Smoker Modifications - lots of pictures

[BamsBBQ]

Charbroil Silver Smoker

The mods for this cooker generally are:

1) Move the thermometer to just above cooking grate level (requires drilling) but if you get a remote thermometer, you wouldn't have to do that.

2) Extend the smoke stack down to grate level. This is easily done by getting some aluminum roll type flashing about 10" wide. Cut a piece that you can roll up, push up into the bottom of the chimney, allow it to unroll inside, put grate back under the chimney and pull flashing down onto grate. Now the heat and smoke will be drawn from grate level....helps to even out temps.

3) Get a piece of steel and make a baffle from your firebox into the cooking chamber. This will allow the heat to travel further into the chamber instead of just rising as soon as it exits the fire box...that makes for a very hot area. The baffle helps to spread out the heat a little more...it will still be hotter nearest the firebox, but the baffle will settle it down a bit. Heres what I'm talking about.

4) Also, I've found that a coal basket works really well with this cooker too. This is one made is just using some expanded metal, angle steel braces, and nuts and bolts (all purchased from HD)

these are just basic mods. you can also put "tuner" plates like the big smokers use and get more even heat.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVt4Po7BWn8[/ame]

Brinkman Smoke "n" Grill - ECB (el cheapo brinkman)(available at walmart for $37+taxes)

 

[BamsBBQ]

The first mod is to install the legs on the outside of the cooker. This will allow you to easily pick up and remove the entire cooking chamber to check or change your charcoal.

Once you have completed this, the next step is to drill 3/8 inch holes in the coal pan to allow air to pass through and into the pan for better combustion.

Because I planned to have my pan sit on a ring, I placed the holes below the contact line in order to better control the amount of air going into the bottom of the charcoal pan. I choose a metal pipe ring to give the height to allow the charcoal pan to sit within the cooking chamber but not on the ground. (When you reverse the legs on the cooker, the original pan shelf no longer exist.

Finally, we replace the junky gauge that comes with the smoker with an adjustable one that reads temperature and not “warm, ideal, and hot”.

To set the ECB up, light a fire in the fire pan and let it burn to hot coals. The minion method will work great in this type of smoker also.

When you are ready to start cooking, pick up the entire smoker by the handles and slowly place over and down on to the pan.

 

[BamsBBQ]

Here is the round two of the mods to the Project ECB

I got rid of the ring and the original fire bowl that came with the ECB. I found a Smokey joe knockoff at Home Depot for $4.95 (They still have them) and used the parts to make the original mods even better.

After putting the base together, I made four clips to hold the fire bowl above the ash catcher.

As you can see, this allows for air to flow in between the two bowls. The fire bowl was made from the lid of the knockoff grill.

drilled holes in the lid for air flow and used the original grate to keep the coals off the bottom.

used the vent that came on the knockoff, and installed it on the ECB lid

Finally, because the whole thing sat higher, I used three bricks to make a stand for the main cooking section.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b313/AlienBBQ/P1010057.jpg

 

[BamsBBQ]

Brinkmann Vertical Smoker (use to be available at home depot and walmart)

This will show one way to convert a Brinkmann Vertical Charcoal smoker to electric at nearly Zero cost.

1) Acquire an electric range that is headed for the dump. Most ranges are for 220 volts. That’s OK.
Appliance dealers / repair shops will probably give it to you, if you explain what you are going to do with it.

2) Remove a large 8” element, it’s socket and high temp wiring from the range.

3) Remove the Temp control & knob from the range.
IMPORTANT: Note the wiring. Draw a diagram.

4) Re-mount the Temp control & knob into a metal box. Be creative. Check the hardware store.

5) Re-mount the large 8” element, it’s socket and high temp wiring to a metal plate. Be creative.
used a U shaped metal from junk in the garage.

6) Add wiring for 220 volt service. (Mine draws 8 1/2 amps.)
Note: You will be disappointed trying to run a 220 volt element on 110 volts.
You will only get 1 / 4 heat.

7) Place element heater assembly in smoker.

8) Add original rack & a wood chip pan, if desired.

 

[GrillinFool]

Great Documentation Bam. I'd heard of these mods for the verts before but never seen them. I don't own a vert but may have to pull the trigger some day if the mods to my offset don't make the process easier and more stable....

 

[BamsBBQ]

Great Documentation Bam. I'd heard of these mods for the verts before but never seen them. I don't own a vert but may have to pull the trigger some day if the mods to my offset don't make the process easier and more stable....

if you do the mods, you will notice a big difference in temperture control,hot spots and overall charcoal consumption..

a friend of mine just told me that he uses less than a 1/4 of charcoal after the mods

 

[GrillinFool]

if you do the mods, you will notice a big difference in temperture control,hot spots and overall charcoal consumption..

a friend of mine just told me that he uses less than a 1/4 of charcoal after the mods

I've heard that too. And with an offset like I have, and them being notoriously bad for keeping constant temp, I go through a boatload of charcoal when I do a smoke. The last few times I used it I went with lump charcoal as it burns hotter. But then it burns faster and thus I was just mowing it down by the pound.

It sort of hinders me from wanting to smoke in terms of small smoking sessions say a couple of slabs just for me. Don't want to break out the big behemoth and use that much charcoal!?!

 

[BamsBBQ]

i forgot to add that alot of people for another mod...

they seal all the joints between the side fire box and the lid with wood stove gasket...

 

[Maverick2272]

Great pics there and nice explanation! Thanks!

 

[High Cheese]

I'm going vertical. Any reccomendations, low budget?

 

[BamsBBQ]

I'm going vertical. Any reccomendations, low budget?

it really depends on your budget...

for ease of use, i would recommend one like this one

propane, but you can use charcoal with a few mods. its easy to use, maintains heat, and has a large meat capacity..

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1978617

now i probably wouldnt buy this one from walmart, as you can find the same smoker elsewhere that is a little better quality. if you decide on a smoker like this one, go with the biggest one you can find and afford

 

[High Cheese]

I'd have to trim down baby backs for that model, right?

 

[GrillinFool]

I'd have to trim down baby backs for that model, right?

Maybe not. Hard to tell with no frame of reference. If you don't want to do that, take out the shelved, attach a rod across the middle of the chamber up high and hand whole slabs on hooks....MmmmmmMmmmmm

 

[BamsBBQ]

I'd have to trim down baby backs for that model, right?

not generally..the smaller one is i believe 16" wide