Bandera 101 Document

Have Questions

First of all Love the forum.:clap2: I got my smoker off craigslist and have restored about half of it. I have a few questions, Is there any videos on the proper use of the smoker. next explain the water bath? I have no way to or ability to make the heat diverter are there any for sale?

Thanks for the help.:thumb:

New guy

Hey guys and gals,
New member here.
Not only am I new to the site but also new to smoking.
Anyway... I love the taste of smoked meat and I was thinking about building a smoker.
Well that was until my friend found me this Bandera on Craigslist for $30.
I knew nothing about this smoker which is how I ended up finding this site.
This looks like an awesome forum and I look forward to learning the tricks of the trade from you all.
I plan on totally refurbishing the smoker after the holidays.
All I did to it so far was slap a coat of paint on it, Built a baffle (thanks to this site) and threw some scrap wood on the serving area until I can find a butcher block to fit.
Hell of a buy for $30 ey !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff

Welcome to the site and congrats to your Dera. There is a slight learning curve to smoking on one and with help from the brethern your learning curve will be short.
Welcome aboard

$30 is a steal. Have fun driving on that learning curve!

Well, I guess I hit paydirt! I've built a UDS and been smoking for some time now. Loving it and this site. I was reading something on another website and referenced a Bandera, and BBQ Brethren had all the info to modify one into a great smoker. Well, being a fellow Brethren, I took a look to find it, and presto, there it was. The real kicker is I have a Brinkman Smoke'N Pit Smoke King sitting in my work shop that has been collecting dust for several years.

My question now is, it appears to be very similar to the Bandera, just reversed configuration. I got it for practically nothing, so to put a little money and time to make the thing useful would be a no brainer. I had tried to use it a few times and never could get any heat in it, regulate well, etc, thus it was banned to the workshop to collect dust. I honestly kept saying I needed to roll to the curb to give away.... Boy am I glad I didn't do that if I can make this thing work!

Can anyone tell if the mods here can apply to the Brinkman? I know sealing it up was an issue before, so hopefully that is addressed, as I'll be reviewing the document next. Anyone out there that has modified a Brinkman, such as mine?

As always, thanks Brethren!!

Update to my previous post...

Just got back from the shed uncovering the old Brink. I do see some differences in the two models for sure. One key thing I may have to account for is the firebox, as the Bandera has grate supports at various levels. The Brink doesn't have any supports, so not sure how critical that is to the function of the fire box. It does have a grate that sits approx 1/2 in or so above the floor of the firebox. I know the fire brick will negate the use of that. My guess, taking my UDS into account, is building a firebox w/ feet to elevate it for "breathing" room.

One other question is the box opening between the two models. Haven't measured mine yet, but wondered if that would make any difference....

Will post more as I dig into a little more.... Hope to get some Brethren assistance here! :becky:

I have a Dera and can only answer the questions specific to that unit. The general area has more readers and therefore a better chance someone will respond.
Hope you enjoy your Brinkman and figure it all out

thats the smoke king deluxe. Firebox is the same size, but the bandera was designed to uise the firebox as a grill also, thus the various levels afforded in the firebox. The smoke box grates were the size as the firebox so they slide in thru the side door onto one of the grate support heights.

to raise the grates in the BSKD, drill 4 holes in the 2 sides and put a couple of bolts( with nuts on the inside) at the hights u want the grate. Thats about 3-4 inchs off the bottom. i like mine about and inch and a half lower than the opening to the firebox.

BBQchef33 said:

to raise the grates in the BSKD, drill 4 holes in the 2 sides and put a couple of bolts( with nuts on the inside) at the hights u want the grate. Thats about 3-4 inchs off the bottom. i like mine about and inch and a half lower than the opening to the firebox.

Click to expand...

Good point! So as I read it, the grate would sit 1 1/2" below the opening, correct? This would put the charcoal basket partially in line w/ the opening an partly above it depending on height. I don't recall seeing dimensions or a diagram for the charcoal box, so just curious as to what works best, and can hold enough fuel for a long burn for something like a butt or brisket....

Tks again for the input!!

I have been searching for a Bandera for a year now. I used to own one about 4 years ago and bought it at Home Depot on close-out without knowing what it was. Fell in love with it and by some lapse of judgement, left it at a home I sold.......

Where can I buy another one?

Please help as I am losing weight and sobering up fast...

I'm not sure if they make it anymore, or somebody bought them out maybe... I have the Brinkman Smoke King Deluxe which is practically the same cooker, just the fire box reversed to other side. I did the mods recently listed here, and made a world of difference to my unit.

