Tez Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hi Guys, i got my new smoker today, i think it is the updated version as it has different thermometer and fire bowl, also i notice this one has 2 vents in the lid as apposed to the single one, yet to build and test out, anyone know if the new thermometer is more accurate as i dont have a digital thermometer, i guess those are to come at a later date along with a probe for making sure meat is thoroughly cooked 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Enjoy assembling your smoker, suggest you invest in a digital thermometer ASAP, assuming in built thermometer will be in the dome above the cooking grates so not giving temp in the actual location the cook is.Feel lucky as all I had to do with my Apollo was fit the legs then fire it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 yes i need to invest in one, thats good just fitting the legs, i had no nuts and bolts left over so i assume she is built right lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 I have a thermapen mk4 digital thermometer which I find to be excellent, if you not bothered about the colour, they did have some reduced see link below and how easy it is to see in the draw....https://thermapen.co.uk/thermapen-offers previously used a Weber digital thermometer which worked well enough but is no comparison to the thermapen in terms of speed and ease of reading also have a smoke https://thermapen.co.uk/18-bbq-barbecue-thermometers which has proved as good as the thermapen. Have had to expand the pre-drilled opening and get larger grommets which I managed to for free as samples👍 But that’s just my experience others no doubt have own preferences obviously budget is a consideration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Let’s see a photo of the completed assembly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 1 hour ago, U can do that again said: I have a thermapen mk4 digital thermometer which I find to be excellent, if you not bothered about the colour, they did have some reduced see link below and how easy it is to see in the draw....https://thermapen.co.uk/thermapen-offers previously used a Weber digital thermometer which worked well enough but is no comparison to the thermapen in terms of speed and ease of reading also have a smoke https://thermapen.co.uk/18-bbq-barbecue-thermometers which has proved as good as the thermapen. Have had to expand the pre-drilled opening and get larger grommets which I managed to for free as samples👍 But that’s just my experience others no doubt have own preferences obviously budget is a consideration was looking at this also but not sure do both probes (long and short one) measure inside temps ? https://thermapen.co.uk/bbq-barbecue-thermometers/111-smoke-wireless-barbecue-thermometer.html added pro thermopen to basket also 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 1 hour ago, U can do that again said: Let’s see a photo of the completed assembly they ya go m8 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Looking good, practice runs now, sealing any leaks and seasoning, plenty of advice if you search the various categories. long probe if for the item being cooked and gives internal temperature short probe mounts in clip above grate to give cooking temp on my brisket before had the smoke was shooting for 225f as cooking temp +/-5f cooking the pulled pork temp advised alarms if out 225+\-, portable alarm worked indoors so don’t have to baby sit but usually do reading till alarm goes off on mine can use the fire bowl as a kettle but also have a gasser for small quick cooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 thanks, so the long probe can be stuck into the meat or joint say to check internal temperature of the meat from within the probe holes and short one for lower probe hole, but i guess both long and short probes tell internal cooking temperature of the smoker? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hopefully the rubbish sketch/diagram will help you you learning curve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hi, thanks for that, makes more sense now,.. i just ordered that SMOKE WIRELESS BARBECUE THERMOMETER was so impressed with the reviews it got, just on with the curing process, the manual said put about 1kg of briquettes in the fire bowl and spray internal drum/grills with oil and so i did and had all vents open and seemed to not have enough caols to get higher temp, so added a few more and piled them up like a pyramid, seems to be better and stayed at around 170c probably get a lot hotter using the fire basket full of coals but hey was only curing it for the 1st time, i see some people say not to use cheap briquettes, i bought some from the range so not sure the way to go on that one, even lumpwood/briquettes are topic of debate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmus Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I used some gasket around the door aperture of my Callow as I found it used to leak quite a bit from there. I also went with using a terracotta saucer in the water pan instead of water as I found this helped in maintaining a consistent temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 thanks for the advice i may have to get some of that gasket stuff, i am going to do my 1st cook today so will see how the temps hold today,( the manual says for low n slow try maintain a heat of around 110-120c), just some shop bought marinated chicken wings/drumsticks along with some plain chicken breasts just to see the flavour difference with neutral meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 How did the first cook go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) On 7/26/2020 at 5:11 PM, U can do that again said: How did the first cook go? Hi, it went really good, both were tender and had nice smokey flavour to them so was impressed, going to do coka cola chicken on Saturday as I bought me a stand to sit the chicken on, also gonna check out the new "smoke thermometer" so i can sit here with a nice cold one while keeping an eye on the temps 🙂 also bought some fire tape to seal the door a bit better. Edited July 30, 2020 by Tez 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Look good, gets addictive this smoking lark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey B Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Which chicken stand did you go for? Mikey B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted August 6, 2020 Author Share Posted August 6, 2020 On 8/5/2020 at 9:54 AM, Mikey B said: Which chicken stand did you go for? Mikey B Hi, i went for this one, doesn't hold a coke can, just pour liquid in, does the job. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BARBECUE-BBQ-BEER-CAN-CHICKEN-ROASTER-VERTICAL-CHICKEN-GRILL-COOK-STAND-HOLDER/173981549767?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted August 6, 2020 Author Share Posted August 6, 2020 turned out nice and moist, really impressed!, first time using the "smoke" thermometer and read up the cables dont like to be pinched between 2 hot surfaced so i cut a little nik into the lid just wide enough to hold the 2 cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey B Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Does your smoker not have the probe holes in the side? Mikey B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 12 hours ago, Mikey B said: Does your smoker not have the probe holes in the side? Mikey B Hi, yes it does but i had the beer can chicken on the top rack so the meat temp probe was below the rack (if using the probe holes) also the temperature probe fits loosely in the bottom probe hole and doesn't seem secure so i used the probe clip and sat that on the top rack next to the chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey B Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 8 hours ago, Tez said: Hi, yes it does but i had the beer can chicken on the top rack so the meat temp probe was below the rack (if using the probe holes) also the temperature probe fits loosely in the bottom probe hole and doesn't seem secure so i used the probe clip and sat that on the top rack next to the chicken. I usually run the cable for my probes through the holes and then clip them to which ever rack I need them on, my holes are pretty much level with each rack top and bottom Mikey B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tez Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Mikey B said: I usually run the cable for my probes through the holes and then clip them to which ever rack I need them on, my holes are pretty much level with each rack top and bottom Mikey B Hi Mikey thinking about it does the 2 probes fully fit (whole of the probe) through the side probe holes so as to feed the wire inside the smoker to whatever rack you are using if that makes sense ,stupid as it sounds i didnt check to be honest!, i have the "smoke thermoworks" Edited August 7, 2020 by Tez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey B Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 8 minutes ago, Tez said: Hi Mikey thinking about it does the 2 probes fully fit (whole of the probe) through the side probe holes so as to feed the wire inside the smoker to whatever rack you are using if that makes sense ,stupid as it sounds i didnt check to be honest!, i have the "smoke thermoworks" I use an Inkbird with 4 probes, I can get the end that connects to the main unit through the probe hole from inside the smoker. I find that easier than trying to feed the actual probe through 👍 Mikey B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U can do that again Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 On my Napoleon Apollo smoker used a step drill to expand existing opening to fit my Smoke probe through. Barrel of the probe is about 9.8mm from memory and got couple of larger 12 mm grommet samples for free took all of a minute to mod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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