Alien BBQ Pro Gasser Project update

Alien BBQ · Last edited by Alien BBQ on Nov 30 2008; edited 3 times in total

While I was shopping a Kmart yesterday I ran across a deal that I just had to pass along. Kmart had all of their BBQ items at a 50% discount. The #1 item they had was the BBQ Pro Smoker for $20 apiece. Now I had heard many of you talk about the BBQ Pro in the past and felt it was just another ECB, however I do have a BBQ fund that I set aside to do research with so I picked up 2.

First let me say that I have not yet cooked with this because I plan on completing my mods before the first cook. I did however think that I should post something to alert you all to a possible �great deal�. At worst, leave it in the box and return it if you don�t like the mods I did. So without further introduction I submit a possible WSM clone for less than $50.

When I first opened the box I noticed that the quality not great but it a lot better than the current crop of ECB�s as far as fit and finish. While I would have liked to had found thicker metal, in the end�. You get what you pay for. The one thing I did notice (and like) was how the parts fitted together. When I discovered that the top of the smoker would fit (and seal) in the bottom, I knew I had a viable project.

So off I went,(not following the directions of course). I was going to put this thing together my way and in the order I wanted. I first installed the vent in the lid because I knew this was going to be bottom and an adjustable air intake would be great.

After installing the vent, I slid the lid upside down into the bottom of the unit. Like I said before, It actually sealed and the lip prevented it from coming out the bottom.

The next thing was to get rid of probably the cheapest made legs I have ever seen. I now had a bottom to my WSM clone so I needed longer legs.

I elected to use the existing holes in the unit so I used the original legs as an template to make longer legs.

Knowing that a taller unit could possibly tip over due to being top heavy, I made the legs bigger at the bottom and 12 inches long. This actually gave the whole unit a space ship or rocket look.

After securing the legs, I put the rest together as per instructions (sort of) You will notice a gauge in the bottom, I plan to cap that hole or make it a gas line entry ( I haven�t decided yet.)

To seal the two main sections together I took some 6 inch flashing (because I had some) and unraveled three rows to make a section seal.

I plan on attaching some fire stove heat resistant gasket on the outside latter (before the cook) to insure what is already a fairly tight seal.

That was the last mod so the rest went together as usual. As you can see you have a 4 section smoker with a sealed bottom and adjustable air inlet and exhaust vents. I also ended up with 6 water pans that I will make use of later.

4 Racks to cook on and a fire box section that could possible accommodate a charcoal basket.

To give you a perspective, I placed the smoker next to a 4 drawer filing cabinet. It is almost as tall.

So there you have it, I will cook on it in a week or so when it is done, but I believe it will be a great smoker �� all for under $50.

Update.............................

Well here are the current mods and this thing is shaping up. I decided to turn it into a gasser and once I got started I went further and modified it to also be used as a turkey fryer. The cast iron plate in the bottom is for my wood chips for now. When I turn it upside down it acts as a fairly good heat diffuser.

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John Furdyn · Newbie Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 82

Alien

I take my hat off too you. What a great idea, will watch this thread to see how it cooks for you.

My first thought are can you get enogh heat to cook all the food you "Could" put on all those racks as well as all that internal volume, with all the stacking etc.

Good luck, great idea, i might just call my kmart and see what they ahve in stock !!!!

Happy Smoking

John
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PlaneSmoke · Posted: Oct 03 2008 Post subject:

I admire anybody that can do the fab work. The legs look kind of strange, but no question they will work.
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J0K3R-X · Posted: Oct 04 2008 Post subject:

Can't beat that! $50.00 - I am goin to K-mart! Great mod... Great Find hope there are some left! Wink

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necron 99 · Posted: Oct 04 2008 Post subject:

Good job Alien! I'm sure it's a fun project. The water / charcoal pans are all shallower than the ECB charcoal / Brinkmann Gourmet water pan I'm guessing? Sounds like plenty of material to make 3 low-profile Piedmont-style pans, and still let you fab up a charcoal basket from something else that didn't come with the cooker, like you did for your new legs. I hope empnero sees this - he's had some good posts on cooks using just 1 such unit.

Your latest creation does kind of look like something that could have appeared in a one-sheet for Forbidden Planet, instead of the more Empire-style black R2D2 look the BBQ Pro Deluxe Dome Smoker sold at Sears has, that I and some others use.

