Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Just make sure you foil and cup the bottom grate well. You don't want any of that stuff dripping onto the vent fins. If it gets caked on there you'll find the vents frozen stuck the next time you use your grill. You don't want that...:D

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Good thinking. Seems like it'll be like culinary super glue once it dries.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

If you don't have the side of the coal grate that is under the food foiled you can get some crazy drafts in there that can run your temps up.

I run foil on that side of the grate for drafts and I just have a $1 disposable aluminum turkey roasting pan in there to catch the drippings. I hardly ever bother to drain it, when it gets too gnarly or ends up with some small leaks, I just toss it and stick a new one in.

What did you have your vents set at and what fuel were you using when you were running into the 330F temps?

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Two things come to mind for that much of a temp problem:
Cooking chamber leaking like a seive and firebox problems (if it's a side firebox).

Check around the lid/door seal on the cooking chamber, see if it's leaking. Is the door warped? If an SFB, check where the SFB mounts to the cooking chamber. Brad (OLS) knows the char-grillers well, he might have some tips on how to find it or where to look on them.

As for the fire box, i've seen some modifications to the charcoal baskets for the SFBs posted around. Keep the coals from being smothered in their own ash.

As for the fuel, while Cowboy charcoal has lots of shortcomings in the flavor, wood quality and burn time department, I don't recall low temp being a problem with it.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Thanks for the info i will look more into it the next time I fire that bad boy up

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I have the side of the grate under the food foiled and also have a large drip pan. The bottom vents were originally set between 25% and 50% for 25 or so minutes, but I ended up closing them to get a handle on the temp. The top vent was open all the way. I was using KF blue.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I will definitely foil up the food side now that you mention that TG.
As for the Char-Griller, I do not have a fire box, so I can't speak to that
but most people say that you get a lot of bolt holes that are drilled out
but not always used, and you get draft through there, so they fill with
random bolts. And also the lid is not a fantastic seal either, so you get
some leakage there. You can attach some 'foil rope' to seal the pit, some
people use fiberglass rope to do it as well. I just let it leak and keep my
vents nearly closed, chimney wide open. I pile my coals near the vent side
and cook on the opposite side. Not classic indirect grilling as Raichlen would
call it, but it cooks meat. Then I take my camera outside in my pocket and
forget that it's there.

At the reduced meat section yesterday, I got 7 lbs of 85 percent lean ground
beef for 6 dollars, some nice sirloin tip steaks for the jerkomatic and some chuck
steaks for the Jerkomatic. 7 different packs of meat for 18 bucks. Making some jerky
tonight.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

We had a big Family get together for my Grandmothers 100th Birthday on Sunday.
I was in charge of the "Smoke" for 21 people.

Yup, you guessed it....Pork Shoulders.


(2) 7 lb Boneless Shoulders from CostCo.




This is 22 hours after the "Rub of Love"

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0...D720/ry%3D480/


14 hours later w/ I.T. of 200*

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0...D720/ry%3D480/


Ready to be wrapped up for 2 Hrs of the F.T.C. method

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0...D720/ry%3D480/

It pulled like a dream and tasted even better. Killer Bark. Sorry, no after pics. They came out super blurry. ;s


After pulling and saucing I baked up 3 dozen of these suckers for the Pig/Barn Herf on Saturday. Peanut butter Chocolate Chip.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0...D720/ry%3D480/

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Damn that bark looks good!....and cookies to boot!....Nice!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Due to the larger vents on the 26", you might have to close them down much earlier than that. Thinking that in the 25 minutes, you might have had a large number of coals light off.

Also could have been the wind, creating a force draft in there.

Have you checked your lid thermometer for accuracy?

Just looked at your cook times, 4 hours total, that's about right for ribs. You might have been running a bit hot, but possibly not as hot as you might think.

I've long suspected that grate temps on these fire-brick modified webers are actually lower than the lid temps and exhaust temps, but I don't have remote probes to verify it with. My lid temp could be reading one number halfway up the lid, but yet my cook times to the point where I hit desired temp as indicated with a pocket thermometer probe and by feel with a fork, point towards a lower grate temp, like 30 degrees less than the $6 universal gauge from home depot tells me.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Makes sense. I’ll close them down a lot sooner next time and open as necessary.

No, I haven’t. If they’re anything like stock hygros, I imagine I’ll have to get a better one.

Makes sense. I figured the grate temp would be less, but just not sure by how much. I’m going to look for a thermo that I can place on the grate.

