Master Forge Mods - Page 2

ButtBurner · 06-12-2013, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmontananyc

also buttburner is there a space where the ATC has room to blow the air? sorry for all the questions but before i chop up my smoker i want to be thorough lol

yes

the ATC just blows air into that space between the pan and the outer body. From there it gets to the coals through the exsisting holes in the pan. On the first pan I drilled extra holes, but did not on the second smoker, it works just fine without the extra holes so that is not needed

IrondeQuer · 06-12-2013, 11:26 AM

I agree with El Ropo about the fire basket. I had a lot of issues with my modified Brinkmann before adding the basket. The problem might go away with an ATC but expanded metal from Home Depot will surely be a lot cheaper.

ButtBurner · 06-12-2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrondeQuer

I agree with El Ropo about the fire basket. I had a lot of issues with my modified Brinkmann before adding the basket. The problem might go away with an ATC but expanded metal from Home Depot will surely be a lot cheaper.

suit yourself

dont take the advice from a guy with 2 of them. I did run them without the ATC with no issues

but whatever...

rmontananyc · 06-13-2013, 08:20 AM

I already added the much needed holes in the coal pan.. i am going to buy the atc for overnight smokes where i can be constantly up monitoring the fire dur to my work schedule... im going to post pics of all of my mods this weekend to show you guys what ive done.. let me know what you think

El Ropo · 06-13-2013, 09:42 AM

For the people thinking a UDS style basket isn't necessary, I had more consistent temps, and far less hassle using the basket. It makes clean up a breeze, allows oxygen to reach fire from everywhere, and the basket sits on top of the bolts that most people have already installed for their raised grate. All you do is attach a 6" wide strip of expanded metal to the outer edge of the raised grate you may already have. This doesn't need to be welded or anything, I used bailing wire. Then I grabbed an old clothes hanger and fashioned a handle for the basket. It all still fits under the water pan. An ATC is the thing that's not needed, if you fashion a proper damper cover for the intake hole, and create a proper exhaust, that is all you need to lock in at any temp from 230 to 350+.

Some people like an ATC for peace of mind, even with cookers like WSMs, BGEs etc. I just don't see why they are needed if the cooker is breathing right and has the built in ATC... The ability to adjust oxygen to the fire.

Spend that extra $$ on some good meat. Or beer!

ButtBurner · 06-13-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Ropo

For the people thinking a UDS style basket isn't necessary, I had more consistent temps, and far less hassle using the basket. It makes clean up a breeze, allows oxygen to reach fire from everywhere, and the basket sits on top of the bolts that most people have already installed for their raised grate. All you do is attach a 6" wide strip of expanded metal to the outer edge of the raised grate you may already have. This doesn't need to be welded or anything, I used bailing wire. Then I grabbed an old clothes hanger and fashioned a handle for the basket. It all still fits under the water pan. An ATC is the thing that's not needed, if you fashion a proper damper cover for the intake hole, and create a proper exhaust, that is all you need to lock in at any temp from 230 to 350+.

Some people like an ATC for peace of mind, even with cookers like WSMs, BGEs etc. I just don't see why they are needed if the cooker is breathing right and has the built in ATC... The ability to adjust oxygen to the fire.

Spend that extra $$ on some good meat. Or beer!

some people (like me) just like an ATC. I can push a button, take the temp down to 160 for smoking sausage. When thats done, I can crank it up to 350 to do chicken

And I dont need some big basket of coals to do it.

thats just me.

charrederhead · 06-13-2013, 11:08 AM

rmontananyc · 06-18-2013, 11:28 AM

So i ended up doing a few things.. i put a weber grate in the middle of the charcoal pan which works great, i put a fair amount of holes in the charcoal pan for air flow.. and i added legs... without touching the smoker it burnt from 7pm until 6am the next morning at 200 degrees... i just purchased the ATC PID temp controller from Auber Instruments to give it a try. If this thing keeps the temp at a steady 225 i will be real happy with all of the mods i did... d oyou recommend keeping all the vents closed when the fan is on?

ButtBurner · 06-18-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmontananyc

So i ended up doing a few things.. i put a weber grate in the middle of the charcoal pan which works great, i put a fair amount of holes in the charcoal pan for air flow.. and i added legs... without touching the smoker it burnt from 7pm until 6am the next morning at 200 degrees... i just purchased the ATC PID temp controller from Auber Instruments to give it a try. If this thing keeps the temp at a steady 225 i will be real happy with all of the mods i did... d oyou recommend keeping all the vents closed when the fan is on?

all intake vents need to be closed so the ATC has full control of intake air. I would tape them off with foil tape.

On the smoker that I put a vent in the lid, I leave that open maybe 1/2 way to fully open.

