Idiot's Guide Needed!

Hi all,

I got a smoker (Landmann Tennessee) for my birthday and in true Brit fashion, decided to bite off more than I could chew and try to smoke a Pork Butt for New Years' Eve. Suffice to say it hasn't gone well, and is currently in the oven...!

My problem appears to be in getting the smoker hot enough, let alone maintaining it when I get there...

I built up some kindling and firelighters and set them off before adding the lumpwood charcoal. The problem is that the charcoal never seemed to get going to heat the main chamber up. The temperature flared up occasionally (usually when the kindling caught fire) but never really got above 150 degree F.

I didn't use the griddles that came with the smoker primarily because I thought some of the charcoal would fall through but also because it's been windy enough that I would be ok for air (as it turns out, it's been *very* windy in West Yorkshire - so don't know if that's got something to do with it as well?).

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Cheers,
Phil.

Hello,

Offset smokers can take a bit of getting used to in getting the temperature up,you have to consider the ambient temperature.
In hot weather a small fire is enough ,but in winter a larger fire is needed, I use two chimney starters in mine.
Also it looks like you were running the smoker without the fire grates in place.These are needed for the ash to drop from the fire otherwise the fire suffocates.
Now the wind is your enemy it will strip the heat like a thief in the night,so a sheltered position is useful.Failing that you try turning the smoker so the wind blows into the vent on the firebox.
Hope this helps
Derek

Hi,

Cheers for that. I've treated myself to a Weber charcoal burner that's turned up today so am hopeful that will help in getting things hot before I put them into the firebox.

In terms of the fire grills, you're right I didn't use them. However, they don't seem to fit snugly side by side (whereas the grills in the main chamber do). To be honest I don't think that the 2 can fit in the bed of the firebox together at all (even allowing for my lack of practical skills I'm fairly sure I could work that out if needs be - famous last words..!) Any thoughts on whether it's ok to just use 1?

Thanks

Hi,
one grate will be fine as it won t take two. the weber is very good starter as they last about 10 years.