Ordering our (well my) new addition to the family tomorrow

[Curlie028]

Everything "really" well packed, all parts present and correct, although I thought I was a washer short, as it had worked it's way onto the screw in transit and I couldn't see it

Supports, Heat Shield and Bowl were a "little" tricky to put together on my own but I managed.

Everything else was like building basic lego and the Supports, Heat Shield and Bowl, really were not too difficult to be honest.

The Centre Section and/or Bowl seem to be slightly off circle but a little twisting and turning, hopefully has solved that.

Build quality seems to be superb, forgetting the off circle hic-up. All the dampers are great fits and hold very well, no matter which position you put them in and even the cover is of excellent quality.

Took about a leisurely hour to build and I was taking photos as I went along and will work out how to post them when I get back with some charcoal and wood chunks, if I can find any of them.

Now .....

Enjoy the first burn and then your first cook to follow.

... does this mean I have to light and let the charcoal burn off without cooking anything first time round.

If I have interpreted that correctly:
How much charcoal do I use?
Do I put water in the Water Pan?
Should I put veg oil or anything onto the Grates?

Off the Makro to see if I can get some resturant grade charcoal and then I'll sort the pics and post them.

Thanks to everyone on here who have given me a leg up to the next level, in the world of BBQ,
Curlie

[MrBlue]

Good luck Curlie - the fun is only just beginning!

[JEC]

Now .....

Enjoy the first burn and then your first cook to follow.

... does this mean I have to light and let the charcoal burn off without cooking anything first time round.

If I have interpreted that correctly:
How much charcoal do I use?
Do I put water in the Water Pan?
Should I put veg oil or anything onto the Grates?

Yes, most people have an empty burn first to get rid of any manufacturing by products that may taint the food, there are some though that don't and to the best of my knowledge, they're not dead, personally I did an empty burn first. When I got my WSM a month ago I lit a full chimney of briquettes, put them in the fire bowl filled the water bowl with hot water and spent the first hour playing with the vents seeing how it runs, once I was happy with tweaking, I carefully removed the water bowl, re-assembled, opened the bottom vents fully and let all of the charcoal burn out.

[Curlie028]

Cheers JEC, it makes sense.

Captured 3 bags of Resturant Grade Charcoal from Makro and 4 slabs of Baby Back Ribs, this evening. They only had wee bags of chips but I got a couple of those too.

Haven't got round to getting a Rib Rack so will cook, nay smoke them fat side up and do a couple of Beer Can Chickens after the first burn.

I have a funny feeling I will bounce out of bed early tomorrow to get started.

[JEC]

Sounds like a good plan to me, have a fun day playing with your new toy!!

[Swindon_Ed]

When you're doing your burn out it's also a good idea to blast it with smoke to help seal up any small gaps that might be around.

Also when I run in a new smoker I normally rub down the grills with veg oil to season them like you would with a wok to try to stop anything sticking, not sure if anyone else does this but I think I seems to work.

[Curlie028]

Thanks Ed,
I'll do that.

[Curlie028]

Here we go!



















If I have mucked this up and need to delete, just let me know.

[JEC]

Those photos bring back such memories, makes me want to buy another one

[All Weather Griller]

I can smell the newness!