My 1st CL score! My 1st smoker! My 1st smoke! THANKS!


 
J

John Cen Cal

New member
I recently got into BBQ and I got my first smoker last week on CL. Found a 18.5" WSM for $75! It was in good shape, looked like the lid had been dropped and was dented... otherwise great shape.

After a thorough cleaning did my first smoke last night!

I followed the Basic Baby Back ribs recipe
Basic Baby Back Ribs

Got them rubbed down
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Got the smoker going
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A few hours later.... time to eat!
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Thanks to this forum, the ribs were delicious!

I did have trouble keeping the temps down. Dome therm was at 290-300 during the cook. I read here that new cookers will run hot until seasoned. Could my cleaning cause it to run hot? It was also a warm day about 90 during the cook. Thanks everyone!
 
Congratulations on your score and your first cook. Nice looking ribs.

As far as the cooker running hot, it could have been due to the cleaning, it could also be due to something being out of round and leaking air. After the cook, did you close all of the vents top and bottom? If you did, did your fire go out and the WSM cool in a couple of hours? If not, something may be out of round.
 
Thanks.... one of the bottom vents is stuck about 1/3 open so I couldn't close it and try that. I ordered a new one from weber should be here this week, then I will try that and see what happens.
 
Nice score, and you sure didn't take long to figure out what to do with it!
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Those ribs look great!
 
John Cen Cal, you wouldn't happen to be from Fresno? If so, you robbed me of that smoker!

Actually, I was gonna get it for my dad. I bought my WSM about a year ago, and since then, he's been eying it. I told him to buy one, but he says he'll just wait for me to buy another one and give him my old one. I can assure you, that's not gonna happen. Don't have any plans to get rid of it. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Oh well, I'll keep my eyes posted for another one. Hope you're enjoying the new smoker!
 
It probably ran hot because you have the access door on upside down
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But seriously, given that you said the lid was bent, I'm guessing it was air leakage. Fix the vent like you have planned, make sure the access door is shaped so that it is as tight as possible and do what you can with the lid. Then do the "does the fire go out test" and let us know.

All in all, looks like a pretty nice CL find. Congrats!
 
You said you had trouble keeping temps down. I noticed that your door is on upside down. I think this lets more air in and therefore more heat is generated. The handle should be UP! Also if you see smoke pouring out around it, try gently flexing it to make it fit!
Happy smoking!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Andrew Munoz:
John Cen Cal, you wouldn't happen to be from Fresno? If so, you robbed me of that smoker!

Actually, I was gonna get it for my dad. I bought my WSM about a year ago, and since then, he's been eying it. I told him to buy one, but he says he'll just wait for me to buy another one and give him my old one. I can assure you, that's not gonna happen. Don't have any plans to get rid of it. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Oh well, I'll keep my eyes posted for another one. Hope you're enjoying the new smoker! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes I got it in Fresno! Was on it quick thanks to my Criagslist app.

I will try putting the access dooor upright next time, I thought I had read people saying the doors fit better upside down so thats what I tried. Thanks everyone
 
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