Tar crystals in my exhaust pipe......

[Daugie]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here and I know I'm with the right kind of folk. Been smoking forever, even back with Weber kettles using chips. Speaking of chips, I have a long belief that watering down wood chips makes tar & corrupts the natural wood oils. So after trying both, I profess that not soaking smoking wood in water is a good thing. The flavor is bitter with the wet wood, and the steam does not do the meat any favors.

Currently I have a CHEAP Brinkman smoker that is going on it's 4th firebox. The main chamber is well seasoned with chicken oil so well that it refuses to rust, others that purchased the same smoker have had theirs turn to dust in a couple years. I just hope it never catches fire!

Been looking at some pellet smokers, but just wrap my mind around an electric or gas cooked treat. But my fire box catches fire sometimes too, so perhaps the benefit outweighs the difference. Having to set the temp and walk away seems to not a bad thing. I believe more iron and less sheetmetal would not be a bad thing either.

Pleasure to be here and look forward to my Thanksgiving turkey this year. Have learned allot reading all of 'yalls posts and expert advice.

May my Texas smoke blow down yer hollar....Happy Thanksgiving

Daugie

 

[keithu]

Welcome!

Regarding your firebox troubles, are you building the fire directly on a grate? Perhaps try building a charcoal basket out of expanded metal mesh. That should keep the fire up off the firebox floor and walls. Or do misunderstand the issue?

 

[Daugie]

I build the fire on a grate, Even when I wanna look inside as soon as I lift the lid it catches fire but before then it was always doing fine . Containing it the fire in a Box is not a bad idea my only problem is that The firebox never seems to get hot enough in the old Brinkman . But for a cold smoke it's Ideal.

Now you have me thinking ....I could do the cold smoke 1st and then get the temperature way up at the end. That's usually when the fire wants to catch fire anyway . I like the idea of yours with a smaller removable crucible . I just like to get it hot early. I know there is a secret to arranging the smoldering wood and the coals but I've yet to figure it out other than the stand the wood up vertically when I can .

Daugie

 

[motocrash]

Welcome Daugie! Rings needs to take this one he seems to have the ECB well tamed.He is on a bacon smoking Safari at this moment. Check this thread out and search some other threads of his.http://smokingmeatforums.com/index.php?threads/ecb-bbb-plans-looking-good.269667/

Bill

 

[motocrash]

Ooops!You have a horizontal offset FB Brinkmann.Nevermind the aforementioned.You need to degrease whole smoker with a putty knife and position smoker so firebox end is higher to make grease run away from it.There are many threads on here with mods that will help you.

 

[Daugie]

Thanks motocrash, I'll look them up.