Rookie here - new smoker too hot

[steelcitysmoke]

Happy 4th everyone!

I just joined the site although I've been reading here for over a year and decided to finally get a cheap smoker and start messing around.

Here's the smoker that I got...It's a Brinkman vertical propane smoker:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...ngId=-1&keyword=brinkman+smoker&storeId=10051

I am also using a Maverick et-73 remote thermometer.

Here's my problem. I fired the smoker up to season it and play around with getting a steady temperature but the lowest temp I can get is around 295 degrees F. I have the valve on my propane bottle turned all the way down and the knob on the smoker all the way down as well. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help guys!

 

[jrod62]

Welcome to SMF 

 

[steelcitysmoke]

Thanks jrod!

 

[steelcitysmoke]

I also did a boiling water test on the Maverick's probes. They're almost dead on accurate.

 

[johnnie walker]

steelcitysmoke,

to SMF>

When you turned your  smoker down did you turn the knob to the Low setting? If so, try this. Turn the knob towards the off position slowly from high and you should be able to lower your flame more. You have to keep an eye on the flame as you can turn it off if you go to far.

 

[steelcitysmoke]

Thanks for the response and the welcome Johnnie!

I just ran outside and tried what you suggested. Yes, I can get the flame down lower by doing that, Great idea! I will experiment some more tomorrow and see if that will be enough to get me at a low enough temperature.

If not, I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were about adding one or two adjustable vents on the top of the smoker. There are none right now. There is a smoke stack but it is not adjustable.

 

[steelcitysmoke]

I also don't have any vents on the bottom either. Not sure if it would be better with them or not...

 

[smokinhusker]

Hello SteelCity!

Would you mind heading over to Roll Call and introducing yourself, so we can give you a proper SMF Welcome?

Thanks!

 

[johnnie walker]

SteelCity, I think I would try making the adjustments with the burner control before adding anymore vents. I have one vent at the top that is wide open on most all my smokes, and I don't have any vents in the bottom other than the opening below the burner.

 

[steelcitysmoke]

Thanks again for the response Johnnie. I was able to get much lower temperatures doing what you told me to do. Thanks for the great idea.

One other problem I am having is, since I have the flame so low to maintain a temp around 225, my wood chips/chunks are not smoking. I even replaced the factory chip pan with an old cast iron pan. (I read about doing that elsewhere on this site) Plus, now the cast iron pan is about 2 inches closer to the flame than the factory pan was. If I maintain a temp of around 300, I get good smoke. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. Any suggestions would be awesome.

Thanks again!

 

[johnnie walker]

OK, steelcity, lets try this. I just so happen to have my smoker going right now so I grabbed the camera and took a couple pictures.

Picture of the stock door thermometer. Most are junk. I know about how far off this one is so I can use it. The actual inside temp is about 20* less than the door thermo says.

OK! Here is how I use my smoke tray. Notice how close it is to the flame, (it's sitting right on top of that flange) also that only a few inches of the tray are actually over the flame! The handful of chunks are all to the front over the flame where you can't see them.

And here's what's in the smoker. Stuffed sweet peppers with Philly cream cheese and a thin slice of Prosciutto on top, and some pork shots. My buddy is having his July 4 th party tonight so that's where these are headed.

Here they are out of the smoker and ready to go partying!

Let me know if you need more help!

 

[akjoefuss]

Great post I was having the same problem, you just got to the asking quicker! Outstanding advice, and welcome to SMF!