Hi friends

[Dan C. FL]

It’s good to see some old faces and a lot of new ones on here. I was really sad to see some of the great here had passed since I was last on.

I mentioned this in a previous thread, but when I moved up north I had a bunch of frustrating cooks. I haven’t cooked much at all. Plus, the doctor has been a little of a killjoy and I’ve tried to eat better.

The wife got me a Thermoworks Gateway and a couple RFX probes for Christmas. I’ve finally figured them out. Then, I decided to get a Billows since it works with the Gateway. It just arrived yesterday. I’m looking forward to seeing how it works and being back amongst this awesome community.

Hope you’re all doing well! If you have any Billows tips, let me know. I’ll let you know how things go!

 

[Keith P]

Let your cooker come up to temp before engaging the Billows. Does a great job maintaining a target temp, not nearly as good controlling the environment to reach a target temp.

 

[Dan C. FL]

Let your cooker come up to temp before engaging the Billows. Does a great job maintaining a target temp, not nearly as good controlling the environment to reach a target temp.

Thanks, Keith! That’s good to know. I was totally thinking I’d use it from the start. Do you connect it and leave the damper open and just open up the other two vents? Then, turn it on and close the vents once your close to target temp?

 

[Brenda T]

Welcome back Dan. I remember you from back when I was a lurker.
No advice on Billows or Gateway tho - sorry.
But I am a dyed in the wool fan of Thermapen and Smoke. I guess that's old school now. LOL

 

[Keith P]

I leave dampers open as pit temp is climbing. Start closing off dampers as it gets within 20 degrees or so of target. Then engage Billows after temp settles around the target

 

[Keith P]

Maybe one more bit. When I first got my Billows I used it on every cook. Now I only bother on longer cooks where I want the confidence to be away from the smoker for a period. On shorter cooks (ribs, chicken, etc) I don’t bother using it. Still works great on shorter cooks but the risk of a runaway, or quenching the fire is less

 

[Dan C. FL]

Welcome back Dan. I remember you from back when I was a lurker.
No advice on Billows or Gateway tho - sorry.
But I am a dyed in the wool fan of Thermapen and Smoke. I guess that's old school now. LOL

I have 2 Smokes and a thermapen in addition to the RFX Meat and Gateway. I may have a problem.

 

[Dan C. FL]

Maybe one more bit. When I first got my Billows I used it on every cook. Now I only bother on longer cooks where I want the confidence to be away from the smoker for a period. On shorter cooks (ribs, chicken, etc) I don’t bother using it. Still works great on shorter cooks but the risk of a runaway, or quenching the fire is less

Thanks, Keith. I was planning on using first on ribs, but then didn’t cook. I think I’ll do a butt next weekend.