The Texas BBQ Forum

ok, need to know if anyone else was happy and or as proud as I was about burning in my first and new smoker pit. I am going to try and add two pictures here of the pit in my garage and them after moving it to the back yard a picture of the first fire.
here is the picture of the pit in the garage. GO ASTROS !!!!!!!!



first fire

antaean7 wrote:ok, need to know if anyone else was happy and or as proud as I was about burning in my first and new smoker pit.

Just wait til you get to put some meat in it!

I can not wait, I kinda burned it in last night, I just had coal in it for about 4 hours but could only get the barrel to hit 300 not the up right, it reached 225 only. there was not a stich of wind so I had a fan by the firebox. that helped alittle, but I hat the vent wide open thinkin more air more fire. BUT, just to see, I closed it half way and the fire got hotter. Is that how it works? Is it really backwards then if you think about it? I oiled it this morning and will burn it in tonight with coal, and pecan. CANT WAIT.

Very nice pit You're going to enjoy cooking with it We all get excited with a new smoker.
When you fire it up, be sure to open the exhaust all the way and adjust with the firebox vent.
Most uprights run slightly cooler than the main section unless it has a baffle. Usually around 75-100* cooler.
You may also need a bigger fire for hotter heat, but 300 and 225 are good cooking temps. use the heat difference for different meats. chicken in the main and ribs or butts in the upright.
Good luck tonight. be sure to post pics.

This evening I will only be burning her in with oil on the inside, and SMOKE SMOKE. Going to use coal base, with Pecan. Then she is ready to start cooking. My first will be Saturday night, ribs, oysters, and some bird. Need to get her seasoned fast, we are going to have a BIG shin-dig (did I spell that right?) next weekend. Does anyone ever use that word anymore? shin-dig? (besides me) Will have pictures Sunday morning.

Im lovin it. That is a sweet suprise present!

Cheers!

NICE PIT, I have a Lyfe Tyme as well. I bought a mobile pit made by Lyfe Tyme last year. Its almost a year old and its been VERY good to me. You will like it, congrats on the new pit!!!

have fun looks like some grate food on the horizon

TONIGHT is the night. In fact I am about to season the ribs. I had to bring everything to work, since I did not do it last night. Got wrapped up in laying the hard wood flooring. Did season the pit last night and really starting to be able to control the temp, unlike the night before. I guess a watched pit will not heat. OK, a little spin of of the " watched pot will not boil". Sounded like it fit. I do have a question thou. Has anyone trying to place anything inside the barrel of a smoker to hold liquid for steam? If so what did you use? Or recommend? My pit doesnt have walls so to speak between the barrel and firebox to allow it to hold a liquid, or the upright. I was thinking of using something like a BIG cast iron bowl, or if it will hold the temp. an aluminum pan, that you use to bake with, or cook a brisket in the oven. It seems it would be fine in a pit since it is ok in an oven. You guys think I am in line there, or wrong in thinking so?

Congrats on the new smoker! It's good to see the excitement we all share when we get something of that nature, especially a new smoker! Good luck with your first burn with meat in it. I'd also put an oven thermometer inside near center to check out the temp in lieu of trusting the wall mounts. As for water in my pit, I don't use it. Ya really don't need it unless yur burning on one of the old vertical Brinkmans and it was there to absorbe heat, not necessarily to steam the meat. I'm sure I'll get a bit of flack on this, but what the hey........dj

good lookin smoker!

well?

IT was AWSOME!!!! EVERYONE loved the ribs, and chicken. Just need to tweak a little more on my Rib reciept. here are a few pics.


That you guys for the support, IT worked out well. Gunna have to start my own team, well of course a little more practice is needed before I jump in the ring with the big boys. hahahaha OH, the XX was not mine.

Good looking food. Glad your first cook went well and everything turned out great.

Way to go! Glad it all turned out for ya