Brinkmann Vertical smoker review | How I Modified My Brinkmann Vertical Smoker
Вставка
- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- I bought a used Brinkmann vertical smoker. This square vertical smoker uses the same basic concept as the Brinkmann smoke n grill, or bullet smoker as it is commonly called. I believe that these smokers take too many major modifications right out the box to make it a good buy. Simple modifications that Brinkmann should have done at the factory. A simple charcoal grate would turn this smoker into something that would at least be somewhat functional. I was able to modify and use this smoker in a way that makes it a useful smoker in my arsenal, at least for cooking ribs. I don't believe that someone should need to modify smokers that come from the factory. Here is how I modified the smoker to make is useful for ribs.
remove everything from the inside (grates and pan holders)
Drill holes in the top of the smoker box.
Run clothes hangers from the top of the smoker to hang your ribs.
place the charcoal bowl on the inside floor of the smoker (if you have a charcoal grate, use it) I had to keep emptying ash and replacing charcoal in the water bowl that I am using as a charcoal bowl.
I was able to get 4 hours of smoke on these ribs, and they did look good if I do say so myself, but should you have to go through all of this when you buy a smoker from a company that makes its name from selling smokers. Brinkmann has really fallen off over the years, and I wouldn't recommend buying a majority of their products.
Subscribe: / @nohippiebbqcooking
Video URL: • Brinkmann Vertical smo...
Facebook: / nohippiebbq
/ lyle.whitlock
Twitter: / nohippiebbq
Google+: plus.google.co...
Get a weber
Weber Grills and smokers: www.weber.com/g...
As for the Brinkman cabinet smoker, it works great! If you....
1, buy this off Amazon: " Mr Bar B Q 06034X Platinum Prestige Stainless Steel Wok TopperMr Bar B Q 06034X Platinum Prestige Stainless Steel Wok Topper "
Use that as your charcoal pan! It fits on the racks like it was made for it!!! Your fire will get HOT. Otherwise you need to double or triple the amount of holes you just drilled, and double their size.
2. Cut your rib racks in half first, I can do 2 racks at a time in this smoker. To do 4 racks I smoke the first 2 for 2hrs, then put them in the oven at 225, and start the 2nd 2 racks and smoke them for 2 hours. After that they go in the oven with the others.
Personally I don't want to feed charcoal and regulate temps for 7 hrs, and you only want to smoke the first 2hrs! You CAN oversmoke food! Trust me. It will taste rancid and EVERYTHING in your fridge will smell/taste smokey. Even your milk! It's not pleasant.
3. Seal the door better; Either buy the sticky felt gasket on Amazon for the Big Green Egg, it's cheap. Or buy those little baby bungee chords and bungee from the door handle to the side carrying handle, this will help the door close tighter.
The Brinkman is an excellent beginner smoker. I've cooked for 10+ people on it and would recommend it to anyone. Google and the smoker forums are your friend.
I wouldn't trash it, I've seen people make smokers out of a Webber Smokey Joe, duct tape, a dryer vent hose, and a cardboard box for the smoking chamber. You can smoke with almost anything man, just need some creativity. People make smokers out of filing cabinets, the Brinkman can do it, just have some ingenuity or be prepared to spend $300.
+JFeezy This has actually been my go to rib smoker. It is no where near as good as my weber smokey mountain, but it does do 5 racks of ribs with very little fuel. I personally dont like that these smoker companies are putting smokers on the market knowing that they need modifications right off the bat. I personally wouldnt keep that as my only smoker, but since i have 2 offsets, a kettle, and a weber smokey mountain, this brinkmann fits in just nicely, without any additional mods. Thanks for the input. I appreciate it
Thank you so much for the video. I dont cook much and never have smoked food. There is one on facebook that I was looking at. Thank you so much for the video. Great creativity. Two thumbs up to you!
Glad it was helpful!
