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Post by trailboss on Feb 28, 2021 20:07:01 GMT -5
I woke up this morning and decided that my smoker has served me 24 years well and provided fabulous meals, it is a Silver Smoker made by New Braunfels smokers in Texas before they sold out to charbroil and went to tin over heavy iron. Even then, I had to make a couple mods by lowering the chimney inside the cooking chamber and making a heat deflector out of a cut in half cookie sheet. Still after Arizona summers, the wood needed to be replaced, the grill grates replaced, disassembled and install heat resistant gaskets on all the doors and finally spring for charcoal box for the firebox. When I added up the costs I was looking at $200.00 mostly because I would need to have custom grates made. Sad looking puppy:   Not wanting to spring for a new grill, I decided to see if anyone had a suitable replacement on Offer up that was in good shape. Earlier in the day, a Scottsdale resident that wanted to downsize had posted an Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn grill ($500.00 new). Charbroil also bought out Oklahoma Joes and also started cutting corners, but quickly realized that they were shooting themselves in the foot and changed course.
It is much cleaner than mine. I did some quick research and after a person makes the mods with the heat resistant gaskets, baffler plate, smokestack extension, and charcoal box, it is a great unit. When I expressed my concerns, he told me that he had made all the mods. So, even though he used it quite a bit, he was really good about taking care of his stuff...if I bought it all new, it and made the mods, it would be $700.00 minimum, I bought the seasoned smoker for $200.00. Happy as a clam. All I need is the minion inserts that a welder buddy can make for the charcoal basket to use the minion/ serpentine method for long cooking sessions.  I am already looking forward to next weekend. Pardon all of the trash in the background, cleaned the garage, waiting for bulk trash day in a week or so.    |
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Post by daveinlax on Feb 28, 2021 20:16:51 GMT -5
WoW! Looks Good! Very Clean! Great Deal!  |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Feb 28, 2021 20:21:50 GMT -5
Great smoker!
Had to do something similar with my grill...brought back 50#'s of Mesquite charcoal lumps from Texas to grill with...haven't done much with it...looking forward to doing some grilling with that great Mesquite.
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Post by Gandalf on Feb 28, 2021 20:47:48 GMT -5
Sounds like a great deal!
Looking forward to pictures of what you create on that baby.
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Post by trailboss on Feb 28, 2021 20:53:39 GMT -5
Thanks guys, I was looking at the horizon smokers for some time at bass pro which are Cadillac grills that come with Cadillac price tags. www.basspro.com/shop/en/Horizon-Smoker-20-Classic-Backyard-Smoker?rrec=trueI think this one will suit me well...as with many things at some price point, there is the going past the point of diminishing returns. Oh, and the people filled the rest of my truck with seasoned pecan wood...I think that smoked turkey is coming our way. I converted my son in law over to the dark side once he started eating food cooked over wood instead of his Gas Genesis. The New Braunfels still has "good bones" so I think my project is to trick it out for him with all the aforementioned upgrades and include the solid steel wagon wheels, and full baffle plate instead of the redneck one I made. Them Arizona baked plastic ones that are currently on it, are rolling on borrowed time. |
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Post by Professor S. on Feb 28, 2021 20:53:45 GMT -5
Heck yeah!! Congratulations
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Post by taiguy66 on Feb 28, 2021 21:00:50 GMT -5
I’m a little late to the party but looking good Charlie!
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Post by trailboss on Feb 28, 2021 21:04:58 GMT -5
I’m a little late to the party but looking good Charlie! Say what? I am still on the same bowl. |
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Post by taiguy66 on Feb 28, 2021 21:11:22 GMT -5
I’m a little late to the party but looking good Charlie! Say what? I am still on the same bowl. You know me, I like to be prompt. Besides you already thanked everyone for their replies. 😁 |
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Post by trailboss on Feb 28, 2021 21:17:24 GMT -5
FWIW, one thing I noticed on my older grill if you guys have any buddies that have a threaded thermometer into a hood on a smoker like this: www.basspro.com/shop/en/horizon-smoker-3-smoker-thermometer?rrec=trueIf they lift the lid, tell them to periodically put a wire wheel on a drill and buff off the carbon....I know it is common sense but like a pipe, the carbon builds up and gives an inaccurate reading. Even having said that, there is no substitute for a digital probe with a standoff holder on the grate. |
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Post by urbino on Feb 28, 2021 22:53:53 GMT -5
Very nice, Charlie. You two should be very happy together.
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Post by kxg on Feb 28, 2021 23:41:49 GMT -5
You did good Charlie!
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Post by Legend Lover on Mar 1, 2021 7:25:56 GMT -5
Nice work, Charlie. Be sure to send some of your ware my way.
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Post by lizardonarock on Mar 1, 2021 9:46:58 GMT -5
Nice q Charlie I see many happy meals in your future.
