The modifications I've done to my NBBD offset smoker,
Пікірлер: 105
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat I used a high-temp epoxy (the kind that is like a two part stick of clay). You kneed this stuff until it is like a soft dough. I just rolled it out into a noodle and wrapped the outside seam, where the chimney goes into the cooker. I bought this stuff at the Home Depot. Ask all the questions you want! This is why I posted this vid in the first place.
@BallisticBBQ12 жыл бұрын
@47f0 Yeah, My cooker looked like hell before I opted for TLC instead of scrapping it. Glad I did! I started off sealing the doors with braided fiberglass wood stove door seal. It came off after a while... The gasket material has been on for over a year now and works great. Good luck!
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@arcpw Yeah, the stoker is just a little icing on the cake, but it's pretty expensive icing. Thanks for the comment!
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@bigblkdj Continued- I'd fiddle around with raising and lowering the stack from where I suggested in the video and go with what works for you. Nothing is in stone with these mods. There are so many factors involved, including the climate where you live. Experiment! Thanks for the comment! Greg
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@neville78 The tubing I used is called Ameri-Flex. I bought it at the Home Depot and yeah, it's used on venting and things. But it's pretty rigid and straight, not floppy and rolled up like some of the dryer venting tubes available. I bought my basket from Horizon Smokers for about $30.00. It's made out of pretty heavy expanded steel. Hope this helps.
@themeatstall90018 жыл бұрын
Outstanding modifications to the smoker. I have done a few mods to my smoker. I really like the flashing and tuning plate. I too live in San Diego.... Keep smoking brother
@48Marlon11 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info! I just purchased a Steel Offset Smoker & like the idea of that Heat tray, My Char-Broil rusted out & since I own a Home now I figured it was time to invest in a Higher Quality Pit since I really enjoy BBQ & Smoking my Salmon, Yum!
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@mrmannyo81 Love to see the smoker you made. I sealed up all of the opening between the firebox and the cooking chamber that is above the grate. The opening below the grate is about 3 to 3 1/2 inches or so.
@ItsGoodCookin14 жыл бұрын
Awesome video! A couple buddies of mine bought me an offset smoker for my birthday. I have only used it once because I couldn't get the temp high enough. This info will definitely help me out! Thanks,
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@tdjtx I've been mainly using briquettes. I like lump, but sometimes I find that a huge portion of the charcoal is very small pieces or even dust. I just feel like I have more control with briquettes. If I have a bigger piece of wood, sometimes what I'll do is put it in my basket at an angle and fill the basket with my briquettes. I get hours of smoke that way. That's great you have a buddy willing to do some metal work for you. Good way to same some cash!
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@ItsGoodCookin Good luck with your smoker. I know a lot of the newer offsets are made of pretty thin metal. These mods have helped me a bunch. I can reach temps of 350 to 400 if I want to, but I usually cook 200-250. Thanks for the comment! (
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@Nate2203 These mods were all done over the course of several years, ending with the Stoker, which is the really high tech part. If I were buying my very first BBQ today, I'd probably buy a Weber Smokey Mountain. They work great and don't cost too much money.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@ItsGoodCookin Good luck with your smoker. I know a lot of the newer offsets are made of pretty thin metal. These mods have helped me a bunch. I can reach temps of 350 to 400 if I want to, but I usually cook 200-250. Thanks for the comment! (Good luck with the contest).
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
I don't have to deal with heavy wind and rain. I've seen guys use the same type of flexible pipe that I used to extend the inside of the smoke stack to extend the top of the stack and bend it down, like a candy cane. The flexible pipe can be purchased at hardware stores.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@tdjtx I use pretty big chunks of wood. My source sells to local restaurants, so it's not the little chunks. these things are pretty hefty. I use a lot of different types of wood. On pork I like apple, hickory and pecan. I grill a lot with red oak and mesquite. My father-in-law recently cut down a peach tree and I've been really happy with the flavor from that. I have a huge supply of peach (since it was free) so I'll be burning a lot of it over the summer. And I do not soak my wood.
