1/4 or 1/2?

[peeps]

Gonna be awesome, Terry!!!

 

[ssv3]

I am going to be under a STEEP learning curve when I get this. I have been around stick burners before, but never cooked on one myself. Read a lot here, so that will help, but I am sure the first few runs are going to be interesting.

You're going to be just fine! I had no stick burning experience at all and I'm doing just fine. Better than I had anticipated since the pit is nicely built and it drafts like a dream making it easy to run. You just pick up little things as you go just like any new smoker.

P.S. OldBill guided me through perfectly and I had the training wheels off literally in no time.

 

[THoey1963]

Thanks y'all. Only 11-13 weeks, 6 days, and a handful of hours to go... :roll:

 

[ArnieTex]

I have wore out two 1/4 inch fireboxes in about 5 yrs each. Very hot and humid here and we cook two to four times a week, but I'm not normal anyways in any way shape or form, rof.

 

[THoey1963]

Now, you are scaring me...

 

[oldbill]

I am going to be under a STEEP learning curve when I get this. I have been around stick burners before, but never cooked on one myself. Read a lot here, so that will help, but I am sure the first few runs are going to be interesting.

Just let us know when you get your pit and we'll get you up and running in no time.:thumb:

 

[pjtexas1]

Now, you are scaring me...

A good ash pan will help a lot. Also keeping water out is a must. I guess I don't cook enough to cause any issues. I think the 5 years is an anomalie. They stopped making the Texas Smokemaster in the 80's and mine is still ok.

 

[retired trucker]

A good ash pan will help a lot. Also keeping water out is a must. I guess I don't cook enough to cause any issues. I think the 5 years is an anomalie. They stopped making the Texas Smokemaster in the 80's and mine is still ok.

This. As long as you keep it cleaned out of ash and not let the ash stay in and get wet, then the rust will be at a minimum. You can not stop the rust, but you can control how bad it gets, by controlling what causes it.

I let a new New Braunsful smoker rust out in about a year and a half by not keeping the ash cleaned out on a regular basis. I was less than diligent about caring for the smoker. I let life get in the way, and kept putting off cleaning it until I wanted to use it again. Wound up pitching it out for scrap iron. :doh: Learned my lesson, but too late.

Omar

 

[THoey1963]

This. As long as you keep it cleaned out of ash and not let the ash stay in and get wet, then the rust will be at a minimum. You can not stop the rust, but you can control how bad it gets, by controlling what causes it.

I let a new New Braunsful smoker rust out in about a year and a half by not keeping the ash cleaned out on a regular basis. I was less than diligent about caring for the smoker. I let life get in the way, and kept putting off cleaning it until I wanted to use it again. Wound up pitching it out for scrap iron. :doh: Learned my lesson, but too late.

Omar

Yeah, that makes me wonder. Will I be persistent enough to keep the ash out every time? I don't with my WSM, but it's coated. <sigh> While it might get hot / humid here, we don't get a lot of rain. Does that make a difference?

 

[retired trucker]

I would think with the ash tray, you can dump the ash out the next morning after a cook and you will be fine. I know all about your humidity, and although it is lower than we had in Victoria, it is still bad enough to cause problems. Also, you can always replace the ash catcher if it rusts out on you. It will be a good insulator for the main fire box. You will be fine. Congratulations on the new cooker by the way.

Omar

 

[THoey1963]

Ok, if the ash pan is going to help, I feel better. I do have a couple months before the build starts, so I have time to change my mind.

And thanks Omar...

 

[TexasRT]

Keeping the damp/wet ash off the fb steel is the trick. The ash turns acidic when it gets wet. Even putting a layer of foil down under the fire for the ash to fall on will help until it can be removed. Keep the wet ash off the steel.

 

[THoey1963]

Argh, I woke up thinking of this today. Seriously thinking of just biting the bullet and doing the upgrade. It's pricey, but it might make me sleep better...:bored:

 

[pjtexas1]

I bet Chris would weld a 2nd 1/4" plate on top of the firebox bottom. That would probably work and not cost so much.

 

[AlwaysSmokey]

Terry, I wouldn't waste time worrying to much. 1/4 inch is good. Sweep, scrape or brush out them ashes the following day. Hell, I got to where I just blow it out with the leaf blower. Sure I gotta spend an extra 3 seconds blowing off the cook chamber but hey,.. I got time, and I don't mind being a little ashy. I'm already always smokey. : )
Now,.. you should be starting the meat stockpile. So when ya get her you can get after it! Congrats !

 

[THoey1963]

I bet Chris would weld a 2nd 1/4" plate on top of the firebox bottom. That would probably work and not cost so much.

Hmmm... Would he even need to weld it, or would having a removable and replaceable piece of 1/4" plate be helpful? Figure if it ever rusted, could just pull it out and replace with another one? That also might create a space for ash and moisture to get trapped...

Terry, I wouldn't waste time worrying to much. 1/4 inch is good. Sweep, scrape or brush out them ashes the following day. Hell, I got to where I just blow it out with the leaf blower. Sure I gotta spend an extra 3 seconds blowing off the cook chamber but hey,.. I got time, and I don't mind being a little ashy. I'm already always smokey. : )
Now,.. you should be starting the meat stockpile. So when ya get her you can get after it! Congrats !

Patience. Yeah, easier said then done. At least I have this to remind me (image stolen from Sako)...

I was going to say I had already started stocking up, but then I realized that cooking all of this at once might not fill the smoker up. :shocked:

 

[BIG ALAN]

Five years ago I went with the 1/2" firebox on the Klose 42" Grill Chef, and I live in SoCal. I'd do it all over again. And I don't have your summer humidity and occasional winter snow. Good luck.:wink:

 

[T.R.]

I was pondering the same thing just a few weeks ago. I finally ordered mine with a 1/2" firebox for all the reasons Oldbill mentioned.

 

[ssv3]

Lol, love the countdown counter. The whole purpose of the ash pan is wel...l ash pan. It's 1/4" plate that slides out and makes cleaning a breeze. The sucker's heavy though.

Don't have great pics bit here are a few:

Pulling it out after a cook to dump the ash. I always clean the smoker next day mandatory.

Here's how it sits when in operation (obviously) or looks like.

This one is a little better I guess

One mo'

 

[THoey1963]

I am just thinking about doing it now just for the longevity sake. Yeah, it's $450, but I'd probably never have to even think about rust or burn out...