I have one of these and it works great. I eliminated the charcoal bowl all together it's a JOKE. I use the whole bottom of the pit for my coal and wood. I modified the inside I have added more racks. I've cooked a 15lb brisket, Pork shoulder, and 3 racks of ribs at one time on this thing. I am a BBQ Guru, I can make anything work!!!
LOL. Thats a good idea. The way I have it set up it makes really good ribs. Cooking 5 racks at a time works for me. I use my other smokers for big cuts. I have a wet aged brisket on the weber smokey mountain right now
There you go!!
I know this is an old post. I made a charcoal basket out of expanded metal after drilling a bunch of holes in the original bowl didn't work. The original bowl sits under the basket to keep it off the bottom and allow ashes to drop to the bottom. It works great as long as I don't put too many coals in before adding the lit coals. If too many are put in it will spike up to between 300-400 degrees. So I stack about 2 high and leave a corner open to dump lit coals and allow it to slowly work its way across the basket.
You burn your coal and wood directly on the bottom of the pit? Seems as tho it would damage such thin metal? I tried drilling holes and I agree the pan is just garbage
Nice review Lyle, you're awful brave smoking 5 racks of ribs in there. I like your modifications with the hangers.
BigPolarJer BBQ That raggedy ass smoker is good for ribs. It isn't worth buying new, but it did do a good job with limited fuel. I still don't know why brinkmann didn't include a charcoal grate. It isn't the customers job to modify their shit...But my modifications did make this a decent smoker
Great modification Lyle :) I love how you get creative :) Making do with what you got :) A "BIG" thumbs up. The ribs look good. Have a great week Lyle :) ROCK ON!!!!!!
MrMegaFredZeppelin The way I modified this Brinkmann Smoker made it a real good find, but why should people need to modify smokers right off the shelf? I $2.00 item could have made this an off the shelf decent smoker
Lyle, I know nothing about smoking, but it seems to me that 5 racks of ribs is a lot! So at least the capacity in this case was alright. I see what you mean about the negatives though. That Brinkmann is the cause of more than a few headaches, and a lot of special rigging! If I ever get a smoker, I'l get the Weber Smoky Mountain. Thanks for the review!!
Juanelo1946 Thanks for checking it out. Brinkmann is a company I have serious issues with. My first smoker was the small brinkmann smoke n grill, or the bullet smoker as it is referred to. The issues I had with that almost made me give up bbq and smoking, because I didn't know any better. I just hope there aren't any people giving up on smoking because of this company. There is a channel called smoking coals, and he just bought a brinkmann offset smoker. He has had to modify his brand new smoker to get it where he wants it. I just feel that companies that sell bbq and smoking units should have people in their companies that can make necessary modifications before they hit the stores. Even if they sell for more money
Right! I hear you!
I may be doing a fishing...Well casting video here soon. My son likes fishing, so I am going to take him soon. Last time we went, he was to busy changing lures to actually fish. We came home like you..empty handed, but we threw none back
Hahaha! I can't wait to see it! It will be easier with two people. One could be catching, the other videoing! Good luck!!!
No Hippie BBQ & Cooking Lyle….. I totally agree! Just look at that old smoker that JB bought 35 or so years ago. He still has it….. and it still works. They're out of business.
Brinkmann……. cranking them out. What does that say about the state of things??????
It's everything these days. What happened to quality? Sad
I hear you can drill holes in the bottom pan and shake them with tongs to get the ashes out. Of course, putting some aluminum foil on the bottom is best.
Drilled holes in my charcoal pan. Works well.
This was a nice little smoker
I've seen a stainless steel grilling basket like the vegetable kind used as a charcoal holder. The holes in the basket might help with the air flow and not let the charcoal smother out during your cook. Or you can drill some holes in the one that you have so you don't have to spend any money since the grilling basket might cost more than what you paid for your smoker. Anyways, good review honest and straightforward thanks.
If you cant fit a full rack in there, um, cut down to size. Not everyone is going to be smoking big slabs of meat. For ten bucks, you were able to smoke what you wanted. So yeah, it was well worth the price.
