Bandera Purchase Advice

[mg2105]

First I'd like to say I have browsed this site and can't believe how lucky I am to have found it! I am on the verge of buying a Bandera. My Home Depot has them for $178. They have one in the New Baunfels box and I'm wondering if I should choose it over the Charbroil or vice versa or does it matter. I plan to get it and try it out next weekend so I will be reading from this forum alot! Thanks in advance.

[Solidkick]

Charbroil bought out/took over NB.

My preference would be the one in the NB box, but depending on when it was made, most of the components most likely were made in china anyway. you could get lucky and get an actual NB cooker. Whichever you purchase, if the parts aren't right, call the 800 customer service number and have them send you new parts. My original smoke chamber was terribly <sp> warped. I had a replacement in about a week.

Be sure to season it good with plenty of cooking oil and a nice smokey fire. enjoy, and glad you joined us!

[markbet]

I bought my Badera last week at Home Depot, and it cost me $250.00, so you did much better than I. Mine is a Charbroil, I have read on this site they are one of the same, I had the same question. Wether or not that is accurate, I do not know.

Mark

[rbsnwngs]

I need one of you guys who just bought your smokers to please contact me directly i need the number to ythe stores where you bought them. The home depots up here in NY dont carry them anymore.If i can get them for around $250 with shipping that would be great.

[smokeypig]

I need one of you guys who just bought your smokers to please contact me directly i need the number to ythe stores where you bought them. The home depots up here in NY dont carry them anymore.If i can get them for around $250 with shipping that would be great.

have you tried walmart? i was in one here (marietta, ga) yesterday morning. they had 3 assembled and were running a sale on them at $200.00 per. and these were honest-to-God NB Banderas. I've seen them at other walmarts but not at that price. wally-world seems to carry alot of charbroil products and this may be the way to go....

[kcquer]

have you tried walmart? i was in one here (marietta, ga) yesterday morning. they had 3 assembled and were running a sale on them at $200.00 per. and these were honest-to-God NB Banderas. I've seen them at other walmarts but not at that price. wally-world seems to carry alot of charbroil products and this may be the way to go....

You can't find one in a Wal-Mart in the KC area, certainly seems you can most other areas of the country but not here. Lowes has the Brinkmann Smoke King Deluxe and Northern Tool has them although I'm not sure of the pricing/shipping. Direct from the manufacturer (Char-Broil or Brinkmann) is always an option as well.

[mg2105]

I appreciate the help! I will problably get mine this weekend and hopefully cure it next weekend. Any advice on a good starter meat to smoke? I want to do a Butt, but I don't want to get in a hurry. I would like to get the hang of temp control before I plunge too deep. I was thinking chicken? Any advice? Thanks!

[kcquer]

mq, pork butt is very forgiving and an excellent choice for a first cook IMO. Something that takes less time would be ok too, but its just real hard to get bad results with pork butt if you follow the methods taught here.

[parrothead]

Chicken and fatties are the way to go for starting out. Get a couple packages of drumsticks and/or thighs or quarters. Brine them overnight and put the fatties above them to drip down.

[jt]

Beer Butt Chickens and Pork Butts are a great first cook. The fatty is a given. That way you can eat on the fatty & the drunk birds until it's time for a pulled pork sammich!

I was all set to buy a horizontal smoker until I saw the Bandera on sale one day. Now I'm so glad I got it - I usually don't have any problem putting enough meat in it! I just freeze what I don't eat that day. And doing the mods before the first cook is important - you won't really enjoy it unless you do. Even if you only do temporary fixes like a foil baffle, etc.

Good Luck on the decision and happy Qing!

[mg2105]

Can you explain the quick fixes for the mods? I know I want have the time to do it right until later. Thanks again!

