I NEED HELP!!!!

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

I need some real help here. I recently crafted my own smoker out of 1/8 inch steel and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I need help maintaining my temp. I seem to start out okay...I build up a nice stack of charcoal, lite it, and let it turn to white. I then add a few chunks of wood (hickory, mesquite, etc) to it, and sit back and relax. I have a remote thermometer so i can precisely monitor the temp as it typically rise up to about 215-220. Sounds good so far, right? But then, after holding there for maybe 20-30 minutes, it starts to drop. I try adding more wood, i try adding more charcoal(just out of the bag, not pre-lit (perhaps thats my problem), but nothing seems to keep the temperature up around 220. My smoker is a sidebox-type smoker with an adjustable air intake on the underside of the sidebox and currently no smoke stack (but this can be easily added. Any hints, tips, suggestions, or links to info would be great appreciated. I'M TIRED OF FINISHING MEATS IN THE STINKIN OVEN!!!! Smile

HELP ME!

Blackbeard · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Illinois

You got any pictures we can see? My first thought is you have an air leak somewhere. Do you have a hole for the chimney?

dholcomb1946 · Posted: Jan 23 2006 Post subject: Stack

The stack is what creates the draft to pull air & heat thru the smoke area. It should start at grate level & rise about 36 inches.

No air flow, no fire, no heat.

Jeff T · Posted: Jan 23 2006 Post subject:

Hello mgaluzzi
It seems to me that i think the no-stack thing is one problem, you need the exhaust stack for the draw. I`d say 4-5 inch diameter 2-3 foot long should give ya enuff draw. Depending on how big of a smoker we are talking about. Air in-take should be at or below the firebox grate, not to sure about under the firebox this may be a problem also. Some pictures would be a little more helpfull too. The thing is ya want even air flow and stacks to draw the heat up and out the firebox. Know what i mean. Do a little search at some other pit manufactorers websites and look at there pic`s to get an idea on what i`m talking about, most pits work the same way, don`t really matter who makes it. Offset pits are designed to move air, heat and smoke the same way. The biggest difference in one pit to the other is how this is done eather with the assistence of tuning plates, deflector shields or just plain air flow design. Anyway the fun part in making your own BBQ Pit is figuring out what works best for you.
Have fun
Jeff

Alien BBQ · Posted: Jan 23 2006 Post subject:

These guys hit the nail on the head. Without the stack most of the heat in the firebox will stay right there. Get that stack on (with a cap like on a SnP ) and it should fix your problems.
_________________
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

One of you mentioned an air leak....what exactly do you mean??? Cause when i built it, doing some extremely hot welding caused some of the metal to warp a bit, so there isn't exactly an air tight seal around the lid, but i was told by a fairly credible source that that was okay. Are the manufactured smokers completely air tight except for the smoke stack??? Also, if it DOES have to be perfectly airtight (aside from the stack) is there any type of heat resistant "stripping" or epoxy type of stuff i could use like a gasket to seal the lid better when its closed???

allsmokenofire · Posted: Jan 23 2006 Post subject:

My 2 cents....I wouldn't worry so much about the leaks as I would adding the smoke stack. Without a draw of fresh air in and exhaust out, you have no way to sustain combustion, resulting in starting out hot, but losing heat once you close everything up. Also make sure you have plenty of room under your charcoal grate to allow the ash to fall through and build up without snuffing out the coals above. Once you get a good draw going through the smoker, you'll probably see very little effect from air leaks around the cook chamber.

Good Luck!!
_________________
Mike
Team Enoserv

Alien BBQ · Posted: Jan 23 2006 Post subject:

Many cheap (less than $600) smokers leak like a sieve. The only way to seal them is with fiberglass, stove gasket or bolts. I still think the exhaust stack is your problem, and that is where I would focus my attention.
_________________
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry

BBQ Nut · Posted: Jan 23 2006 Post subject:

Works the same way as a chimney in your fireplace. Draws air in at the base of the fire, because heat rises, it goes out the chimney. Yep defineately add the stack. Also consider, you don't want all the heat escaping, dropping the stack some into the chamber. This will make it harder for the heat to immediately go to top of the chamber and rush out of the stack. Hope this helps.
_________________
Cold Beer and Smoke.........what could be better.

roxy · Posted: Jan 24 2006 Post subject:

Leaks are not the problem as my smoker leaks all over from firebox to the cooking chamber door. An ajustable air intake and exaust stack are what its about as the guys have stated. Have a look at smokers on-line to see the height and size of stack you will need to get things right for ya..

