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What to do with cheap smoker? #6755862 05/06/17 12:52 PM
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One of my neighbors moved and left me his offset smoker, it's a inexpensive Charbroil brand that looks like it's never been used. Up till now, I've only ever grilled or slow cooked on a large Weber kettle that I've had for years. Been wanting to try a smoker for occasional ribs, chicken, small brisket and this thing just fell in my lap....., is it gonna be a waste of time to mess with (looks like really thin metal with many gaps/leak paths) or should I fire it up and use it to learn on? I guess I'll get it going and check it out to at least see how hard it will be to maintain temp?


Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6755869 05/06/17 01:00 PM
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Learn with it. Get some of that high temp strip sealant and put it around each door and lid. The thin ones can definitely be hard to hold your temp until you figure it out. But that doesn't mean they dont make good food!



Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6755897 05/06/17 01:30 PM
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post a pic of it

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: NewGulf] #6755917 05/06/17 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted By: NewGulf
post a pic of it


Added a pic...., even left me a fancy looking charcoal starter. I'm gonna get it going a little later.

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6755958 05/06/17 02:51 PM
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Sell it now while it still looks good and its the right time of year. Charbroil are extremely poorly built and as you noticed very thin metal.


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: Stub] #6756659 05/07/17 01:16 PM
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Well, I put a chimney load of hot chacoal in the box and a couple chunks of wood. Didn't leak smoke as bad as I thought it would. I was able to keep it at 300-350 (according to the thermometer on the lid) for almost 4 hours, had to add a couple handfuls of charcoal along the way. Probaby didn't help that I opened the lid several times to see how much smoke was inside. Gonna round up better thermometers (want to put one on the cooking grate) and do another dry run. I'll use it to learn on and to test my patience!

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6756773 05/07/17 03:33 PM
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nice looking little pit.

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6756792 05/07/17 04:05 PM
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On your next run try holding temp at 225.



Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6756804 05/07/17 04:27 PM
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Ant nothing wrong with 300 deg. Don't believe the hype.

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: Classic Rocks] #6756846 05/07/17 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted By: Classic Rocks
Ant nothing wrong with 300 deg. Don't believe the hype.


yep there sure aint as long as you like cooking the hell out of something

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6756878 05/07/17 06:15 PM
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I say show that smoaker a little love and fire that baby up!

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6757613 05/08/17 02:58 PM
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Clark

For a lower temp, start with a half chimney of charcoal, the add small amounts along. You should be able to control the temp close to any level you want but it will take attention (and a little experimentation at first). The amount of charcoal will determine the heat level, the number of smokewood chunks will determine the amount of smoke. You can have some control on heat and smoke with the damper on the top of the chimney, too. The smoke doesn't have to be really heavy to get good flavor. If you get a thin blue-white smoke out of the chimney you should be getting good flavor-- no need to open to check inside. smile

The big, heavy-duty, stick smokers use only wood after you get it started. For that, your temp and smoke is determined by how often you add wood. That requires a good bit more practice and attention to get the temps and level of smoke that you want. In my mind, that is more of an art and requires some time and lots of effort to become a real pitmaster (I am not one).


Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: StretchR] #6758660 05/09/17 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted By: StretchR
Clark

For a lower temp, start with a half chimney of charcoal, the add small amounts along. You should be able to control the temp close to any level you want but it will take attention (and a little experimentation at first). The amount of charcoal will determine the heat level, the number of smokewood chunks will determine the amount of smoke. You can have some control on heat and smoke with the damper on the top of the chimney, too. The smoke doesn't have to be really heavy to get good flavor. If you get a thin blue-white smoke out of the chimney you should be getting good flavor-- no need to open to check inside. smile

The big, heavy-duty, stick smokers use only wood after you get it started. For that, your temp and smoke is determined by how often you add wood. That requires a good bit more practice and attention to get the temps and level of smoke that you want. In my mind, that is more of an art and requires some time and lots of effort to become a real pitmaster (I am not one).


well stated!!! it took me about 12-15 burns to figure out my big heavy duty stick smoker that was similar in design to my previous smoker, but much larger and heavier steel. It takes to playing around and fine tuning ...


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6759519 05/10/17 03:18 AM
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Use it to learn and practice on then upgrade.


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6760219 05/10/17 08:34 PM
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Smoke the meat for about 4-6 hours. Then wrap in tin foil and finish off in the house oven at 250. Much easier to control


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: YellowDog] #6760792 05/11/17 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted By: YellowDog
Smoke the meat for about 4-6 hours. Then wrap in tin foil and finish off in the house oven at 250. Much easier to control


Gross. I never wrap in foil. Might as well call it a roast. 200-225 for a long time. If I'm in a hurry, 250-275 for 4-6 hours


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6760855 05/11/17 11:46 AM
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don't ever smoke anything by time. Internal temp will tell you when it's ready.


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: BigPig] #6760860 05/11/17 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted By: BigPig
Originally Posted By: YellowDog
Smoke the meat for about 4-6 hours. Then wrap in tin foil and finish off in the house oven at 250. Much easier to control


Gross. I never wrap in foil. Might as well call it a roast. 200-225 for a long time. If I'm in a hurry, 250-275 for 4-6 hours
Exactly! thats what ive been telling everyone for years but the foilheads wont listen lol

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: Tres] #6760879 05/11/17 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted By: Tres
Use it to learn and practice on then upgrade.


Great advice up

The mention of Char Broil name irritates me because they are so huge and keep buying up quality makers of smokers and ruining them. CharBroil bought Oklahoma Joes & New Braunfels smoker companies, now those smokers are made of thinner steel and who knows what other cost cutting (cheapening) measures they took to reap a lot more $$ bang


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6761401 05/11/17 07:42 PM
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I usually only wrap in foil if it stalls, then open back up once it starts moving again


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6761677 05/11/17 11:46 PM
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How about wrapping in butcher paper?



Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: 68rustbucket] #6761943 05/12/17 03:50 AM
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Can't beat it for brisket IMO, never tried on ribs or shoulder but plan to experiment with it soon.


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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6763030 05/13/17 01:44 PM
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My first, and current smoker is a cheap chargriller that my wife bought me for Christmas a couple years ago. I certainly plan to upgrade in the few years, but it has worked for me. I've done brisket, Pork shoulder, ribs, chicken, Thankgiving turkeys, chicken. As said, get some high temp strip seal and that will help maintain temp. When it's cold and or windy, the thin metal will make holding temp more work, but I use that as an excuse to sit on the back porch with my favorite beverage and catch up on THF posts.

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Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6763052 05/13/17 02:26 PM
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Me and my son just finished up my own offset smoker. 3/8" steel chamber and firebox. We think it weighs about 800lbs or so. Thursday night my son stays up all night tending the fire on her maiden voyage smoke....2 pork butts about 8lbs each. The cc is 4ft and 24" diameter. He said both tel true gauges held within 10 degrees of each other all night (no tuning plates) and the pit held temps for about 45-60 minutes with each log added. Thats what THICK steel will do for you over the thinner stuff.

My baby!!! BTW the pulled pork was outstanding.

Re: What to do with cheap smoker? [Re: clarkfork] #6765745 05/16/17 06:39 PM
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Do a Google search for "char broil smoker mods". With a few simple tweaks those can be very serviceable little smokers.

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