Bandera found on side of road...

[bigabyte]

I was out driving today and saw an NB Bandera next to someones driveway with a sign asking $50 cash for it. Nobody was home at the time. It looked to be in great shape except for one thing... One of the hinges on the firebox lid was broken and the lid sat just a bit cockeyed resulting in a gap where heat could escape. I'm thinking this can be fairly easily corrected, and except for that it was in really good shape. Got the number and plan on going back by shortly.

Stupid question I'm sure, but does this sound like a good deal?:-D Compared to the price of a newer one, it's practically a steal but it has that slight damage...

 

[Kevin]

Fire box hinges will seize up and break unless oiled occasionaly. Same with the smoke box door. I wipe my SKD down with veggie oil (canola, low in saturated fats) every cook. Scoop that sucker if it's not completely rusted. It's worth the effort to repair a hinge.

One can never have too many cookers!

 

[kcquer]

Jump on it Chris, the hinge repair won't be diddly and you'll have a cooker that's better than a new one!!!

 

[bigabyte]

Thanks for the advice on the hinges. I think this guy didn't know that. I had trouble with the latches seeming a little stuck, so it could probably just use some lube. I thought it seemed like a great deal myself and was planning on getting it. I forgot to mention that it's really in great shape outside and in, no major rust areas. Most rust was inside, particularly on the grates. A little cleaning and some TLC and this baby should be as good as new as you can get with a smoker!

 

[big brother smoke]

Touchdown!

 

[Wayne]

What a good deal. If it had been me I would have left a check in their mailbox. I bought an estate sale Bandera that was an old "Made in Texas" model. It had only been used twice and I paid $250 for the thing, and I thought I got a great deal. Gave my old one to a friend that really likes it. The hinge repair should be nothing if you get it for $50. Happy smoking.

 

[bigabyte]

I called the guy right after my last post and got through. He said I could take it for $40 if I was willing to drop the money in the mailbox and haul it away.

I'm now the pround new owner of a Bandera. I'm pretty sure it took a tumble or was invovled in some sort of accident. The one hinge left on the lid was twisted, and I simpl,y twisted it back to straight. However, the bar that runs through the hinges is close to the firebox on one end causing the lid to not close down without a 1/4" gap. I'll deal with that later, maybe have to redo the whole hinge mechanism. The thermo appears original, it say New Braunfels Smoker but needs some attention or replacing. It is tacked out at 500 even though it's a cozy 72 in the garage. The paint is in good condition, and only minor surface rust on a spot on top of the firebox and a arc shaped scratch where the lid was scraping against the cooker as it was lifted. The ash door on the side isn't closing all the way either, I think it may be ever so slightly out of square. This further causes me to think it fell over or something. I can probably fix that one with a little brute strength. The rest of the unit is in great shape and the paint on the cooker still looks good. The red New Braunfels Smoker Company lettering and design is in really great shape. Now if I can just figure out about when this thing was made, since it appears to be pre-Char-Broil.

 

[Brauma]

$40 for a used & slightly abused Dera is a deal. Enjoy.

Now you can add another smoker to your signature.

 

[LeeBo]

Great choice on your purchase. Major "bang for the buck" decision.

 

[CarbonToe]

He shoots and scores!

 

[Arlin_MacRae]

Gol! A little hammer work and a new hinge and you're in high cotton!

 

[frognot]

Real nice score. Congrats!

 

[bigabyte]

I have looked at the Bandera 101, all the mods in the files section, and scoured the forum for Bandera themed threads (lots of them of course:-D ). So before I begin my little project, these are the questions I have. I figure this is the BEST place to get these answers...

The unit did not have its water pan. Do I need one or will a heat shield and firebrick do a good enough trick? If I need the firepan, will a regular Brinkmann water pan or charcoal pan fit?

I'm looking at the Silicon Gasket mod, anybody have any problems with that one? It looks like the simplest and best option.

I saw a photo in the photos section of a Bandera with an extended stack. Is this a common mod that wasn't listed, or is this something just one or two people do for local ordinances? I know longer stacks can make a better draw which is why I'm asking.

What's with all the funny names for the Banderas? Was this an inside gag or something? I saw references to StudeDera and YesDera for example. do I need to Christen this thing with a name and a bottle of Jack or something?

