It just helps me keep on my rest as needed. The trade off is not having quite as good of a smoke ring.

It may not be quite as pretty as some of those fancy smokers can produce, but it is pretty darn tasty and certainly moist like it needs to be.

At this point, the best smoking sausage I have found is the Polish Kielbasa from Gordon Food Service.

It smokes fairly nicely in very short time. It is meaty and has a fairly heavy texture.

Currently, I need to replace my old New Braunfels smoker. I think I am looking for a more custom box with a horizontal and vertical smoke chamber, so I can get more into poultry as well. If anyone has any recommendations, I am listening.

 

[noboundaries]

Howdy Kirkifer, welcome to SMF! Glad you're here and bringing "Ol' Rusty but Trusty" with you. A great big LIKE for your first post.

Enjoy the forum!

Ray

 

[ofelles]

Welcome. That is one well used smoker. Looks don't count product does and your product look darn good.

 

[hoity toit]

They used to make those smokers where I live, then they sold out to the big boys.

 

[smokerjim]

welcome to smf, food looks great, I don't think the smoker makes good food it's more the smokie! I have an old barrel smoker like yours different brand I use once in a while but mostly use the mes30, just easier for me, next time try starting the brisket in the smoker and finish in the oven that way you'll get your smoke rings.

 

[kirkifer]

Thanks, everyone!!! Man, I miss visiting New Braunfels, The Comal River and Schlitterbahn! I am not sure who or what Oklahoma Joe is, but they make a unit that looks almost identical. Mine has lasted at least 20 years, so I think I got my money out of it.

The weather in Indiana is pretty nice and I really don't miss the heat, unless you are talking about spices. They like it bland... I make some pretty good jalapeno' and bacon Ranch beans. Not too many Hoosiers can handle 'em. I had one West Virginian visiting who probably ate more of those beans than brisket! Dickey's finally found their way up here and they couldn't give away their jalapeno beans!

If I weld up my own smoker, does anyone have any preference on design? I think I will try building a reverse flow one. I have on occasion wanted to take my smoker somewhere but it didn't have road worthy wheels. I see a lot of people that do that and I am wondering if it is worth doing?

 

[JC in GB]

Welcome from Wisconsin. Quite a venerable rig you got going there.

JC

 

[kirkifer]

Thanks, JC

I was a travel nurse and spent time in Slinger and Kenosha. A recent trip took me to EPIC in Madison with a side trip to Baraboo. Circus World is an amazing collection of history. Wisconsin is neat !

Venerable is accurate. I was actually looking at it and the smoking box is in pretty nice shape ! I need to weld up a new firebox (It just can't handle the heat/cool cycle after all those years and has rust holes in it.) Certainly the acidic ash I leave in it when I forget to clean it doesn't help. Anyway, replace the firebox and I will have a smoker which is still very useful.

I just wonder how easy it is gonna be to weld on that 16 ga. or whatever New Braunfels Smokers used?

The new Oklahoma Joes smokers are set up as optional between direct offset and reverse flow. I am comfortable making stuff on my direct offset, but the reverse flow is pretty cool. I think their baffles are removable and the stack can be moved. Maybe I could have a hybrid with a plate halfway down the smokebox, but that might make a grease cleaning nightmare?

 

[JC in GB]

I am not well versed in offset wood smokers. I wish you success in restoring that rig.

I like Wisconsin a lot. Lived in El Paso, and NoVA for a while.

The state has changed for the worse under our last governor to the point that I am starting to look at opportunities in MN.