ok folks, i figured i should update this thread. upon arriving at the sellers house, i asked that the smoker be fired up so that i could see if all the fans and motors were working properly, and from what i could tell they were. the hopper was full of pellets; i didn't think to ask at the time where they came from, but their uniformity appears to be similar to traeger pellets. i've since removed them and am storing them.
the s&w .38 special was covered in duct tape glue and packaging tape as a result of being moved around the state of new york several times. over the course of 2-3 hours i used some goo-gone and a plastic scraper and was able to get all of it off. there were a couple scratches, a ding mark on the hopper, and some very light rusting in places, but otherwise it was in good condition. there is one section below the drain where the powder coat has flaked off, but i will likely paint it with some ultra-high heat rustoleum.
there was no grease catch, nor heat diffuser. i picked up a galvanized bucket at tractor supply for $4, and am temporarily using a cast-iron griddle as a diffuser. otherwise it fired up nicely using the heating pellets, and sits at around 225 on "smoke" setting (it has the old 3-switch controller, perhaps someone can chime in and tell me the advantages of the LV-180 controller?)
shined up and just fired with pecan pellets:
test cook with 2 turkey getaway sticks and a boob (sprinkled with magic fairy dust):
not bad for $150...
:laugh:
