Kingsford water smoker @Wal-mart Build

[gmotoman]

Put it together with a couple of mods. I drilled some holes in the charcoal pan for air flow, and sealed the lid, and door with BGE felt. Seasoning right now. Using lump and chips for the process. Burning pretty hot a 275°F half a chimney load with top(only) damper about an 1/4" open. Going to make a pretty decent chicken cooker IMHO. Easy, cheap(25.00 + 11.00 for the felt), efficient little water smoker. Some pictures....

[Richtee]

Might even experiment without the water. Might gain some efficiency. Burn hotter but intake control...

[gmotoman]

Might even experiment without the water. Might gain some efficiency. Burn hotter but intake control...

Just like an old pizza pan as a deflector? Also what's your opinion on sand in the water pan.

[crusty ol salt]

I used sand in my GOSM, but i could control burn rate and temperature using the inlet air dampers.

I think in this model and the el cheapo brinkman you will need the water pan to assist in temperature control.

[nickelmore]

I have read that by using a a heat sink in "reality" really makes very little difference in controlling loss of heat or keeping heat in or bringing temp back up to operating temp after you open the top.

Its been years since I ran across it, but I will search for it again. It actually had graphs and thermo loss calculations.

In my simple head I think a 10 lb piece of steel or alum holds heat when I torch it in my shop.

Water = Steam, and most time is really not beneficial, IMHO

[gmotoman]

I have read that by using a a heat sink in "reality" really makes very little difference in controlling loss of heat or keeping heat in or bringing temp back up to operating temp after you open the top.

Its been years since I ran across it, but I will search for it again. It actually had graphs and thermo loss calculations.

In my simple head I think a 10 lb piece of steel or alum holds heat when I torch it in my shop.

Water = Steam, and most time is really not beneficial, IMHO

The last part of it is why I was thinking of just filling the water pan with sand.

[crusty ol salt]

in my mind steam = temp control all take a lot of BTUs to generate steam.

[gmotoman]

in my mind steam = temp control all take a lot of BTUs to generate steam.

I think this is one where I'll need to do some field testing. I need the practice anyway.

[nickelmore]

What ever you do cover the pan with foil, even if you put water in it.

Save mucho cleanup time.

[Richtee]

Sand.. or I just use a coal grate covered with foil. Now..you saying you have no control over the air intake with that model? Guess I should look it up...

[gmotoman]

Sand.. or I just use a coal grate covered with foil. Now..you saying you have no control over the air intake with that model? Guess I should look it up...

None. It's also why I drilled 8 X 1/4" holes in the coal pan. Four in the bottom and four around the upper edges. It does have a top vent however. It's basically a Brinkman el Cheapo.

[Richtee]

None. It's also why I drilled 8 X 1/4" holes in the coal pan. Four in the bottom and four around the upper edges. It does have a top vent however. It's basically a Brinkman el Cheapo.

OK...hoo boy. A bud used to have an ECB and you ae kinda at the mercy of the fire size as I recall. Man..that was 10 or so years ago. I guess ya fire it up and play with it...

I know he turned out some decent Q. Fish even.

[tadowdaddy]

My neighbor bought one of these last week, couldn't get it to temp, and came running over for help with a tri tip and a chuck roast sitting on it. I asked, how long those been sitting on there, as they were 2 big chunks of meat. He said, 6 hours, and this damn smoker won't get up to temp (it was sitting at 155). I advised him to take the temps of both pieces of meat, and both were at around 110 degrees. I advised him to toss em, and he didn't. I then let him borrow my chimney and filled it full of lump, told him to let it get hot, then dump em in with some chunks or chips. He did, it got to 230 quickly, and he left the meat on. Saw him yesterday and he said Monday and Tuesday were the sickest days of his life. he said he originally lit about 25 coals while in the smoker and then he lined coals around to keep the thing running. Some people just don't read enough before trying something out.. He'll know better next time!

[Richtee]

I advised him to toss em, and he didn't.

Ouch. Well..you did yer part.

[tadowdaddy]

Ouch. Well..you did yer part.

He did say, at least the wife and the kids weren't home, so they didn't get to eat it. Thank god. If that put him down as bad as he said it did, I can't even imagine what it'd done to his kids (7 and 8 years old).