Big Al's Farking Awesome Charcola Basket

[hobo_pie]

Just wanted to let you all know that I just the BAFACB (see subject line)..the thing works just like you all said it would.... and tonight I did pork tenderloin indirect, by setting one off the dividers all the way to the left, as close to the verticle as possible.. set the other just to the left of center of the basket.... moved the whole thing down to the lowest setting and put a rack from the verticle on top. Closed the door vents all the way and dumped a 2/3 full chimney of Royal Oak lump (god I love the Royal Oak... sure beats the Cowboy that Lowe's sells) in the left hand side, on top of a half burnt piece of hickory that was still in there from the last burn.... seared the tenderloins direct over the hot coals. then moved them over to the right hand side where there were NO COALS AT ALL... I figured if the heat could get unlit lump going in that side... it should be able to cook meat that was on that side.... I worked like a charm. Real nice tenderloin... with moisture and slight smoke ring.. done in about 17 minutes.. had just wiped with EVOO, then salt pepper, granulated garlic and Southern Flavor.

Damned near as efficient as a Weber kettle for indirect cooking.

Hope you all are doing well.. I know I don't get in here as often as I'd like...

Later dudes,

Ray

[BigAl]

Ray, give a carpenter a hammer and he will build a house! I never thought of using it like you did, but glad the BAFACB has the flexiblility to provide Qing experts the tools to 'build' great meals.

Thanks for the feedback! Glad you like it! Good thing we tested and redesigned it for about 6 months. :shock: :D :D :D :D

[redfishrandy]

Big Al
What are the dimensions of you're Charcoal Basket....does it fit snuggly into the
banderas fire box?
Also do you put it right on the grate and ash pan that comes with the smoker?
Thanks Redfish

[willkat98]

Redfish,
check out the pics in Al's folder in the Photo section. (Modifications)

[redfishrandy]

Thanks Bill saw the pic's....but need more info

[willkat98]

Sorry.

Here some more info.

Saw Als basket at fills.

It has these flanges (wings) on the side, that allow you to put it on whatever level you want. Same slats that hold your fire grate. So you can suspend it however you want.

It is made for the bandera dimensions specifically, so it fits in there very nicely.

Hope this helps to Al gets in contact with you.

[BigAl]

Big Al
What are the dimensions of you're Charcoal Basket....does it fit snuggly into the
banderas fire box?
Also do you put it right on the grate and ash pan that comes with the smoker?
Thanks Redfish

As Bill stated, the basket is designed to sit on the shelf rack tabs in the front and back of the fire box. It is a very tight fit in the fire box and only goes in one way due to the fire box vent door inside latch, install instructions are included with each one shipped. This allows the basket to be set on any of those tabs depending on what/how you are gonna cook. When cooking brisket, I use the 2nd or 3th tabs from the bottom to get more ash room. I leave the ash pan in but the grate is not used, it is not needed. I have done 16 hr burns and still have plenty ash room left.

The bottom of the rack is made of fifteen 1/2 inch diameter rebar rods that are spaced 1/2 inch appart. This rod gap spacing allows the coals or wood to burn almost complety up before falling into the ash allowing you to get longer heat time from the coals or wood verses expanded metal bottoms (more cost efficent). My first design used expanded metal and it burned out in less than 9 month with limited use.

I'll post some more Pics later in this post. Hope this helps.

[BigAl]

Some Pics from my last Brisket.

The divider spacing shown works well here due to the lack of oxgen at 6,700 ft. I got about 10hr burn with outside temp around 30F until the Sun went down, then 9F. The basket is setting on 2nd from the bottom set of firebox shelf tabs. The grate shown is from my old grill, I used it to grill Hot Sausage links for snacks while waiting for brisket and was 'burning' it off when pic took.

The Pics show the self lighting of the coals. The flames are from a Pecan wood chunck. Brisket was 13.89lb and shown 2nd day after in frig.

[racer_81]

Al,

Where's the picture of you slicing the brisket on the new cutting board?

:lol:

[BigAl]

Sorry, that was on day one when it was done cooking and I was too busy cutting and eating to take any pics. Did not think it was a big deal, thought that was what the darn cutting board was for!

Racer, have you cooked with your Basket yet?

[redfishrandy]

Thanks al..pretty nifty idea
necessity is the mother of invention