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@TheGrassmannn First off, I have a pretty large basket. it's 12.5" x 12.5" x 9 3/4". I fill it until it is heaping with charcoal (lately I've been using Kingsford Competition) and a pretty large chunk of what ever wood I'm using. Then, like you mentioned I put a very small amount of lit charcoal on the top. I think my Stoker plays a huge role in keeping my coal burning. If you watch my beef brisket video, you will see how consistant the heat stays. No wasted oxygen at all. Just even heat.
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@tdjtx I agree with you regarding the sealant. I still use my smoker, but I've pretty much shot videos on everything I smoke. I'm going to be doing a Kobe brisket here in a couple of weeks and I might shoot that and maybe smoked tuna when tuna fishing season rolls in. I only really do long smokes when I'm cooking for a group of people. By peppers are growing by the way Tom.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@2024JayZ I bought my basket from Horizon Smokers, on line. The sealer can be purchased at auto parts stores.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@jbeamcoke Google Horizon Smokers and go to their accessory section. They sell the baskets. Thanks for the comment!
@BallisticBBQ12 жыл бұрын
@47f0 The place I had my cooker coated at just called it "high temp aluminum coating". The place that did this does a lot of powder coating and stuff like that. In fact, I had the legs on my smoker powder coated. Just google, "Aluminum coating for headers" and a bunch of stuff pops up. As far as my basket, I went the easy way and bought mine from Horizon Smokers out of Oklahoma. It's not stainless, just steel in the white.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat Mine is as least 1/4 inch. The RTV will fill it, no worries there. Make sure you buy the large tube (the type you need a caulking gun for). Enjoy your NBBD! It's a great pit and a bummer that they are no longer made. Huge difference in quality compared to the Charbroils that are being sold.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@j1mmyhutch There is no bending involved. The steel is cut at each point (of the diamond expansion) for a total of five square sections. Then, each tip is welded together. I have a simple angle grinder and a stick welder that I was going to use. But after crunching the numbers and time involved, I ended up buying one from Horizon Smokers. It's top notch quality and pretty inexpensive.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
Believe me, they make a huge difference.
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@erslar00 Thanks for watching and the nice comment!
@GetAlfaroful12 жыл бұрын
One of the best mod videos I've seen. Thank you!
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@skeetmoses Yeah, Brinkman uses pretty thin metal which is probably difficult to salvage once the rust sets in.
@BallisticBBQ12 жыл бұрын
@47f0 The chimney idea sounds good to me. If you make a basket out of galvanized steel, I'd burn the hell out of it a few times and hit it with a wire brush (or sandblaster) before cooking with it. Zinc fumes are toxic. The coating is an aluminum coating used on headers and other engine parts. I had the fire box done first several years ago and still no rust. I had the cooking chamber done a few years ago and no rust. I never cover it, even in the rain.
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 I bet the previous owner added the screws to hold the grates. The screws are inline with the bolts that hold the table boards which are also level with the top of the firebox opening. In other words, the grates are level with the bottom of the door. It seems like this should negate the need for a baffle since the grates are already above the firebox opening.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat No I did not. That is just seasoned from 100s of cooks. A lot of guys spray on a little vegetable oil and bring the smoker up to temp. I just left mine alone and started cooking. As long as you don't use the cooking chamber as a grill, the cooker just keeps getting more and more seasoned. I've found that if I grill inside of the cooking chamber the higher temps burn off the seasoning. I do all of my grilling on a Weber now.
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@usaperuano1 It's called "The Stoker" and you can buy one from a company called "Rocks BBQ".
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@bigblkdj Haven't heard that one yet. I did a bunch of research before I did my mods and the number one modification was lowering the stack. That being said, I run my pit with the chimney damper wide open and make all of the heat adjustments with the firebox damper. I also have the stoker, so there is a fan blowing air into the pit. Seems to me if smoke is getting trapped, it's getting trapped and the amount of wood being used isn't going to solve much of the problem. -more-
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@twhessler1 You're 100% correct there! One of these days I'll have my $3,000 Horizon Smoker.... This one has served me well for over 15 years and I'm sure it has at least 15 years left!
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@taxman806 Thank you! It was fun and it works a lot better now.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat Could have been the previous owner. Strange thing with mine though is it didn't come with a drain hole either, so who knows? The other thing to think about (when considering mods) is, even though your grate is higher, the heat is still blasting out at one end. A baffle WITH a tuning plate causes the heat and smoke to rise evenly from below the food. The heat rises up from all of those holes. Something to think about.