Good luck
_________________
Chargriller Akorn
WSM
LIAR #100
_________________
Do not rely on a rabbits foot for luck, it did not work out too well for the rabbit...

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Hey guys, thanks for all your advice thus far...I'm currently in the process of fabricating a smoke stack, so hopefully that fixes things somewhat. Also, i will be trying to put some pics up here when i get a chance. And once you see the size of my smoker, i got some charcoal quantity questions. Again, thanks for all your advice...very helpful for the new/novice smoker Very Happy

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

ndID=26258262&imageID=454656780&Mytoken=1579A802-D830-7268-B2F71537C7DF141912900476

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Hey guys, im currently trying to upload some pics from my harddrive to show you what im working with here, but i seem to be having a little difficulty. I tried uploading it on a different site and then give the link, but that didnt seem to work either. How do i go about uploading pics right off my computer to place them in the message window???

Nate · Newbie Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Houston, TX

Have you tried photobucket.com. You create an (free) account and it was a snap to put pictures on the sight.

zilla · Posted: Jan 26 2006 Post subject:

Use this site to host and choose the show your friends link when it's hosted

http://imageshack.us/
_________________
Zilla

GIANT BBQ

allsmokenofire · Posted: Jan 26 2006 Post subject:

mg....the photos have to be online somewhere, photobucket, imageshack, imagecave, yahoo photos, there thousands of sites that will allow you to store pics for free. Then, just copy and paste the IMG tag into your post to show the pic, or copy and paste the URL to create a hyperlink to the pic.
_________________
Mike
Team Enoserv

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Alright, here are all the pics i have of it. Let me know what ya think....and be nice, I'm only 21 and i've never worked with steel or welding or anything of that sort before this Confused

Full view http://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Frontsmoker.jpg

Front open
http://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Frontopen.jpg
(I'd be putting the smokestack on the right side, grate level of course, and have it go out about 3 inches or so horizontally and then 90 degree turn up, and have that part be 36 in. Sound about right?

Main Chamber
http://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Insidegrate.jpg

Smoke box (minus the grate)
http://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Coalbox.jpg

Opening to main chamber
http://photohttp://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Coalbox2.jpg

Backdoor/Pan insertion point/cleaning access hole
http://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Backdoor.jpg

Adjustable Air Intake
http://photobucket.com/albums/e352/mgaluzzi/?action=view&current=Airwheel.jpg

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Also, i noticed a lot of funny looking colors on the inside after my first smoke (as you can see in some of the pics)....is that normal?

roxy · Posted: Jan 26 2006 Post subject:

I see one problem ya got there and that is the air intake is way down on the bottom of your firebox, not very accessable at all. If it was on the side of your unit it would make it easier to adjust the air flow and save ware and tare on your knees. I think with the addition of a smoke stack you just might have yourself a decent smoker there.

Keep us up dated with your progress and some pix of your good eats dude.
_________________
Chargriller Akorn
WSM
LIAR #100
_________________
Do not rely on a rabbits foot for luck, it did not work out too well for the rabbit...

Jeff T · Posted: Jan 26 2006 Post subject:

Funny color, I think thats from the paint on the inside of the firebox and cook chamber thats a big no no. No paint on interior at all. Ya might get sick from it. I`d clean it all out then you should be ok. Other than that i think it looks kinda like a treager pellet cooker. Looks cool. Wink

When the coal or wood burns the ash will drop and plug the air flow. Make another intake just like the bottom one, put it on the far left of the firebox, on the end at or below the grate level. Try this first then if need be do the stack. Even a short stack like this one, http://www.traegerindustries.com/grill3.htm will help.
Looks like a fine cooker though, just work out some of the bugs and you`ll be cookin. Do some more test burns till ya get it modifyed like ya want. Coal and wood is cheaper than meat, know what i mean. Then if ya want you can mess with some of the air leaks but even then i wouldn`t worry too much about that till ya get the temps up a little higher, and more stable.
In a nut shell i`d have to say your main problems are from proper air flow. Not everyone can weld or fab... so you did good dude.
Have fun....