Offset smoker tune up?

bgeaddikt

My apartment complex has this smoker but i've never seen anybody use it. Is there any way to clean it or before i were to use it? maybe dump a ton of hot coals in it and let it hight heat burn? Feedback please!
Kinda grosses me out since its so rusted so i may not mess with it.

bgeaddikt

SciAggie

What does it look like on the inside?

kl8ton

Looks sweet.  Get a can or two of hi temp black grill paint and it will look good as new.

Looks only like surface rust from here, but as @SciAggie has asked, what DOES the inside look like?

Looks like a giant mailbox on the outside.  The stack looks like it would pull a pretty good draft.  @SGH  could give a good analysis of firebox size as related to cook chamber size to smoke stack diameter and height ratio so you would know what to expect.


I wish i could find a smoker like that in my backyard to play with.

bgeaddikt

I'll get more pictures tonight. Its surface rust, nothing corroding. But i do have to inspect the inside chamber. I didn't even think about the science behind building a perfect smoker with the correct dimensions like @kl8ton mentioned. Firebox seems a bit bigger then most i have seen, but i dont have much experience with offset smokers. Bet this would fit that 38lb monster brisket @SGH cooked

Jstroke

Depending on if the racks are still good, if the firebox isn't rusted out, if the door seals properly, stovepipe isn't falling off etc. Personally I would get a fire going in it and see if it will draw. If she will draw and the temp will stay consistent, I would take a brush on a grinder to it, paint it and park it closer to my back door. Even if the racks are shot, if everything else is solid, a local fab shop can make some expanded grates pretty cheap. 

Ladeback69

I am no expert like @SGH, but the firebox looks pretty low and maybe that is why it is so big to keep the fire low?  See if there is a way to control the flow where the firebox and smoker meet. I can't tell from the photo.  Heck if it is good on the inside, get some wood or charcoal and try it out. 

johnmitchell

Handy feature on the right for L&S overnighters.. You can put a padlock on..

bgeaddikt

The pit is 4ftx2x1ft4inch.

bgeaddikt

Dampener/air vent is rusted shut/immobilized. 

Foghorn

I'm a slob, so I would just clean it out and cook on it.  Start a big fire initially and get it really hot to 1) sterilize/clean everything and 2) get a good bed of coals.  Then when the temp comes down, throw some meat on it.

NonaScott

Could probably take a little WD-40 and spray it and tap with a hammer a few times to break it loose.

busmania

bgeaddikt said:

Dampener/air vent is rusted shut/immobilized. 

Easy to fix.  Spray with some penetrating oil, let sit for a day or two and then hit it with a hammer.

Foghorn said:

I'm a slob, so I would just clean it out and cook on it.  Start a big fire initially and get it really hot to 1) sterilize/clean everything and 2) get a good bed of coals.  Then when the temp comes down, throw some meat on it.

This is what I would do too.  I'd be all over that thing using it!  Tending fire is fun.

Hotch

From the pics it seems your neighbors have used it as both a "Charcoal Grill" and a "Stick Burner". Nice of them to leave their ashes.

Clean out all of the ash, inspect for any holes. If none, get it going!
Doesn't look like there is an charcoal basket for the fire box. You could improvise one of sorts. Would be a bonus if there were a few tuning plates under all that ash!
Do you have a weed burner? It helps to get all that iron up to temp.

bgeaddikt

I plan on getting some oak preferably with lump to get it going as hot as i can get it and see where the leaks are, if any. There's a ton of ash in there...ughhhhh. Might do a brisket to start or a butt since they are cheaper and i cant go wrong? Gauge is shot, needs to be replaced. Should be a fun project.

Ladeback69

Looks like it is made of about 1/4" steal?  Should be a fun project.  Will the apartment complex pony up any money for you to get to going again.  I but you start cooking on it, people will come.

bgeaddikt

Its thicker then 1/8" but no more then 1/4".

gmac

Don't do it. You're gonna end up cooking ribs for the whole apartment complex when they see how good they turn out. 

gmac

bgeaddikt said:

Its thicker then 1/8" but no more then 1/4".

3/16?