@BigBrownDad4 жыл бұрын
Hi, I just found that bbq. This is the first video I have seen with my bbq. I found it on C.L. for $80...score.
@michaelstoddard16067 жыл бұрын
You've come a long way, baby. ;^)
@carnypimp13 жыл бұрын
I used alluminum cans to extend the smoke stack it worked wonders.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat My pit is 22". I got the next size up from the basket you are looking at.
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@carnypimp Yeah, really simple mod but man does it make a difference!
@47f012 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 - Thanks much - I know better what to ask people now. I've got one of the last pre-Chinese Bandera smokers, and she's served heroically, but it's time to give her a little TLC. I thought about building up the edge of the smoke-box with metallic tape to get the door to seal better, but the high-temp gasket material is hugely smarter, easier and more cost-effective. Great tip. Again, many thanks.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat The grates that came with my smoker burned out after several years of use, so I bought a new set. Since NB went out of business, I bought a set from a BBQ store (a different brand) and had to cut them to get them to fit right. My cooker didn't have screws? In any case, I'm using the baffle to funnel the heat and smoke below the tuning plate, so all of the heat and smoke rise evenly below my food. Gets rid of the hot spot.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
Google "Traeger Chimney Cap". There is a company called Monkeys Pellet Grills that sells these things for about $20. Looks like these may solve your problem.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@mnajera310 The stuff I used mentions that one of the uses is for oven doors on the label. But think about it. Most of your cooks (when smoking) are going to be in the 200's... That's not very hot when you're talking about ovens.
@drillsgtlangdon3 жыл бұрын
I am in the sheet metal manufacturing biz, wherein, we also do powder coating. I've been looking for a powder that can withstand the temps of the firebox but after reviewing a few, they didnt work out as planned. If you know the specifics to this paint, let me know. Thanks
@BallisticBBQ12 жыл бұрын
No, the coating is a powdered aluminum that is backed on.
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@Mastercylinder32 I'm using about 1/4 (maybe a little less) of a Weber charcoal chimney worth of lit charcoal to start my unlit pile of charcoal. As far as the Stoker is concerned. It's not cheap, but really ends some headaches. The biggest thing (besides the consistent temp control) is the fact that my long burns don't choke out anymore. I think any of the available systems would work. I chose Stoker because of the computer linking feature. Did you make your box?
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 I cook with cast iron so I seasoning is no problem. Did you seal around the chimney also? Did you use RTV? Sorry for all the questions...
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
Great set up!! I just bought the same smoker. I am so excited to get started and so glad I found your channel. I will be making some of the same mods. Quick question, did your NBBD have a fairly large gap between the lid and the body up near the hinges? The gap on mine is probably a 1/4 inch. The gap quickly goes away towards the bottom of the lid. I hope the RTV will fill it in.
@2024JayZ14 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video I just bought a off set Friday and fired it up yesterday worked well for my first time but I had to add coals about 4 times (chimney starter) amounts Where can I get a basket like that from & sealing the lid is a must -Jason
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
What size basket did you order? That one looks larger than the one they recommended for the 16" smoker (10"x10"x10"). If it is larger, do you think it is beneficial to go larger than the 10" box?
@47f012 жыл бұрын
I've got a Bandera smoker, so running the chimney down would interfere with the shelves - maybe punch a hole at the bottom of the smoke box and run an external chimney? Any ideas whether galvanized is safe for the expanded steel charcoal basket? The diffuser plate is sexy - but for those of us with fewer bit sizes, it would probably work as will with one size bit, fewer holes next to the firebox, and more further away. . I'd LOVE to learn more about the external coating. Everything rusts here.
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
@azbushrat Actually I see what is going on. Your grates are in 90 degrees different than mine. My grates set on screws in the smoking chamber. Did you remove those on purpose?
@47f012 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 - Thanks - is there a trade name for the coating? When I look for aluminum coatings I just keep getting listings for places that either anodize aluminum parts, or powder coat them. I'm in central FL, where the humidity is about 2 zillion percent, so anything I can do to slow down that iron+H2O+O2 chemistry would be great. What kind of expanded steel did you get? Stainless? And do you have a source?