That smoker did its job while I had it around. That was one of the smokers I got rid of when I downsized
I did the same thing but where y put the hangers. U should put eye hook bolts and the bottom charcoal bowl I took a 1/2 full bit a drill holes in it works good mater a fact I am going out and lighting it up u with though ribs hanging make me hunger good video
I don't have this one any more. The closest smoker I have to this is my pit barrel cooker. Drilling the holes is a great idea
ribs look like they turned out ok, I had a brinkman grill once and learned my lesson
doublejbbq hahaha. My first smoker was a brinkmann smoke n grill. That smoker almost turned me off to bbq..seriously
I've suffered a few Brinkman headaches too. Not only was there an extreme need for mod after mod, that old "smoke n grill" was defeated by a storm which knocked it over. Bent it up so bad that the dome wouldn't even fit. On the other hand, A bit of blue and some silver paint, and you've got a good R2D2 model! heh heh.
SmokeyGoodness This is going to be a decent rib cooker the way I have it, but I just don't know why brinkmann continues to put out these same smokers year after year with no adjustments
Well those turned out good ✌🏾
very thorough, very honest, good video !
+surgeneral108 Thanks. It isnt the best smoker, but it does do good ribs the way I have it set up
Hey Lyle….. very informative for those considering to get one of those. There's a neighbor who got one several years ago…….. he used it once……… it just sits on his porch rusting away. What does that say?!?!
That is a terrible design for the charcoal pan! I guess you could do something to the pan, like I did to my Master Forge cheapie?
Heavy Metal Bar-B-Que I feel that Brinkmann should make a product that is functional off the shelf. They have been slipping. That being said, this turned out to be a real good rib cooker. I would be pissed if I bought it new, but for $10 it is an efficient rib cooker. In actuality, the ribs I did were the most cost efficient ribs I've ever done
You did well for 10 Bucks but I do see the issues. I have a Gas Fired Masterbuilt the same size and it sucks. I used it once and gave up on it. Your modifications to yours is a riot, but it works. Great review.
Lumpy Q It is ghetto fabulous..LOL. This brinkmann smoker is actually now a decent rib smoker. It just pisses me off that Brinkmann cant make a decent smoker that works right off the shelf
They need you in there R+D Dept.
Lumpy Q I'm serious. You telling me that as long as Brinkmann has been putting out these smokers that they haven't realized that they don't work well. A $2 part would make all the difference in the world. I don't think a customer should have to buy a new smoker and modify it right off the shelf.
I agree, you think they would realize it. Make the thing deeper so you can put a Rack of Ribs in it. The width is ok and the food height is good for 6 Racks. And the Fire Box needs help as well. Maybe after your Vid saying you are not sure 10 Bucks may be over paying will help.
Lumpy Q Thanks for checking it out. Now I need to check out your stew video. See ya
I built a smoker that can be broken down, I bring it with me when I go camping..Oh I do get lots of questions on how to smoke fish.
I live in western Ontario Canada so there is a lot of fishing happening..
Cheers.
That would be convenient. I smoke fish every now and then. Not too much though. I usually stick with salmon. I need to get more creative
U might wanna pull the coating off that coat hanger ...I believe its plastic or some kind of rubber
That smoker is long gone now. It did a pretty good job
I never done a mod on a smoker before other than add a decent thermometer, but I don't consider that a real functional mod to address heat loss, and from other vids I've seen it makes sense to seal the door, and use of a perforated grill topper for a briquette tray etc. but if your briquettes are smothering out that would seem like a ventilation issue as well something you didn't care to mention other that your hanger installation.
C D Kennedy that smoker is long gone now. The heat issue was not solved but addressed by having the water pan used as a secondary charcoal basket. Not convenient, but that 10 dollar snooker made me a lot of monwy when i had large rib orders to fill. I haven't watched this in years, but if i remember correctly my point was don't waste money on the brinkmann verticle smokers, but if you have, this may be an option short of scrapping it
Well I know I'm late on this and sure you since moved on, but I just bought a Grillpro vertical smoker for a good deal which is almost Identical to the Brinkmann and its in great condition, but could tell right off the bat its going to need some modifications done to address weak design problems, again which are about the same as the Brinkamnn e.g. heat loss.....
