Hanging out in the backyard tonight with my boys. It’s about 38°F out, and we’re standing here looking at my 22” Old Smokey cooker. Years ago I tried using it as a smoker for chicken thighs and spare ribs. That cook didn’t go great because the pit ran way too hot for low-and-slow. Looking back, I’m pretty sure the problem was too much lump charcoal in the basket. My son and I were talking about giving it another shot in the coming weeks—this time starting with about half a chimney of lump and trying chicken thighs again to see if we can keep it more controlled. That said, I will say the Old Smokey is a fantastic cooker for traditional hot BBQ chicken, and for under $80 it’s one of the most economical pits out there. Curious if anyone here has experience cooking on an Old Smokey. What fuel setup or technique worked best for you? 🔥

Spring is here and it's time to fire up the pit! Show off the fantastic food that you're BBQing! Put it here or put it in one of our posting categories (Recipes, Leftovers, Grills & Smokers, Accessories). I can't wait to see it!

Grill/Smoker #18 is the Giant Huntsman by Spider Grills. Their products have been on my radar for a few years. I have an inquiry into them about the ambient probe. I want to place it in the port at the rear of the grill but it is not long enough. I'm wondering if I received a probe meant for the regular size Huntsman by mistake. In the meantime, I need to season it with the wax that came with it.

Today I outfitted my WSM with the S1 thermometer & Breezo fan. I'm excited to try a long cook with it. What should I cook first?

I scored this MAK 2 Star General on Facebook Marketplace. Then I updated the PID controller and replaced the igniter. I thought that was all that I would need to get up & running but it turned out that the auger was not connected to the auger motor. It took a few hours & extra money to resolve everything but I'm still glad that I pulled the trigger. I have owned a MAK 1 Star for 8 years & I like the way MAK operates & support their customers so I felt comfortable buying what I think is a lightly used 2 Star. If you're in the market for an additional grill or smoker, don't forget to check local listings like Craig's List, Offer Up & Facebook Marketplace as you might find a gem at a great price. Unfortunately there are alot of folks who enthusiastically buy high-end grills only to give up on them after a few cooks. Their loss can be your gain!