@opichocal11 жыл бұрын
Cool Mods! You just gave me some great ideas. Thanks for making this video
@mnajera31014 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 I have been wanting to add a RTV seal around the lid but I am nervous about it being near the food do you know if this one that you mention is food safe? Thanks
@Deftone9114 жыл бұрын
Im interested to know if you still have this smoker. I just was given one as a gift, same model. It was in great shape except for rust and Ive taken care of that. So funny you had one ten years ago, Ive watched your channel for years but never found this one. Love your videos!
@BallisticBBQ4 жыл бұрын
I sold this smoker a few years ago, but it was still in great shape. I really wish this quality was still available at the big-box stores, instead of the flimsy stuff they're selling nowadays. I really appreciate your views! Cheers!
@kenzieharris91244 жыл бұрын
When you had your smoker powder coated, how thick did you have the coating applied? Also, which formulation did you select (acrylic, epoxy, nylon, vinyl, polyester TGIC, polyurethane, etc)?
@AlexCurry13 жыл бұрын
Great video.. I'm going to use some of the mods. I dont know about the stoker but alot of the other things I am.... great post..
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
I just noticed your grates are lower than the grates on my NBBD. Did you lower them? My grates are right at the firebox opening. Maybe I wont need to add a baffle?
@BallisticBBQ14 жыл бұрын
@j1mmyhutch Sorry! That's why I opted to just buy one.
@Mastercylinder3214 жыл бұрын
great video, ive already got the tuning plate from Horizon, I'm using a serpentine minion box solid walls with an expanded steel bottom. im still wondering if the Rock's Stoker is worth it or not. I looks like a good investment. how much starter charcoal are you using on your burns?
@Jow3y10 жыл бұрын
What did you use for the smoke stack extension, flex ducting?
@scottysbroncs12 жыл бұрын
man,, thank you for all the info vids,,, and pls keep em coming!!!
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 Did you paint the inside of you pit also?
@SmokedReb10 жыл бұрын
Was there any stickiness to the lid after spraying the Pam with the silicone gasket maker?
@spife777 жыл бұрын
I am new to smoking and have a cos in a vertical configuration. I'm doing mods to it to make it work. Should i extend the chimney to the bottom of the lowest grate?
@xXtheyeti1Xx9 жыл бұрын
How much did the high temp aluminum coating cost?
@cidizzle12 жыл бұрын
Is the coating ceramic? I know they ceramic coat headers a lot.
@bvisel45584 жыл бұрын
CDizzle the aluminum is applied with torch gun. Aluminum wire is fed through the gun and splatters melted aluminum onto the metal.
@white93pony11 жыл бұрын
I have a NB hondo. Did the exhaust mod, sealant mod & made a baffle with a double walled cookie sheet. My question is, i noticed you cook,lower in the grill. I grill on the stock grilling grates. I have a thread on bbq bretheren to show my very first cook. Would i get any benefit from cooking lower? It seems your exhaust mod is twice the length of mine.
@skeetmoses14 жыл бұрын
I have a brinkman that's pretty rusted now and not doing well for my grilling. I"m thinking of buying a new grill
@mericanwit2 жыл бұрын
Wow nice
@bigblkdj13 жыл бұрын
@sd4547 - quick question....I heard that extending the smoke stack as low as you have causes smoke to get trapped and become stale. Is that true? And if so, would a simply remedy be to use less smoke if this such mod has been done?
@geosnooker20007 жыл бұрын
Correct. You never want smoke "falling". You always want smoke "moving" over your meat. If you've ever been to a restaurant and ordered ribs, and the meat is a blackish gray, you know that's what happened. Think of hot smoke as an upside-down pool of water. It is hot, so it rises. It doesn't care where the "drain" is. Think about trickling cold water into a bucket, but the hole to let it out has a pipe in it, and has been raised almost all the way to the top of the bucket. The coldest water will be down at the bottom of the bucket. As the water warms, the warmest water will rise to the top and pour out of the bucket into the drain pipe. You slow down the speed of the water everywhere except above the level of the drain pipe. Now flip that mental image upside down. You are now letting your meat stand (if you are using rib racks) in stagnant (or worse - condensing) smoke. Not good. I would suggest you determine the max height of your meat in all cases, and not lower the stack below that height. Other than that, I LOVE all the mods done to this smoker! I think you (Ballistic BBQ) did a GREAT job, and will be stealing the baffle out of aluminum flashing idea for myself. I would be worried about that fan blowing ash all over the meat, but I guess it is too weak to make the ash fly that far? Can you confirm?