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Post by Darin on Mar 1, 2021 13:20:09 GMT -5
Sweet! That should bring years of smoky goodness! 😎
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Post by trailboss on Mar 6, 2021 23:38:55 GMT -5
Glad to say, the smoker works. Kroger had spareribs for .99 per pound, so they were the first sacrifice.  |
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Post by urbino on Mar 7, 2021 2:29:02 GMT -5
Them look tasty.
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briarbuck
Full Member
Leave the gun...take the cannoli.
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Post by briarbuck on Mar 7, 2021 11:21:16 GMT -5
I'm doing ribs today as well. Nice looking. Those side by sides just look bad assed. Not my favorite to cook on, but I do like the look of them.
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Post by trailboss on Mar 7, 2021 23:50:38 GMT -5
I'm doing ribs today as well. Nice looking. Those side by sides just look bad assed. Not my favorite to cook on, but I do like the look of them. The firebox takes more work than a pellet smoker (which my brother is a big proponent of) but I think the rewards are greater with the traditional smoker. |
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briarbuck
Full Member
Leave the gun...take the cannoli.
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Post by briarbuck on Mar 8, 2021 9:49:13 GMT -5
I'm doing ribs today as well. Nice looking. Those side by sides just look bad assed. Not my favorite to cook on, but I do like the look of them. The firebox takes more work than a pellet smoker (which my brother is a big proponent of) but I think the rewards are greater with the traditional smoker. Totally get it. Stoking a box with wood is a great way to cook. I did it for years and would again. It's more that moving heat horizontally can leave you with cold spots. Vertical smokers tend to be a little more stable. Less ups and downs with the temperatures so you can walk away for 4 hours and know it won't move. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 8, 2021 10:21:33 GMT -5
I'm doing ribs today as well. Nice looking. Those side by sides just look bad assed. Not my favorite to cook on, but I do like the look of them. The firebox takes more work than a pellet smoker (which my brother is a big proponent of) but I think the rewards are greater with the traditional smoker. That serpentine charcoal box will help, won't it? |
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briarbuck
Full Member
Leave the gun...take the cannoli.
Posts: 851
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Post by briarbuck on Mar 8, 2021 10:50:31 GMT -5
The firebox takes more work than a pellet smoker (which my brother is a big proponent of) but I think the rewards are greater with the traditional smoker. That serpentine charcoal box will help, won't it? Absolutely it will. I like the way it's constructed and the way they try and spread the heat out. There are infinite designs out there. I run a regular ol Large Webber Kettle and am happy with it.   |
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Post by trailboss on Mar 8, 2021 19:07:36 GMT -5
The best Prime Rib that I ever made was on a Weber Kettle. 30 years later, my brother still talks about it. Not smoked prime rib mind you, roasted using the indirect method with a drip pan under the meat
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Post by trailboss on Mar 8, 2021 19:19:51 GMT -5
The serpentine method helps with the longevity of the cook, but I am going to purchase a larger charcoal basket when I order the T-bars or have my buddy make them.
I filled the charcoal basket and wasn’t able to get the temp that I needed, granted I was running behind schedule. I used split oak alongside and it maintained the temperature perfectly.
One thing that really helped though, is that the grill came with an ash dredger that periodically I can drag the ashes out from under the charcoal box, and thereby maintaining better airflow than I ever could have with the old unit.
My galvanized bucket slides perfectly under the firebox door.
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Post by qmechanics on Mar 9, 2021 23:23:13 GMT -5
And here I thought you were investing in a newer younger clone of yourself....Go figure....
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jay
Junior Member
Edward's Pipes....only Edward's pipes....and Buccaneer in the bowl
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Post by jay on Mar 10, 2021 0:45:53 GMT -5
Ooooo.....meat!!!
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briarbuck
Full Member
Leave the gun...take the cannoli.
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Post by briarbuck on Mar 11, 2021 11:29:43 GMT -5
The best Prime Rib that I ever made was on a Weber Kettle. 30 years later, my brother still talks about it. Not smoked prime rib mind you, roasted using the indirect method with a drip pan under the meat Yup. I will do a pork butt for up to 16 hours @ 275. The great thing is it lets me sit on my deck for 2 days and tell the wife "I'm working". There are better cookers on the market, just not sure how you can beat the value of a Webber. |
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Post by lizardonarock on Mar 11, 2021 15:01:15 GMT -5
With just two of us w chose the JUMBO JOE CHARCOAL GRILL 18" it is the most charcoal picky grill I have ever had. But I low and slow. These work bbcharcoal.com/product/competition-char-logs/ they are like a pipe hollow on the inside and burn for hours. |
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Post by qmechanics on Mar 11, 2021 15:05:44 GMT -5
Glad to say, the smoker works. Kroger had spareribs for .99 per pound, so they were the first sacrifice. The only word for it is:
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Post by trailboss on Mar 11, 2021 18:34:56 GMT -5
Thank you.
I used to finish the ribs off by wrapping in foil for the last few hours and they slipped off the bone, tasted great and no one ever complained, but it lacked the texture that the big dogs have in competition.
If you look at the ribs, there is a crack in the meat...once you lift them from the grill with tongs and the center cracks, they are done on a slow cook...great texture.
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