re: Offset Smoker Tips

IF you are not doing any competitions, do yourself a favor and install a fireplace gas tube to start your fire. You can start your fire with it and until you learn how your wood burns and your pit cooks you can offset when your temp drops with the gas.

Good temp gauges.

The biggest thing is just enjoy it and don’t over think it.

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When you get a chance do the biscuit test to find your hotspots

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Whats the biscuit test? I'm not cumming on any biscuits...

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When you get a chance do the biscuit test to find your hotspots


Whats the biscuit test? I'm not cumming on any biscuits...

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Get a can of biscuits, get the smoker up to the temperature for them and place them in the smoker on a cookie sheet. You will be able to tell your hottest area and hotspots by how they turn out. Spread them out as far as possible. Some may not be done and some may be overdone.

Gets some gaskets and red silicon and seal it up. If it has a short smoke stack you can extend it with wood stove piping. This creates better air flow though the chamber.

I buy post oak from academy for my smoker.

 will be and the smoker will most likely have thin metal walls given the price. I am hoping to get into smoking and once I get it down I can upgrade to a better rig.


I did this about 7 years ago. It didn't take long to upgrade at all. Very difficult to maintain temperature. Also realized I just didn't had. A lack of interest in eating brisket in my immediate family, so wasn't smoking all that much. Ended up with a green egg. Can still somewhat smoke (although not like an offset can), but also easily grill burgers, etc..

I throw a few bricks of charcoal in my offset light it with a torch then throw on logs. Comes up to temp in 30 minutes.

Only in a competition. If the foods good no one will care.

Fire maintenance in these smaller smokers is key to having a good smoke.

Getting the right size wood is the key.

I bought a small wood splitter and 5lb maul from Amazon. It’s about $100 and best money spent on my smoker. I buy dried post oak from academy. About $17 per box. I can get 2 long smokes out of a box. I split my wood into smaller pieces. I leave my damper wide open most smokes to get maximum air flow. I have added about 14” wood stove pipe to my stack. It gives more air flow through the box. My smoker is an Old Pecos from academy. It’s pretty thick steel and has a pull out tray for meat. For $500 it’s a pretty good smoker once you mod it.

Link to wood splitter
LINK