Only issue I had on the first cook, was it seemed to draft well enough, but pulled a lot of fine, fine, ash into the smoke chamber. I did have to add charcoal a couple times, so may have been when I poured it in from there....

BBQChef, any suggestions???

ive never had that problem. Did u have a big ash buildup in the firebox?

Is your grate a few inches below the opening?


i think your right, it must have come in when u dumped a chimney.

Is this what you are looking for?

Simba7 said:

I have been searching for a Bandera for a year now. I used to own one about 4 years ago and bought it at Home Depot on close-out without knowing what it was. Fell in love with it and by some lapse of judgement, left it at a home I sold.......

Where can I buy another one?

Please help as I am losing weight and sobering up fast...

Click to expand...

Is this it:
http://www.thegrilloutlet.com/product/13/Bandera_Smoker

BBQchef33 said:

ive never had that problem. Did u have a big ash buildup in the firebox?

Is your grate a few inches below the opening?


i think your right, it must have come in when u dumped a chimney.

Click to expand...

The grate itself is below the opening. Not exactly how much, but probably 1-1 1/2" below, but the basket does extend above the opening. The height of the grate was to get a couple inches of air space between the fire brick and the bottom of the grate. Wasn't sure if the draft was just that strong that it pulled up the ash or what. Did have quite a bit of ash, as I had used Kingsford Blue for the most part.

Still .....

I have a Bandera Clone...Old Country BBQ pit from Academy. Two (for now :-D) questions regarding the MODS...


1. My firebox is welded to the cooking chanmber. How should I attach the heat baffle?

2. For a charcoal basket, what are some dimensions that some of you have used with the best results?

Thanks!!

I ordered a Char Broil Bandera and it arrived with major damage. When Char Broil would not replace the entire unit but only the pieces that were most obviously damaged, I just disputed the charges with Master Card and got my money back. Since then I have been searching for a Bandera alternative. This week I talked to the folks at Old Country about making their Bandera clone for me since I live over a thousand miles from the nearest Academy and Academy does not list the Old Country Bandera clone one their website so that I could order it from them . Although it is not part of their standard package for Academy, the people at Old Country said that they could do what the baffle was designed to do spreading the heat and smoke by installing a plate on one of the lower racks that has holes drilled in it of varying diameter with the smaller holes nearest the opening from the firebox and the larger holes furtherest from the opening. I have no idea what the range in hole diameters is or how many holes per row there are but the concept would seem to work over a wide range of hole diameters considering the baffle designed for the Bandera is a pretty gross method of control. A bigger concern that I had is that with the thin gauge firebox welded to the smoke chamber, it would seem the installation of fire bricks in the firebox would be essential to preserving the firebox from burnout because once it goes, the whole smoker is likely toast.

LVBBQMan said:

the people at Old Country said that they could do what the baffle was designed to do spreading the heat and smoke by installing a plate on one of the lower racks that has holes drilled in it of varying diameter with the smaller holes nearest the opening from the firebox and the larger holes furtherest from the opening. I have no idea what the range in hole diameters is or how many holes per row there are but the concept would seem to work over a wide range of hole diameters considering the baffle designed for the Bandera is a pretty gross method of control.

Click to expand...

If you go this route, please post some pics of the baffle! I've done all the mods noted here on this post, and it did indeed make a big difference in the cooker. I use a grate w/ aluminum foil over it, and knock a whole on the opposite side of the cook chamber to reduce the chamber space, which also helps cook more efficiently. Hadn't thought of a lower plate, since i use the water pan. Interesting though!

I just picked up a used New Braunfels that needs a little love. This is a great place to start. Thanks.

stglide said:

If you go this route, please post some pics of the baffle! I've done all the mods noted here on this post, and it did indeed make a big difference in the cooker. I use a grate w/ aluminum foil over it, and knock a whole on the opposite side of the cook chamber to reduce the chamber space, which also helps cook more efficiently. Hadn't thought of a lower plate, since i use the water pan. Interesting though!

Click to expand...

Bill:

I did not go that route. Bought a Backwoods Fatboy instead.

Needing some help here. I made a charcoal basket for my Bandera. I have read where guys have these and are able to smoke for up to 4 hours without messing with it. I have only smoked once (this weekend) and I have no idea how anyone could do this. If I filled the basket enough to leave the fire unatended for that long I would have jerky! I constantly had to jack with the fire to keep the temps where I wanted it. Much fuel at all and the sucker would jack to over 300. How are they doing this because I would love not to mess with the fire so often?