Greetings

[paddyberger]

A uds is only a drum with a few holes in and parts from Screwfix! not a lot of tech ability needed. No welding just mecanno kit experience

Cheers, I'm going to keep this in mind but don't underestimate my lack of DIY skills!

[CHokKA]

As you may have seen from my signature, I have a MasterTouch and I love it, it works brilliantly. I actually ended up with two MasterTouch units after the first one had damage to the lid and legs, but I patched it up and now my dad uses it because Weber just sent out a new unit and told me to dispose of the other myself!

[paddyberger]

As you may have seen from my signature, I have a MasterTouch and I love it, it works brilliantly. I actually ended up with two MasterTouch units after the first one had damage to the lid and legs, but I patched it up and now my dad uses it because Weber just sent out a new unit and told me to dispose of the other myself!

That's great to hear. I was going to pull the trigger on a master touch but the one touch was a good deal and seemed to fit the brief without a couple of things it had. (GBS, slightly taller legs)

I've got a pretty hectic month and my next free weekend now is June so it's unfortunate the delay with the grill means I'm unlikely to get a chance to test it out before then.

I'm going to keep reading up so I'm ready to give it a blast when I can.

[PDC7]

Personally I would not bother with the smokenator (it is currently selling on amazon) I'm more than happy using the snake method on my one touch to do my 5 -6 hour low and slow (I estimate with the right setup using decent fuel I could cook unhindered low and slow for up to 10 hours).

My only definite upgrade was my grill, I got the gourmet system grill (hinged side on the grates makes adding more fuel easy)

[paddyberger]

Personally I would not bother with the smokenator (it is currently selling on amazon) I'm more than happy using the snake method on my one touch to do my 5 -6 hour low and slow (I estimate with the right setup using decent fuel I could cook unhindered low and slow for up to 10 hours).

My only definite upgrade was my grill, I got the gourmet system grill (hinged side on the grates makes adding more fuel easy)

Yes, I am definitely going to try the snake first and have watched a few videos to understand it. It seems like an effective and economical way of smoking on a kettle.

Now I've got the master touch coming on Tuesday (great comms from Van Hage so far), I should get the gourmet grill with that. It's does have the hinged sides, right?

Also, I notice that some sites advertise it with the charcoal baskets and some don't. I think they come with the master touch as a default so fingers crossed!

[PDC7]

My early mistake with the snake method was using my chimney to light just a few coals, I now light at least 12 to start, if it is too hot for your low and slow, close that lower vent a little bit more (but never fully closed) and always have that top vent 100% open.

I think you do get the hinged grate with master touch (but im not sure) either way for starters you can have fun grilling and then indirect cooking first (Just remember - leave that lid on, let it cook, don't go poking every 5 mins)

Charcoal baskets / Charcoal rails are useful (I got the rails in mine) and I use mine to create areas for grilling, if you imagine you a relooking directly down at your grill I have the left third with lit coals (held there by rail) centre with no coals and right third with lit coals also. This gives me 3 cooking areas, 2 direct and 1 indirect.

A good thing to know is that at the Tesco Petrol station (only in petrol station not the store) they sell supagrill lump wood and briquettes (i like to use a mix, put some unlit lump onto my lit briquettes) which is a decent fuel and The Range now stock Heat beads

[paddyberger]

My early mistake with the snake method was using my chimney to light just a few coals, I now light at least 12 to start, if it is too hot for your low and slow, close that lower vent a little bit more (but never fully closed) and always have that top vent 100% open.

I think you do get the hinged grate with master touch (but im not sure) either way for starters you can have fun grilling and then indirect cooking first (Just remember - leave that lid on, let it cook, don't go poking every 5 mins)

Charcoal baskets / Charcoal rails are useful (I got the rails in mine) and I use mine to create areas for grilling, if you imagine you a relooking directly down at your grill I have the left third with lit coals (held there by rail) centre with no coals and right third with lit coals also. This gives me 3 cooking areas, 2 direct and 1 indirect.

A good thing to know is that at the Tesco Petrol station (only in petrol station not the store) they sell supagrill lump wood and briquettes (i like to use a mix, put some unlit lump onto my lit briquettes) which is a decent fuel and The Range now stock Heat beads

Thanks for this most helpful. Your tips regarding the snake and temperature control with cents mirror what Id read previously so always reassuring to hear that twice.

I like the 3 cooking area idea. I was planning on half and half but that seems far more practical. Top tip for the fuel, my wife picked up some instant light charcoal so after reading the unfavourable comments on that I'll use it for the burn in instead!

I did contact my local coal/fuel merchant (literally 5 minutes away) who told me that the supermarkets have made it impossible to compete on price so he doesn't stock it anymore. I'm sure many other local businesses feel the same way unfortunately.

So my master touch landed today so hoping all is well with this one. Like I mentioned, mad month at home and desperate to get it set up and burnt in so I can get on with using it.

[essexsmoker]

I got 6.5hrs out of the fuse method the other week with probably at least another hr , maybe 1.5hrs to spare.

I lit about 8 coals to start it. Did about a chimney full.

Temp fairly steady around 103C with odd spike to 115 and dip to 98. With a water pan under food and another over the heat. Obviously it needs moving along occasionally with the burn.

New to smoking on OTP so fairly pleased with that.

[essexsmoker]

Only thing i did notice for the first time is the bitter taste from the cheapo briquettes. Will be trying lump and posh briquettes from now on. Will use cheapo stuff for grilling.

[paddyberger]

I've set up the master touch and it's nice bit of kit. It has got a couple of chips on the enamel by the handle and where you secure the legs. I'm guessing that's not a major issue?

I've near enough finished burning it in so ready to go. I might be able to try it out Sunday as long as the weather holds out.