Firebox!

[Drum Thumper]

So last week, I'm over at the local Target store, perusing the seasonal aisle and considering buying a bigger smoker. I spy a nice looking horizontal unit with a firebox, but in my honest opinion, they want too much for it. ($120, and it's the same size as my current unit).

I look down...and lo and behold, they're selling the firebox separately!

"For use with Charbroil grills ONLY"

I think you all know where this is going. Here's the pics from 2 hours of plotting and scheming tonight:

http://i.imgur.com/NCUQH.jpg
Old Reliable. $60 at Target on clearance a couple years back. She's served me quite well.

http://i.imgur.com/saOLC.jpg
The Firebox.

http://i.imgur.com/PNSN0.jpg
The template. Pretty straightforward.

http://i.imgur.com/ORHFv.jpg
Mounting holes. The one on the upper right was just a bit off, but not too much.

http://i.imgur.com/rj0Vg.jpg
Four reinforced Ace brand dremel style discs later....

http://i.imgur.com/sHR68.jpg
And the final product.

I'm currently using up some absolute Super High InTensity Albertsons charcoal in it right now, to burn off the oils used during production if nothing more.

Tomorrow....I'm smoking 10 lbs of baby backs. Oh how I love summertime cooking.

Oh, and if any of you are interested in picking up some tips and tricks, I have two suggestions:

http://www.facebook.com/MontanaPitBoys -- Facebook Fan page co-adminstered by yours truly

http://www.reddit.com/r/smoking -- I'd be surprised if you couldn't figure out my screen name there.

[mDust]

Tomorrow....I'm smoking 10 lbs of baby backs. Oh how I love summertime cooking.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Indeed...but BBQ grills can be used anytime they are not buried in snow, caught in a tornado, or floating away in a torrential flood. Mother Nature can try to stop me all she wants--I will eat grilled/smoked meats any season I please!

[Drum Thumper]

Don't get me wrong, I fire this bad boy up in the winter as long as the wind isn't blowing at gale force. That said, wintertime Q is something I'm still trying to master.

[OvRiDe]

Nice work.. looks like it was made for it!

[Drum Thumper]

Update time: I've abused the **** out of this over the summer. Here's what I've learned:

Fire in main chamber is running a minimum of 50 degrees hotter than pre mod.

Fire in the firebox, I can go low and slow all day long (we're talking 250F in the main chamber).

And the food. OMFG. Highlight of the summer was pork baby back ribs. The Tri-tip was amazing too.

[Airbozo]

Yum!

Can't believe I've missed this one...

I grill and smoke all the time rain, shine or snow (yes we get a dusting once a year...).

I have found that using mesquite or any other hardwood besides normal charcoal, works best year round. "Normal" charcoal like Kingsford just does not produce the heat consistently like hardwood does. That is my winter time trick. Plus it can be reused if you close off the grill and suffocate the coals.

For my annual pig roast, I _only_ use mesquite. Nothing else will work.

I have 4 grills. One smokey joe (small, and perfect for 2-4 people), one medium round weber grill (for slow cooking and roasting or a dozen people), a 7 in 1 smoker (I use it mainly for smoking and the burner is nice for deep frying) and one large pit with a powered spit, flat top or grill (for large party's and spit roasting various dead animals).

Show some goodies!

[Luke122]

Lol.. reminds me of an ex girlfriend. ;)