Thanks.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I believe even un-modified the temps are much lower at grate level.
When I used to do pizzas on the kettle (non-grilled, over a stone) I had to elevate the pizza off the grate about 4" for the toppings to cook. Otherwise, it took forever for the toppings to cook at gate level while the bottoms of the crust were getting charred....:D

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

MMMMmmmmm....smoked cookies.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

After pulling and saucing I baked up 3 dozen of these suckers for the Pig/Barn Herf on Saturday. Peanut butter Chocolate Chip.



:fu2 :pn

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

May I just say, there has been some AWESOME looking food on this thread
in the past few days. Plus this forum is SOOOooooooo slow the past couple
weeks, so saying anything is a good idea. But those two chunks Mr. B posted
up were about as pretty and textbook as I have seen in 45 pages. :tu

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Right on Brother, thanks for the BBQ love :tu

Bring on those food pics. I love em too.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

some beef flanken style short ribs from the weekend.... ate too fast before could take pics.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...3MjAtMTMwO.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...3MjAtMTMwO.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...3MjAtMTMxN.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...3MjAtMTMxN.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...3MjAtMTMyM.jpg

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Great pics and a very cool idea.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

That's the stuff Piggly Wiggly keeps on putting in the reduced rack, but for some reason they cut them in 3/8s inch slices
and for some reason they are high priced even reduced, (for what they are). But maybe they'd sell better if they would
stop freaking slicing them.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I haven't done a catering gig for nearly a year as I have been too busy... That being said, I have one small one each of the next 2 weekends. I am kind of excited even if it will be too hot for man or beast!! Maybe I will post some pics... but knowing me I won't!!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I know what you mean Brent. I have one in 2 weeks and possibly a couple one in about a month. Yea, tending a fire in August and September, the hottest months in Florida!

I WILL be posting though :dr

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Gonna be a 100 here on saturday.....feel like 110 with the humidity....but I got spares on the brain....I'll be wearing a path from the smoker to the pool!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

THAT is the way to do it!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

.....hahaha.....might even wheel her down to the edge!! :tu

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I invited myself and a couple of buddies over to my MIL's house last evening for an informal mini-herf so we could relax in her pool and watch the moon come up over the river. Even at 10:00 the pool felt like bathwater but it was relaxing!). I just can't get my smoker through her gate.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

2 words....Back...hoe....:r

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

4 words...she...would...kill...me

:r

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictur...Pool%20001.jpg

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha......is that her pool?.....Sweet!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Yup. It's a great place to enjoy a summer cigar!

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictur...irls%20003.jpg

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

That is so sweet Steve!!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I have grown to ADMIRE Steve over the past 6 months or so,
but I never really ENVIED the man until that shot.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I'm blushing...:D

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Large and in charge Brother!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

That's a great way to spend an afternoon!! :tu

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Very nice. Looks like a sweet spot.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

just put a grass fed briskett down, gonna see if it better or worse than corn fed
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

steve: grad a farmer tan there brother :r
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Gonna throw some baby backs on in a couple hours. :D

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I cooked 12 racks of spares yesterday. They came out great!!! 10 where for a catering job. The other two were consumed for lunch today with collard greens from the freezer, fresh conch peas, and fresh fried okra out of the garden. Man I love being southern!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

:dr:dr......:tu

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

I did some spares...and brats-in-a-blanket...wife was away and the boys were at play...smoked meat...and cigars...and several adult beverages...a good day...

http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...oker/001-8.jpg

http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...oker/003-9.jpg

http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...oker/007-7.jpg

Father's day gift:
http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...oker/010-6.jpg

http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...oker/011-6.jpg

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Dang that looks good Keith. Had the BDS chuggin' huh?

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Yep...chugged at 225-250 all day...did some wings for dessert...a no side dish meat fest!!...It was hot here yesterday so did a lot of running between smoker and pool...always good to shoot the bull with the boys...went thru a bunch o' brown liquor too!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Wife out of town = mandatory boys only meatfest with sides of brown liquor and cigars!!! I love how you roll!!!

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Here's a pic of my set up:

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/IMG_2960.jpg

I have two BB slabs that have been going for just over an hour. The smaller one has no heat in the rub and the larger one has plenty. :D

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/IMG_2968.jpg

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/IMG_2967.jpg

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/IMG_2970.jpg


I'm also going to throw on some corn in a couple hours.

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Save me some Mike! I'm still at work! :D

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

:p

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

swagger, baby, swagger!!





(....and I got 2 more days to clean the house before my princess gets back)

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Here's the final product. I was so hungry, I forgot to snap pics of them cut. :)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/IMG_2973.jpg

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/IMG_2974.jpg

Re: What's in your smoker?
 

Looks like some good eating today. :tu