[jt]

Get some of the 18" heavy duty foil. Spool off enough to double it and mold it into something that resembles the permanent baffle mod. Then press it around the bolts top bolts connecting the firebox to the smoke chamber (on the smoke chamber side! :D ) and continue pressing around it to create a decent seal. The smoke will follow the path of least resistance anyway and this will push it down under your water pan so it will rise more evenly throughout the chamber.

Then you can use either the current firegrate (P.O.S.) or get some expanded metal from a metal/welding supply place. You can get it at Home Depot but it's cheaper at the supply house. I got a 16X48 piece for less than I would have spent at HD for only a 24X24. Cut it to fit the entire firebox and place it on the shelving brackets so you have 4 inches or so of ash room. You need this for airflow, too. This is one to go ahead and do. But if you need to use the grate it came with then either raise it with firebrick splits or I used S-hooks to hold mine up higher.

When you finally do the permanent baffle I recommend another seasoning burn.

[Jorge]

I need one of you guys who just bought your smokers to please contact me directly i need the number to ythe stores where you bought them. The home depots up here in NY dont carry them anymore.If i can get them for around $250 with shipping that would be great.

Been a long time since my purchase but you might try calling an Academy sports. The closest location would probably be in TN. Phone for one of the two stores is (615)771-0184. New daily price at Academy is $199.86. Check out Academysports.com for any other info. Hope that helps.

[jt]

Also, don't forget to wrap foil (shiny side out) around one of the racks in the smoke chamber to make a heat shield. Cut a 4" semi-circular hole on the side opposite from the firebox. This will ensure that the smoke will have to move across the chamber in order to exit. Now just move that rack up or down depending on how full you have the beast. It will help control how much of the chamber you're having to heat.

Keep your top/chimney damper all the way open.

[rbsnwngs]

Thank you all for the info on the Bandera i will give these places a try

[mg2105]

Thanks jt! That explanation made perfect sense! I'm lucky I found you guys. I am not the most mechanical person, but even I can handle these mods. I am open to any suggestions. I will keep you posted on how this goes.

How often do you have add fuel or make temperature adjustments?

[jt]

I usually add something every 30-45 minutes. I use small splits, around 7-10" long and no bigger than 2" square. This keeps me from having temp spikes, white smoke, etc. PREHEAT the wood on the firebox. Then it will catch fire the moment you throw it in.

I bought a 3" door thermo that actually is close to accurate (within 4 degrees). I then installed it with the 250* mark pointing straight up. That way I can see it from the yard or house and know if I'm low or high. Test any thermo with boiling water. Depending on altitude it will boil around 212 degrees. But the door thermo only gives you the temp at that level. Invest in some oven thermos or some digital probes. Drop the probe down the chimney or gently close the door on it. Stick it through a potato (leave the tip exposed) and then place it on the shelf with the meat. This will give you the temp at that level. I see around 30+ degrees difference between the bottom & the top of the chamber.

Once you know your temps you can add wood, use the rock mod (prop the firebox open with a rock) the decrease heat, etc.

[kcquer]

Hey fellas, not to beat a dead horse but for a temp fire grate fix, kapndsl said he flipped his factory firegrate over (legs up) rotated it 90 degrees and put it on the bottom set of shelf tabs.

[jt]

forgot about that. Good easy mod.

[mg2105]

Great advice! Went back to the HD today. Here's my dilemma. They have plenty of charbroil banderas and one NB bandera. The box on the NB looks pretty beat up so I'm wondering if I should just play it safe and buy the chrarbroil since they may very well be identical anyway. Again thanks for the help!

[jt]

I'd take the NB home and see what it looks like. You can always return it or get them to replace parts. Just get help lifting it! Hernia mod for sure.

[Solidkick]

Hey JT and KC!!

Proud PaPa Mod going on here! Damn we taught you two so well. You guys have been with us a little over 4 months, and you are walking these new folks through stuff like old pros.

Can I get an Amen, brothers?

[kcquer]

Good teachers, Amen!! I'm a mofo with a digital camera now, I can do the Show Me mod if necessary! :wink: :lol: