Won a "Smoker", How Does it Work?

[LifeLongWNYer]

So, I was in a bar that was having an anniversary party and won a smoker. I was pleased as all get out, until the next day when I looked it over in the daylight. Now I'm wondering if it is usable.

Now, I'm still a beginner at smoking, but I've read a lot here and understand some of the basics of running a smoker. BUT, this thing has me baffled.

It is a Brinkman charcoal fired smoker. Sounds good, but maybe not. I quickly learned, while performing the initial burn out, that there is no way to regulate the fire. There are no "air holes", no vents, no nothing. Just a little door to open for access to the fire pan. So how do I regulate my heat??? Is it just light the fire and hope for the best, or am I missing something really obvious?

If nothing else, it looks pretty, maybe I can make a coffee table out of it.


Thanks, folks,

JBP

 

[SmittyJonz]

Brinkmann Gourmet? Easy mods. If it's the open bottom style they suck.

 

[SmittyJonz]

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104545

 

[krex1010]

If it's the ecb style I wouldn't waste too much time on it...I bought one in college, I did all the mods, sometimes it worked ok but i didn't like it.

 

[SmittyJonz]

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=207837

 

[SmittyJonz]

Let's see a pic.

 

[SMOKE FREAK]

You wont ever be able to control the heat...
Even the Brinkman Gourmet is a challenge...

 

[SmittyJonz]

You wont ever be able to control the heat...
Even the Brinkman Gourmet is a challenge...

Not......if modded.

 

[SmittyJonz]

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

Wow, lots of answers, I need to read them all. I do have more info.... Some replies talked about a Brinkman electric smoker. Mine is charcoal only. Also, some of the pictures showed a lower section. Mine has two sections, a cylinder, which is open, COMPLETELY, at the bottom, and the domed cover.

Now I'm not expecting a Shirley, but I'd like to think that I won something marginally useful.


JBP

 

[SmittyJonz]

The open bottom Suck cuz they suck air and run hot. You can ditch the legs and set it on a large paver. Search ECB mods in Google bar below and on YouTube. I wouldn't mess with open bottom but look at mods and decide......

 

[SmittyJonz]

Here's an open bottom set on a Smokey Joe Weber bottom:


http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80085

 

[Bludawg]

Best advice ditch the waterpan and use it direct heat for a chicken cooker about all they are good for.

 

[Richard_]

Best advice ditch the waterpan and use it direct heat for a chicken cooker about all they are good for.

Best advice right there :thumb:

 

[jermoQ]

Sounds like you have a Brink smoke n grill but I could be wrong. I started on that one. Somebody said drill holes in your charcoal pan to allow better air flow and to help keep the temps higher. Unless some on has a good modifications for closing off the bottom to help vent it, then there is no easy way to control temps. IMnoyalwaysHO, I would say if you have this cooker, the only thing to do is use the minion method for the steadiness of temps and stick a probe in the meat to monitor tenderness and let your cooker do the rest.

 

[viking72]

Use some Kingsford hickory charcoal, a couple of Cornish game hens and follow the directions. It will work.
Nothing to stress about.
Have fun.

Later,
Doug

 

[mrboy]

You could drill holes and use refrigerator magnets over the holes like some folks do with their UDS to regulate air flow.

 

[Grain Belt]

I smoked a lot of fish in my younger years on one. I recommend drilling some holes in the charcoal pan. Also try a lower ash producing charcoal like Stubbs. I used a water pan and would add coals every few hours. You can smoke in lower wind conditions but it will have limitations.

 

[krex1010]

I spent time with the ol ecb....yes you can mod it, and make it work ok for some apps....the real question is..do you have any other cookers? If you do I wouldn't take too much time trying to make the ecb work, a basic weber kettle is a way better smoker so if you even have that you're better off. If you have other cookers put the ecb aside and maybe use it as a tailgate cooker, or as a back up for when you need more space and your other cookers are being used.

 

[kls44]

Put a charcoal grate for a Smokey Joe in the bottom of the charcoal pan, it won't ash up so bad.