Any smoker is a good smoker. I know that we live with what we have. I had another cheap smoker that was horrible that I used a long time just for pork butts. That smoker had the opposite problem. It was hard to regulate the heat, so it was running in the low 300s until the charcoal started getting low
Yep yep I hear ya I had a charbroil bullet style and was trying to do some steelhead fillets and temperature was critical, it boiled down to adding or subtracting one or two briquettes just to keep it where I wanted it, about the time you had things stabilized it was time to add new hot briquettes and then it was back to square one babysitting again. I used a long stem thermometer on that from the top so it was just a matter of paying attention to that sweet spot. 225-250 and no more than 275
I might pick up one of those bullet smokers if I find one used. I am always getting questions about that smoker
Make some side racks 1X1 and add oak wood dowels..you will be able to hang the meat better. You have a real good box to start with ..
You are definitely more handy than me. I am not the handiest person in the world
Those ribs did look good!
CareyP1972 They did. This set up is perfect for ribs, but damn, shouldn't Brinkmann be able to make a damn smoker that works right off the shelf
I replaced the charcoal bowl with a grill wok and put nomex around the doors like everyone else and it's the best $10.00 Smoker ever. Is good for pork butts 2 at a time and whole chickens. Mine runs for hours on a full basket using the minion method. I use sand in the water pan and no problem getting it up to 350° or to hold 225°
+Gordon Gary I know I kind of gave this smoker a bad review, but as is, the way I set it up, its a great rib smoker. I have so many smokers that ribs is all I use this for. I am super happy about my $10 investment. I don't use the water pan at all. The ribs hang about 10 inches or so over the charcoal pan, and they cook really even. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment
On those ribs, what are you using for a rub/brine and what's in the spray bottle?
I have a lot of rib videos, but i forgot what i did with these. This was one of my first videos
I had the "Bullet" and it was pretty much the same charcoal bowl and water bowl set up ... and I'd agree it was not really a very good smoker but it was cheap and it had a small foot print. (I lived in a small apartment at the time) - The WSM is a very much better unit but of course you pay for the higher quality (My Brinkman Bullet was $35 brand new!)
TitoJorge The brinkmann has the potential to be a good smoker, but they have never made necessary modifications to make it good right off the shelf. All they need is a charcoal grate to make it functional. I don't believe that it is the customers job to modify their smokers. I will be using this smoker for ribs (whenever I have to make more than 3 racks) so it is good for that. I'll get my $10 worth out of it
$10 is about all that might be worth, and the food is good cuz you have done a good job making it work.
The problems with these super cheap ones is that a newbie pit guy buys one and gets all discouraged then quits.
WIth all the hangers sticking out the top it looks like you might be able to pick up on some UHF tv stations.
Tango Joe LOL...You are right about people getting discouraged. My first smoker was the brinkmann smoke n grill. It had the same issue as they still have. I just thought that was how all smokers were. I don't know why brinkmann hasn't made changes after all these years. I went to the store and looked at the brand new ones. Still no charcoal grate after all these years. They could charge $2 more and have something at least functional. My ghetto modifications are sweeeet. Just joking, but it did do a pretty good job with 5 racks of ribs
Indeed, the lack of a charcoal grate is just sad.
Of course, discouraged folks sell stuff cheap on craigslist which helps out the rest of us.
Great video. What's the brand name on your offset smoker that's in the background to the left in this video? It looks solid!
+Sean Grimes That smoker is really heavy. It is an old brinkmann. It's basically a horizon. That is 1/4 inch steel.
How did the ribs turnout?
Ray Mack's Kitchen and Grill The Ribs turned out good. Even though Brinkmann has a raggedy design, I was able to make it put out some decent ribs
If you cut the brisket in half or the ribs you'll have plenty of room , no ?
