Help on buying smoker....

[ceyko]

Don't be afraid to buy a used one. For a little more money, you can get a MUCH better used smoker.

I'm sure I said it before, but I'll say it again - I agree 100% Those thick steel ones clean up real nice. 3-4 hours with an brush wheel on a drill and some high temp paint. They look brand new.

[Rafa]

Got her cleaned up. Fresh high temp paint, casters, and wheels. Here's some before/after pics of smoker I picked up from A+.

[ceyko]

Nice work, need to do that maintenance on my smoker this year. It's not uber fun, but not that hard and they will last forever. I often see ones on CL that just need a little wire brushing and paint. Most people I know would not consider them, becaue they are girls like that.

The one you got, did not start off in bad shape either. I like the location of the gauge.

[Rafa]

thanks man....
On the gauge, I've read that it should be either on the left or right side of the handle. Haven't decided if I want to take a drill bit to it.

[Jose]

Looks good bro. Now get to seasoning that smoker again!

[ceyko]

thanks man....
On the gauge, I've read that it should be either on the left or right side of the handle. Haven't decided if I want to take a drill bit to it.

My OPINION (not scientific facts) is I like it as close to the stack as possible personally. Or even two of them. One on each side. If I had to choose just one spot though, I'd prefer the stack side and guesstimate the fire side.

Preference though, is all it is for that.

[cmltoe]

Rub it down with some lard and you'll be ready to start burning some wood.

[Silverback]

put a temp gauge on both sides, doesn't matter, they are typically off 10-30 degrees as compared to a probe inside the smoker.

I put my probe in the dead center of the smoker, that way i know middle temp, inside the smoker it can vary 10-20 degrees from one side to the other depending on the size of your smoker, how hot your fire is, how much the exit on the fire box is covered, and how open you keep your stack.

[bcoop]

I like the location of the gauge.

So do I, but....

On Haven't decided if I want to take a drill bit to it.

DO NOT drill another hole in it. Fuck that gauge. They suck anyways.

put a temp gauge on both sides, doesn't matter, they are typically off 10-30 degrees as compared to a probe inside the smoker.

You could do this, but I wouldn't. Those gauges are inaccurate, piles of shit that smoke, cloud up, fat and carbon will build up on them and dangle back in to your food, etc. So why have all that, x2?


Fuck dial thermometers. Go spend $60, or more if you want, and get you something reliable. Redi Chek is a beginner level remote therm. The ST-72 (I believe) gives you a meat probe, and another probe for surface or smoker temp. I would not buy anything cheaper than that. You can spend up to $600 on these things, but trust me, it makes life so much easier.

[ceyko]

This is one I'll have to disagree with you on bcoop. Although it is a preference thing...generally I use the remotes and that. I've learned what is what and the differences in temps between them all. It's VERY helpful to *me* to have it there, cause sometimes I get drunk and lose the remote.

I do not buy too low end of those dial thermometers either (i.e. The one I put on 8 years ago is still there and working in the rain..etc...etc)

[bcoop]

This is one I'll have to disagree with you on bcoop. Although it is a preference thing...generally I use the remotes and that. I've learned what is what and the differences in temps between them all. It's VERY helpful to *me* to have it there, cause sometimes I get drunk and lose the remote.

I do not buy too low end of those dial thermometers either (i.e. The one I put on 8 years ago is still there and working in the rain..etc...etc)

To each their own, I suppose. As far as dial thermometers go, they are just inaccurate. And it multiplies when exposed to heat and weather. Cheap, expensive, hasn't mattered. They are all inaccurate in my experience.


The Fluke FP+ is a great thermometer, does IR as well as a probe with multiple sensors. My only complaint about it, is the temp range sucks.

[Rafa]

Yea, I know one on there is pretty cheap. I did think about getting a remote probe. Bro inlaw has one and it's nice. On my old smoker I had a decent dial one that cost me about $30. Might try to grab one he has or look up that one you mentioned B.

[bcoop]

Yea, I know one on there is pretty cheap. I did think about getting a remote probe. Bro inlaw has one and it's nice. On my old smoker I had a decent dial one that cost me about $30. Might try to grab one he has or look up that one you mentioned B.

The Redi Chek Maverick is plenty. Don't look up the Fluke. It's not a remote, and it is $250. Lol.

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004VFEC7M[/ame]

[Rick Modena]

Got her cleaned up. Fresh high temp paint, casters, and wheels. Here's some before/after pics of smoker I picked up from A+.

You'd better lock that bitch up or im stealing it!

[ceyko]

The Redi Chek Maverick is plenty. Don't look up the Fluke. It's not a remote, and it is $250. Lol.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004VFEC7M

Everytime you bring up thermometers, I google and they STILL don't have any that connect to an 802.11 network. Wish I were not so lazy, I could develop/get that done.