On the other one that I did not modify, there is no lid vent, just the gap between the body and lid which is designed to get air out. I just left that the way it is.

rmontananyc · 06-18-2013, 11:40 AM

okay cool.. fortubately Master Forge gave me another bottom part so i have on with all the pin holes and legs for quick smokes and i will use the unmodded one for longer smokes with the ATC. thanks for all of the help

ButtBurner · 07-16-2013, 10:24 AM

Just in case you are interested, I just installed my Auber on my Master Forge.

I used a 1/8" ss Thermocouple and it also acts as a support for the controller, it works really well this way.

The Auber is nice since it uses standard K type thermocouples that are readily available in many configurations.

walley_eye · 07-20-2013, 11:04 AM

Buttburner, just curious did you cut the bottom of the charcoal pan out and then put the grates down. Hard to tell from the picture.

I cut mine out but will have to put alum catch pan down for ash.

Nice little smoker. Just got mine.

06-13-2013, 09:42 AM	#20
El Ropo Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-06-10 Location: Austin, TX Name/Nickname : Roger	For the people thinking a UDS style basket isn't necessary, I had more consistent temps, and far less hassle using the basket. It makes clean up a breeze, allows oxygen to reach fire from everywhere, and the basket sits on top of the bolts that most people have already installed for their raised grate. All you do is attach a 6" wide strip of expanded metal to the outer edge of the raised grate you may already have. This doesn't need to be welded or anything, I used bailing wire. Then I grabbed an old clothes hanger and fashioned a handle for the basket. It all still fits under the water pan. An ATC is the thing that's not needed, if you fashion a proper damper cover for the intake hole, and create a proper exhaust, that is all you need to lock in at any temp from 230 to 350+. Some people like an ATC for peace of mind, even with cookers like WSMs, BGEs etc. I just don't see why they are needed if the cooker is breathing right and has the built in ATC... The ability to adjust oxygen to the fire. Spend that extra $$ on some good meat. Or beer! __________________ 22.5" WSM nicknamed Fuel Hog! Rescued 22.5" OTS. 18.5" OTS. SJS Mini-WSM. Building UDS ver 2.0. HEB briqs (rebranded Royal Oak). Pecan/Hickory/Cherry/Apple/Peach woods. 2016 Fuji Absolute 2.0 LE (for burning off all the great BBQ)

06-13-2013, 11:08 AM	#22
charrederhead Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-29-12 Location: Litchfield County, CT Name/Nickname : Pete	__________________ hopelessly, helplessly, happily addicted to a shipload of Webers

07-16-2013, 10:24 AM	#26
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	Just in case you are interested, I just installed my Auber on my Master Forge. I used a 1/8" ss Thermocouple and it also acts as a support for the controller, it works really well this way. The Auber is nice since it uses standard K type thermocouples that are readily available in many configurations. __________________ Michigan Custom 'Que "Serving Those Who Have Served US" Shirley Fabrication Custom Smoker Member Great Lakes BBQ Assn ServSafe Food Handler Certified [URL]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Custom-Que/327994370697180?sk=timeline[/URL] Last edited by ButtBurner; 12-24-2015 at 10:44 AM..

06-12-2013, 11:26 AM	#17
IrondeQuer On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-20-12 Location: Irondequoit, NY	I agree with El Ropo about the fire basket. I had a lot of issues with my modified Brinkmann before adding the basket. The problem might go away with an ATC but expanded metal from Home Depot will surely be a lot cheaper.

06-13-2013, 08:20 AM	#19
rmontananyc Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-22-13 Location: New York, NY	I already added the much needed holes in the coal pan.. i am going to buy the atc for overnight smokes where i can be constantly up monitoring the fire dur to my work schedule... im going to post pics of all of my mods this weekend to show you guys what ive done.. let me know what you think

06-18-2013, 11:28 AM	#23
rmontananyc Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-22-13 Location: New York, NY	So i ended up doing a few things.. i put a weber grate in the middle of the charcoal pan which works great, i put a fair amount of holes in the charcoal pan for air flow.. and i added legs... without touching the smoker it burnt from 7pm until 6am the next morning at 200 degrees... i just purchased the ATC PID temp controller from Auber Instruments to give it a try. If this thing keeps the temp at a steady 225 i will be real happy with all of the mods i did... d oyou recommend keeping all the vents closed when the fan is on?

06-18-2013, 11:40 AM	#25
rmontananyc Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-22-13 Location: New York, NY	okay cool.. fortubately Master Forge gave me another bottom part so i have on with all the pin holes and legs for quick smokes and i will use the unmodded one for longer smokes with the ATC. thanks for all of the help

07-20-2013, 11:04 AM	#27
walley_eye Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-05-13 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada	Buttburner, just curious did you cut the bottom of the charcoal pan out and then put the grates down. Hard to tell from the picture. I cut mine out but will have to put alum catch pan down for ash. Nice little smoker. Just got mine.