 

[Kevin]

What's with all the funny names for the Banderas? Was this an inside gag or something? I saw references to StudeDera and YesDera for example. do I need to Christen this thing with a name and a bottle of Jack or something?

Mine is just called "the queer". It's a BSKD which has the fire box on the "wrong" side.

I did the door gasket mod with fiberglass rope and when it got crispy and fell off I decided it didn't do all that much anyway so I left it off. Fire grate raised is first and foremost in my book. Heat deflector from firebox to smoke box is almost as important. Fire bricks definately help, definately. There is a notation somewhere around here regarding the sizes of the Bandera vs Brinkmann water pan, but I can't find it. If Mr Smoker doesn't see this shoot him a PM. He has a unique set up of both, side by side.

Hope you got a big woodpile. They realy don't take that much fuel once you get the hang of fire control on this type of cooker, but the learning curve was long for me.

 

[MrSmoker]

The Brinkman water pan is 1/2" deeper,same dia.both units cook about the same with the mods.The grates are the same size,i like the slide out water pan on the Brinkman but the doors shut better on the 'Dera.I save the oil from french frier and give the a good coating if the start to look a little rusty.Keeps them looking new and they smell good when you fire'em up:wink:BTW get a Spicewine basket & thermometer it makes a difference.

 

[The_Kapn]

Chris,
First off--the StudeDera came about because I invested more in Mods than I paid for the cooker. Felt it no longer deserved a CharBroil logo, so I pulled a Studebaker script from the barn and "fixed it".
I have a raised fire grate (heavy duty) and 1/2" aluminum guides to keep the shelves from tipping out when you pull them out part way.
I spent a hundred bucks or more (much more, actually) messing with custom baffles. Finally gave up and went simple--foil on a bottom rack to send heat just where I want it.
I do not use a water pan anymore, but that can start a snot storm, so forget I said it :redface:
I like the product, neighbors like the product, and (when I don't screw up) Judges have liked the product.

To me, the 4 best mods are:
Raise the fire grate.
Get a baffle.
Get extra shelves.
Get a basket and burn charcoal/chunks. Get a WSM charcoal ring for a fire basket if you want a cheap and easy fix for that.
Dera works fine on pure wood, you just get to work hard for it.
My Dera runs on "cruise control" for 4 + hours. When refills are in play, then runs on cruise control for about 2 hours per half load.
Not bad for a sheet metal cooker :lol:

I make more heat than I can use, even cooking at about 300 or so.
Never felt the need for heat sinks, door gaskets, or any other enhancements.
Keep in mind that you have a 16 sq inch hole in the top of the smokebox--not sure a wiff of smoke or heat leaking somewhere is a biggo deal :lol:
Could be wrong--But, that is just me.

I love my Dera--but keep in mind it is a "sheet metal cooker" and will never be a Klose, Lang, FEC100 or any of that stuff.

It is, what it is.

Have fun and enjoy a great little machine.

TIM

 

[kcquer]

With some tweaking, my door has always fit well so I've never bothered with a gasket. Most of the gasket mods seem to be a major pain or shortlived.
If you can't get the door to shut properly, I would consider some aftermarket latches (like chest latches) to hold the door shut instead of a gasket.

Firegrate elevation and baffle are essential, everything else is optional until you cook on it and you see what you think it needs.

2 more pennies for the pot.

 

[bigabyte]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll start with just the firegrate and baffle/heat shield stuff and then go from there.

 

[Brauma]

If you have a Bass Pro Shops near you check them for the Brinkman water pan. I got mine from them for $5. Couldn't beat it.

I don't know this for sure but I would say the raised smoke stacks are for looks. Its not necessary but it does look cool as chit.

Definatly do the baffle. And if you can get your hands on some firebricks, they work well as a heat sink too.

 

[bigabyte]

Took some before photos of the unit. Got the firebox lid off last night and freed the ashpan from the bottom of the firebox, and pounded out the concrete-like ash that was piled up in it. She's ready to be worked on now, needs rust removal inside the firebox for sure, and in a few other spots, but there is still plenty of good steel and no spots are rusted through.

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share.do?invite=EEfr4O5v7zarE5xkUkzk&shareName=MMS2&sharePage=slideShow