Pitmaker Safe - Should I?

[Ducaticraig]

Well that only took 8 months !

Nice looking smoker for sure, never seen one before, looks well made, lots of stainless !

Can't wait to see it get broken in ! Looking forward to seeing a lot of that pretty blue turn dark !

I'll keep you informed of the recovery and thoughts of the pit once I use and learn it's cooking characteristics. The guys at Pitmaker like to cook hot, say around 300 F. I've heard not to put too much charcoal in the firebox and create a line of charcoal so that a small amount is burning at anyone time.

I'll play around and figure what best works to get the desired temp I'm looking to cook at.

I went to the site and watched the video, pretty impressive temp recovery after he left the door opened for a HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME ! I was saying to myself, "shut the door, shut the door!", but it recovered quickly.

The only issue I have with the video is how the temp went up quickly, but did the temp flatten out at 250, or did the smoker need adjustments ? Looked like they had a ton of charcoal in there burning hot. Not saying they did the demonstration with, "more than you might use" hot coals, but my offset smoker will recover very quickly after a baste, when I add some charcoal to the firebox about 20 minutes before basting.

Looks like a very well made smoker, I'm really looking forward to seeing how well it performs over its lifetime.

[solar]

The guys at Pitmaker like to cook hot, say around 300 F. I've heard not to put too much charcoal in the firebox and create a line of charcoal so that a small amount is burning at anyone time.

I'll play around and figure what best works to get the desired temp I'm looking to cook at.

I'm really looking forward to see how well your smoker performs.

It's interesting that "they say not to put to much charcoal in the firebox". Seems to me that a smoker like yours could hold a ton of charcoal, (not Kingsford) ? Why couldn't you load it up with RO Lump ?

Just asking. :)

[Ducaticraig]

You can add tons a charcoal in the firebox. I would just lite a small amount and set the air intake the right amount to control the temp. In my Komodo Kamado I only lite a tennis ball size of lump to slow cook around 225 - 275F. If I lite too much charcoal sometimes the fire overshoots where I want the temp to be.

So I take back what was the guys said about how much charcoal to put in the firebox. I would not use Kingsford. I have some great lump charcoal at home and I share the name with you when I get home from San Francisco on Tuesday.

[Lay3r3]

@Ducaticraig just following up on your thread to get your impressions. My safe is in production now. Observations after a year of use? Tips and/or tricks?

[ThunderDome]

I know a local comp team who has 2 on a trailer. They rave about Pitmaker and their quality. The proof is in their scores too...

[Ducaticraig]

@Ducaticraig just following up on your thread to get your impressions. My safe is in production now. Observations after a year of use? Tips and/or tricks?

Really like the Safe, kinda wished I got the Vault for the extra room. Easy to keep temps stable where you want it. I have a DigiQ but have not used it yet as I found it pretty easy to get the safe up to my temp range I'm shooting to reach. I cook anywhere from 275 to 300f. Also have not used the water pan yet. Found comes out moist without adding water in the pan. I think I'll try it with my next brisket cook. You will like the safe. Heat the food chamber with a torch, fill the basket with charcoal and add a chimney of lit charcoal to the corner of the basket and your good to go. Use a few chunks of wood for smoking. If you need to add more fuel for longer cook just add a couple fist size chunks of wood if needed. Keep in touch.

[Lay3r3]

Thank you much for the response!

Just got shipping notice today!!! It hits the road tomorrow :)