@tomasguanajuatojr.797110 жыл бұрын
I used the red atv between the fire box and it melted. Did you have this problem?
@sjkeener8 жыл бұрын
Nice video. Lots of info. Thanks.
@jsquires018 жыл бұрын
what size is the diffusion plate you purchased from horizon? thanks.
@frankc203911 жыл бұрын
great vid what did you use to hold the flashing on to the wall of the smoker?
@85ddrummer11 жыл бұрын
did you leave the sealant to set before closing the lid on the non stick spray?
@cromagswoogie511411 жыл бұрын
What did you do to seal the gap in the firebox door on then side of your cooker?
@maribelytony13 жыл бұрын
Very nice.
@taxman80613 жыл бұрын
Wow. Nice mods.
@BallisticBBQ13 жыл бұрын
@maribelytony Thank you/
@tigman195510 жыл бұрын
Thank you. . Most informative. again thank you.
@MrHarborFreight11 жыл бұрын
Super Video! Thanks so much for taking the time to make and post this very helpful info! Do you remember the cost of the stoker by chance? Thanks in Advance! Have a very Blessed Week!
@BallisticBBQ11 жыл бұрын
No, there is no benefit. The reason my grates are lower is my original grates got burned out from when I used to do direct heat grilling on this cooker. I had to replace them and since NB went out of business, these were the closest to the originals I could find.
@trashman195511 жыл бұрын
I bought a tuning plate and I notice the temp didn't get as high as it did before the same thing happen to you?
@BallisticBBQ11 жыл бұрын
It's already pretty thick. I just shut the door and let it dry.
@erslar0013 жыл бұрын
awesome sir, just awesome. thx
@stev846812 жыл бұрын
great video man
@kwischun7 жыл бұрын
Was that powder coating inside as well as outside? Great video!
@calderonp111 жыл бұрын
do you use a drip pan for the grease or do you just let it run onto dif plate?
@SteenSmokeHouse6 жыл бұрын
Nice my friend!
@TheAsphaltcowboy2228 жыл бұрын
on some of the videos I have watched, they had said you could use oak. but wouldn't the regular wood make the food taste bad? the fire box they said was just like a fire place. I would think you wood only use wood that was made for smoking like cherry or apple or hickory? would someone who knows about this please tell me if this is true?
@xboxhuegable8 жыл бұрын
+zack Hutton Oak is great for smoking, tons of people use it. The general rule is if it produces a fruit or nut it's good for cooking. Stay away from resinous wood like pine and cedar.
@TheAsphaltcowboy2228 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your feedback I really appreciate that
@rg159911 жыл бұрын
There's only one "s" in New Braunfels. You'll find it right at the end.
@BallisticBBQ11 жыл бұрын
It's a powdered aluminum
@yamaharidr45011 жыл бұрын
I have the same smoker
@sbstoner4 жыл бұрын
holy hell this is old.
@Mastercylinder3214 жыл бұрын
I thought i was linking my video here, but I'm new to uploading video. check out my video of my NB Hondo, you can see my fire box there. search NB Hondo it should pop up. Thanks
@ItsGoodCookin14 жыл бұрын
Awesome video! A couple buddies of mine bought me an offset smoker for my birthday. I have only used it once because I couldn't get the temp high enough. This info will definitely help me out! Thanks,
@azbushrat14 жыл бұрын
Great set up!! I just bought the same smoker. I am so excited to get started and so glad I found your channel. I will be making some of the same mods. Quick question, did your NBBD have a fairly large gap between the lid and the body up near the hinges? The gap on mine is probably a 1/4 inch. The gap quickly goes away towards the bottom of the lid. I hope the RTV will fill it in.
@tomasguanajuatojr.797110 жыл бұрын
I used the red atv between the fire box and it melted. Did you have this problem?