Tomorrow I am going to try to smoke some chicken thighs. I will let you guys know how it goes. I can get my hands on a 250lb fat propane tank for free maybe this summer I will try to build one on a trailer.
The firebox door latch is a old metal tool box latch I just grinded off the rivets from the toolbox and then welded it on the firebox. Hey it was free I had it already then I just put a bolt on it in case it got real hot so I don't burn my fingers.
I just built a coal basket and welded in the plate in the firebox to keep the flames out of the cooking chamber. Wow my weld suck!!!! I had a real hard time getting in there to weld it and I couldn't see where I was welding what a bad job I hope it holds.
Since I added the plate in FB temps wont go over 240*, it sits around 220-225*. I don't know if my old temp gauge on the door is accurate I think I need a new one. I can hear the fat sizzling from the chicken juices hitting the RF plate.
Just took chicken off, it took about 2.5 hours to cook the pit was between 210-230. I think that my firebox damper is too small so I will open it up some more tomorrow to see if I can get a little more heat. Plus I think the hickory I was using was a little green and not putting out enough BTU. Here is a pic.
Last night while smoking chicken I couldn't get the chamber past 220* or so. So today I cut out the plate I put in the firebox, I think it was blocking the heat and draft. I fired up a test fire (large one) and get the chamber up to 310* no problem. So I took another piece of 1/4 steel and placed it over the spot where the two pipes come into the chamber from the firebox. That seemed to help with the high radiant temp at that spot. So it seems good for now.