It's just not a good smoker, but it was a nice experiment
Way to go fellow Marine!!!
You adapted!!!
You overcame!!!!
+Hanz Solobuger Thanks. It was the only way to make my 10 dollar brinkmann useful at all. It actually comes in handy when i need to cook more than 10 racks of ribs. I can put some in there, some on my offset and some on the weber smokey mountain
Have this smoker. Heat loss is an issue but i dont mind smoking at 200 for an extra 1.5 hrs...can smoke 3 racks (gets a little cramped) if you cut the ribs in half and get a rib rack holder. Question for you guys; if I smoke with two distinctly different rubs in the same smoker will there be a clash in taste. Trying to smoke a chipotle base and also a more traditional rub base...looking for ward to testing out your modification.
WOW. This is an old video. I dont have that smoker anymore, but I did like cooking ribs in it. I dont think that using 2 different rubs would have an effect. I know that chipotle can be strong, so it is possible, but I wouldnt mind smoking them together
That Brinkman is bigger than your Weber, so I'm not sure why you keep knocking it for not being able to fit 5 racks of ribs if it wasn't for your mod.
Outdoor Dauber I'm knocking it because brinkman hasn't made a good smoker in over 15 years. The capacity isn't a problem, but having to modify a smoker out the box is a problem. I'm not sure if they are still around. I have 7 smokers, and this type from brinkmann even new was a horrible design
No Hippie BBQ & Cooking - Thanks for clarifying. While I got that you think the quality / design is crap, I also counted 3 times that you comment about the "small" size and what you can't fit into it. Not to mention several other times you alluded to the available space. Based on all that I thought your issue was the size.
I didnt have a problem with the size as much as the charcoal pan. Its an easy modification, but the one thing I hate is having to modify things right out the box. While I didn't buy this new, it seems that the new ones at the time had the same design. It is fun buying really cheap used smokers and playing around with them.
😳🤫😂😂😂😂😂
Bravo!
elrabbitsbbq I bet you could make something like that in 3 hours
I just KNEW Aim Em' would have something to say.....haha!! Nice modifications though.
***** My brinkmann smoker modifications are the bomb..lol. Actually now its a half decent rib smoker
thanks for sharing, I'm about to buy a new one I found on fb and hopefully it'll work for the amount of smoking I do around here. maybe I'll try some mods too
I just got rid of that smoker on sunday. I realy like how it did ribs, and before I bought my pit barrel cooker this was my go to smoker for ribs. I buy just about all my smokers on craigslist. Never thought to join a facebook sales group
that's a good sales site, do you think $50 is too much for brand new? I have that smoke n grill model and love it other than the surface space, also have an offset for my larger cooks
You cant go wrong with $50. The first smoker I ever had was a smoke n grill. It was pretty good, other than the coals dying out because it didnt have a grate. I love my offset smoker.
I'm thinking of modifying my dynaglo vertical so I can hang the meat inside. The racks are too small so I always have to cut the ribs in half. Do you have some type of meat hook through the ribs and then attach the hook to the clothes hanger?
That's a great deal on the WSM.
Smoking Bullet I couldn't believe that I got it for $50. I bought all of my smokers on craigslist. I got an even better deal on my 1/4 inch steel offset. I got that for$100
Lyle , you're just gonna have to break down and build your own UDS. I built mine after watching Daddy Cooks. They put out superior smoked meats. Ask Phil, I think he still digs his. Built mine for $70. Best BBQ investment ever.
john davis Ive thought about it John, but at this point I have a Weber smokey mountain, 2 offset smokers, a weber kettle and this. I may sell my cheaper offset and get one of those. This unit actually did good the way I modified it. I really appreciate you checking out my video
I know what you mean, I keep collecting grills and smokers off CL and just like you I'm running outta' room to store this stuff !! Even though I have offsets and others , my UDS always gets the nod. Got my fingers crossed that you build one :). Cheers !!
Basically I would you the Brinkman vertical smoker to cook meat for my dogs or homeless people.