I'm confident it's an improvement on this model I've seen on eBay which I'm guessing predates the model now sold at Sears. This taller model advertised on eBay appears to have an open bottom, and only 3 racks to cook on, and probably 1 charcoal pan and 1 water pan. Your costs are certainly better too, but so is the Sears price for the Deluxe model.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SMOKER-BBQ-Pro-Barbecue-Firepit_W0QQitemZ220251234595QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Now let's see your new creation loaded up with the packer briskets you mentioned you have easy access to at good prices nearby your digs! Cool

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mrcustomsteel · Posted: Oct 04 2008 Post subject:

Too cool. I can't wait to see you cook on it.
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Skidder · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 1720

Lets go. Fire that puppy up and get back to us with a review. It's the weekend.

Gourmet-Gator · Posted: Oct 04 2008 Post subject:

I'm going to K Mart today!!! Very Happy

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J0K3R-X · Posted: Oct 04 2008 Post subject:

They don't have any here in FL where I am at... Crying or Very sad

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Toga · Posted: Oct 05 2008 Post subject:

They have them here in Michigan. I wonder if it would be worth picking up and if temp control will be better than my Brinkmann Gourmet.

necron 99 · Posted: Oct 06 2008 Post subject:

Toga,

I can personally vouch that temperature control and ash handling of the BBQ Pro Deluxe Dome Smoker sold at Sears is way better than my old Brinkmann Gourmet smoker, and the Cook'n Caj'n smoker that I owned that was just like the Brinkmann Gourmet without the side door.

Sears is running a sale with an additional 10% off if purchased using your Sears card thru Wednesday, on lots of items, including the Lawn & garden category the BBQ Pro Deluxe Dome Smoker falls under.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/DZExclusion?collateralId=294569&EXCLID=2&adCell=A3&storeId=10153

I haven't purchased or used one of the models sold at KMart. empnero uses one of the BBQ Pro bullet smokers sold at KMart and has posted good results - some have referred to this model as 'an ECB with the mods already done' - except I think ash handling may still be something worth chasing.

http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18505&highlight=

It'll be interesting to see further posts from Alien with his modified unit in action.
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Wallaby · BBQ Fan Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 101

These were on clearance at KMart last week for $12. http://thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21322

Mike

SPOKANE SMOKER · Posted: Oct 16 2008 Post subject:

Well Alien? Have you cooked with it yet? My wife is looking at getting me
a couple for my birthday, but if they don't perform, I'd rather get something else. Thanks, Kevin
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Alien BBQ · Posted: Oct 16 2008 Post subject:

Not yet, I have been contracted to teach nuclear waste safety training for the next two months. As soon as I develop the class and get it running, I will jump back on it.
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Alien BBQ · Posted: Oct 17 2008 Post subject:

Up date info........ These are now $12 apiece at KMart. That makes this cooker $16 dollars cheaper Shocked

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sjea0124 · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 5

bring up this topic again...these smokers are going for $12 whopping dollars and two Kmarts here in Illinois had 27 of them so I snagged two for some extra spare parts and so I can try and tinker with

J0K3R-X · Posted: Nov 04 2008 Post subject:

They don't have any in the KMarts here in Florida, they musta shipped them all to Illinois! Sad

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necron 99 · Posted: Nov 10 2008 Post subject:

Alien,

I found this thread on Ian's ProBBQ forum site - looks like this was done across The Pond earlier this year. Evidentl the brand name was 'Princess' there instead of the BBQ Pro brand KMart's been using for their house brand for 15 or more years.

http://proq.forumotion.com/member-s-mods-and-inventions-f16/princess-auto-smoker-bullet-mod-t210.htm

Your replacement leg design is a bit different - this one used legs more like the ProQ Frontier and BBQ Pro Deluxe smokers use - but looks like the same original legs.

Gonna have a cook thread for us with your creation over Thanksgiving weekend maybe? Looking forward to seeing yours in action.
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J0K3R-X · Posted: Nov 10 2008 Post subject:

Good find necron! Still don't know where to get one though?
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necron 99 · Posted: Nov 13 2008 Post subject:

JOK3R-X,

Last time I poked my head in the KMart on Clearview in the New Orleans/ River Ridge area, they had a number of the BBQ Pro smokers like Alien used, but they were clustered with the swimming pool and hot tub supplies area since halloween (and now undoubtably Christmas) seasonal items were set up in the floor space grills and such occupied during the summer. It was the same with the KMart in Gonzales, LA last time I poked my head in there, again, before Halloween.

Do you have a trip to The Big Easy in your plans any time soon?

Shipping these KMart model smokers without some sort of 'free ship to store' option would quickly favor just buying the BBQ Pro Deluxe dome smoker at Sears to start with. However, that model disappeared from the Sears web site this week - so no way to use the current Sears Moonlight Madness sale for an extra discount on-line for in-store pickup. My web links in earlier posts turn up nothing now as well. Curious.
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