Firing up the new smoker

[h2oTom]

I'm going to be firing up the new smoker for the first time, this evening.

I'm looking for some tips. I've cooked on a Weber kettle, UDS and stick burner offset, but never an insulated vertical cabinet. From what I gather, the best method will be to build an L or U shaped pile of coals along the side and back of the coal pan. Then use the light one end and let it burn minion style.

I've got a bunch of Royal Oak. Will that work ok or should I get briquettes?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[pjtexas1]

lump should work but i find in my cabinet that the consistent size of charcoal works better for me. the minion is probably best for your first cook so the temps don't get out of hand. make sure to start closing the intake about 50 degrees before your target temp. once these things get hot it takes a long, long time to get them back down. if you have some fire bricks they work really good to make a snake maze. looking forward to seeing how it runs.

 

[Texan79423]

I'd go with charcoal first. A little goes a long way in a cabinet. Don't worry even if you mess up it's still fun learning.

 

[pjtexas1]

have you fired it up yet???

 

[h2oTom]

have you fired it up yet???

She's up and running right now. Decided to buy a bag of Kingsford competition. Took about an hour and 20 minutes to get up to temp. Should be quicker with the guru and if I preheat with a torch.

 

[Thatgrimguy]

So, what's cooking!?!?

 

[h2oTom]

So, what's cooking!?!?

Nothing tonight. I never cook on first smoke.

 

[pjtexas1]

She's up and running right now. Decided to buy a bag of Kingsford competition. Took about an hour and 20 minutes to get up to temp. Should be quicker with the guru and if I preheat with a torch.

they take some time if you just light a corner or do the lighter cube thing. most light some charcoal in a chimney and dump in an empty corner of the charcoal basket. i never pre-heat my cook chamber. don't forget the fatty.:becky:

 

[pjtexas1]

Nothing tonight. I never cook on first smoke.

not even biscuits to see if it runs evenly?

 

[h2oTom]

not even biscuits to see if it runs evenly?

Never heard of this. Care to explain? It seems to be holding temp just right and has maybe a 8 to 10 degree difference between the top and bottom thermometers

 

[pjtexas1]

Throw in a few cheap biscuits on all grates. You can tell by how they cook where your hot spots are. If they all look the same your cooker has no hot spots. Biscuit test.

 

[h2oTom]

Throw in a few cheap biscuits on all grates. You can tell by how they cook where your hot spots are. If they all look the same your cooker has no hot spots. Biscuit test.

That's pretty straightforward. Lol. Is the 10 degree split from top to bottom, top being the hotter, pretty much normal?

 

[pjtexas1]

That's pretty straightforward. Lol. Is the 10 degree split from top to bottom, top being the hotter, pretty much normal?

That's normal. My reverse flow is hotter at the top rack too. That's where the heat comes in.

 

[Captain Porkard]

Nice rig!!

 

[h2oTom]

Nice rig!!

Thanks!

Almost 8hrs into the 1st smoke and it's still chugging right along.

 

[h2oTom]

5:00am - 10.5 hours on 11lbs of Kingsford Competition briquettes and the coals are finally burnt out. Smoker is still retaining heat and sitting at about 180-190°F. :whoo:

I'd say this was a complete success! Even with me fooling around and opening the doors... and adding water to the water pan halfway through the burn.

I will definitely preheat next time. I don't know if I like the Kingsford Competition stuff, lots more ash than what I'm used to when using lump and the Kingsford smells funny to me.