A bit of advice please

[sjcooper90]

I have new smoker and I have noticed there are gaps around the doors to the fire area and the level above it, is this ok or do I need to seal them somehow?

[tommo666]

Do a few cooks with it first, as it seasons it may seal up the gaps a bit if not then there's ways of sealing.

[sjcooper90]

Thanks, what you you recommend to use if needed?

[tommo666]

There a couple of ways, RTV sealant or Adhesive bbq gasket. A search on ebay for either will yield results.

[robgunby]

What smoker do you have? Some are meant to have gaps, for example the cheapo brinkmann smokers, which have gaps instead of a top vent.

[sjcooper90]

I have this one, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saey-Home-Garde ... BBQ+smoker the gaps are around the doors and it does have a top vent

[tommo666]

This is a great post about mods to a similar smoker to yours. http://home.comcast.net/~day_trippr/smoker_mods.htm
Search on ebay for nomex gasket, you should get various returns for adhesive foam gasket you can stick round doors etc. From the US but shipping isn't too bad.

[robgunby]

Yeah get it sealed then - if it's got a vent it doesn't need any gaps.

Though, with that said, they might not be doing any damage - give it a couple of cooks before you mod it in any way, so you get to know it.

[sjcooper90]

Thanks for the tips, I'm going to fire it up once this nasty weather has passed and see where the smoke is escaping from and go from there

[robgunby]

Do remember that you need some exhaust or the stale smoke will make your food taste nasty.