Charcoal Basket

[smokeyBandit]

Hi,

Had my smoker a couple of years now and despite it being a cheapy offset firebox, it's served up some excellent cooks.

One problem I have with it is, that the firebox chokes out after a few hours and additionally I get through a lot of coals.

I know this is mainly down to the airflow and the coals ash blocking further air access (going to try some cocoshells next smoke)

couple of questions:

Anyone have any experience advice on resources for raising the charcoal grill

Anyone have any experience of charcoal baskets + the minion method? this sounds great in the case of getting up at 4 to start a smoke and not having to babysit it once it gets to cooking temp? - I have seem some good vids on making baskets with expanded steel and no wielding, however I can't seem to find anywhere that sells expanded steel (reasonably priced)

any advice would be appreciated
Smoker is a landmann tennessee smoker btw

[tommo666]

here's one mod: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/7374 ... r-your-snp

if you google 'offset smoker mods' it returns loads of results.

[smokeyBandit]

Thanks, that's exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, only problem is where to find the parts in the UK (expanded steel) :/ tried B&Q today but no luck

[tommo666]

I know you can buy it from metal suppliers but it's sort of 3m by 2m sheets and not cheap. I think the best way is to look for fabricators locally, they might be able to help.

[keith157]

A lot of companies trade online especially with small orders there is always eBay, yell.com etc

[Tiny]

Smokey bandit,
I have the very device of which you speak, and yes it is a pig for clogging with ash.

First thing I did was rather than use a single grate in the fire box I use both but rotate them 90 deg from landscape to portrait. This has 2 advantages in that it raises the coals up and allows better air flow and that the gap underneath is much larger and thus reduces the risk of choking.

Like you I have had some decent cooks but even with this ammended set up I dont think the fire box is large enough to accomodate really long cooks, I often use it to apply the smoke but then finish thje big joints off in the oven, I know the real answer it is wsm or pro Q xl!

But for smaller joints or ribs and wings the landmann with this minor mod is just the job,
Cheers
Tiny

[smokeyBandit]

Thanks Tiny,

I tried the 90 degree trick myself, however only used one grate previously - This massively improved the air flow as well as choke rate, however as the gaps are so big in the grate, the coals tend to drop through. However your post made me think - ' perhaps I could use one at 90 deg's and one at usual landscape ' this will create a criss cross making the gaps smaller and stopping my coals from dropping.

I would still like to try and make a basket so I can give the minion method a shot, but I can't seem to locate any local metal work shops that sell the expanded steel for me to make a basket

[keith157]

A daft question, would an old metal shopping basket work? If so I'm sure some shops would happliy flog you a couple. Obviously avoid the plastic coated ones

[tommo666]

on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Expanded-Meta ... 3cd1b10953

[Tiny]

SB,
You have to use both grates in portrait, one bars up, one bars down and it will do the job


Cheers
Tiny