my old smoker is dieing on me

[ChickenMan]

I have a standard New Braunfels steel smoker that doesn't keep heat above 250 or so.

All the seals are good I thought/think. I only see smoke roll out of the stack.

Is it dieing or what am I doing wrong? I could have 5-10lbs of coal in it and it doesn't get higher than 250.

I bought it for $25 from a guy in town. He wanted $50 but he was holding a 24oz Natural Light so I knew I could talk him down

Thanks.

[nascarchuck]

I'm tellin ya CM... Build a drum smoker! Just wait a couple of weeks then ask Bristow. I'm about to start buildin him one.

[Toontroller]

Chicken man take some pictures of it and post them......Bet we can get another 50-75 degrees out of it.

[3 star redneck]

Put a couple Pecan logs on top of the charcoal, it'll get hot!!!

[Toontroller]

CM, I'll bring ya some Oak next week when we meet up.

[Gator]

Got an pictures? Sounds like a (lack of?) airflow problem...

[Ox190]

Hey ugly some of the guys are going to help me build a drum smoker....you should come, bring some chicken and beer, your own drum and parts and maybe they would help you too. As long as you don't look at them funny.

"Why you looking at me like that?"

[ChickenMan]

I might have to do that.



Yes - I will take pictures later on.

Cheers

[JamesB]

Just a shot in the dark, but have you tried another thermometer? Is yours calibrated?

[Southern Pride BBQ]

i bet the coals are building up and your not getting good airflow to your fire

[ChickenMan]

Just a shot in the dark, but have you tried another thermometer? Is yours calibrated?

I thought about this for real. I thought the therm. I stole from in front of Academy might be old.

I bought a "pointer" thermostat thing but have not used it.

[ChickenMan]

i bet the coals are building up and your not getting good airflow to your fire

I thought about this too.

[DATsBBQ]

Clean out the ashes, raise the grate -buy some lump.

[Southern Pride BBQ]

I know its alot of things to think about...but you gotta do them to see if they work !!! haha

[nascarchuck]

Sounds like chickenman is doin alot of thinkin and not much doin...

Hey CM... I got to thinkin... I bet it cause you have done so much chicken in that ol smoker. Maybe try some pork or beef and I bet that ol smoker will like it and respond...