Lolol
Hey Lyle !!! Hey to Andrea and the Family !!! I got more Coat Hangers !!! LOL ... I Think that was a Fine Mod Brother !!! Good Lord Lyle that was some Fine Rib Cookin my Friend !!! NEXT Level Yummy ...
Fritz is Cookin Again Thanks Fritz. The Brinkmann smoker as sold is pretty much worthless. I don't understand why after all these years they don't just make the necessary modifications needed. It would cost like $2 per unit max.
thanks for the video
Jonathon Blackburn Thanks
"I know mine is a waste of money, but I need to make the best of what I have"!
+TheMsLady4Real The way I have it hooked up it makes some really nice ribs. Thats all I use it for now
And I paid $70-$80 for mine worthless! I will have to do some free mods for mine ! The temp gage is poor ! I hate this vertical smoker is pitiful! "Don't even wast time or money"! Got mine in 2015"! "Wish I could afford even the $299 Weber"! "I will just have to invest maybe another $ 20-$50 dollars in modifications! I agree piss poor product! "Door doesn't even seal"! "Truly a nightmare smoker"!!!!
I have 8 smokers and grills. I bought all of them on craigslist for a total of $565. I actually just saw an offset smoker sitting on a curb with a free sign on it. I would have got it, but my wife would kill me.
close the top vent down, u get more heat up there
That smoker is long gone. It was a great rib smoker, but that's pretty much all I used it for
Hangers, really. GHET-TO :-)
Aim'em and Claim'em Smokers LOL. That Brinkmann smoker did do a good job on them ribs. I don't think that Brinkmann should be putting out product that needs to be modified straight off the shelf, but my ghetto modifications turned out 5 racks with very little charcoal and wood
So he been cookin ribs for a week??
Not quite
it's a great smoker for 1/2 briskets, and exactly what I wanted. Move on if it's not the right size dude.I can't fit 1/2 hog on it so I get one that does???
wrthrash I have 7 smokers. I did keep that for a while for ribs, but its been retired
They have a charcoal grate when you don't buy them used... Your DPO probably lost it.
when I first started off BBQ and I bought one of these brinkmanns and it did not have a charcoal grate. They may have upgraded to a charcoal grate recently but either way my biggest problem wasn't with that having a charcoal grate or not it was just the size of the grill which I had a problem with. It does turn out good ribs the way I have it set up.
They must have because I got one the other day for about the same price you paid and it had one that's pretty obviously built for it. And yea, I could see how size would be an issue. I'm just dabbling right now. I guess if I get serious I'll probably just fabricate my own grill. Great idea for the hangers though.
Once you get hooked its all over. It can become obsessive. I need to start selling some of these smokers off. I just bought a used traeger jr a couple of days ago
I'm a metal worker so fabricating my own design might be a lot of fun. I've done some primitive smoking during my survival courses as a means of preservation but I've never thought to get a grill before. I'd say you're right, this is going to be a "thing". lol
I wish I knew how to fabricate metal. There are a lot of people making sweet smokers that have that skill
Dude how the ribs came out?
really good. for a while that was my dedicated rib cooker for when i had to make 3 racks or more
Lol or you could build a mini wsm like i did - 100$. It's the 14''
White Thunder BBQ Man I have too many damn smokers. This actually did damn good the way I have it set up. It did 5 racks of ribs with minimal wood and charcoal. I bought my wsm for $50. If anything I need to sell my cheap offset. My backyard is in Sanford and Son mode with all these smokers and grills
a poor tradesman blames his tools also i have made AMAZING brisket and ribs in a $100 sams club special that was as big as the fire box on thisit was also propane
I guess i suck as much as your sorry attempt to put me down
@@NoHippieBBQCooking lol
You need some welder gloves.
You are right. I have got a pit barrel cooker since this video, and some better gloves. Thanks for checking it out. This thing did do some good ribs
Go rams!
Of course its worth 10 bucks...
First world problems
Definitely