Smokin-It User Forum!

Smokin-It Smokers => Model 4D - The Big Daddy! => Topic started by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 25, 2016, 06:05:15 AM

Title: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 25, 2016, 06:05:15 AM
I have been going back and forth for days on buying the 3D or the 4D or none at all. I'm even on vacation right now at 3am in my room at the Palazzo Hotel in Vegas. Went through the ordering process and handed my wife my phone and told her to press the "Place Order" button. And I'll be damned if she didn't do it. ;) We have a catering gig on June 10th for a wedding rehearsal dinner and a graduation party two weeks later. Sure hope this beast gets here next week, it works properly and I can season it without the wood catching fire like it did in my MES when I first got it, get at least one successful smoke with it and then use for those events. So hope I don't end up with buyers remorse. Wish me luck. :)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: swthorpe on May 25, 2016, 08:58:04 AM
I am sure you will be happy with smoker!    The key to avoiding combustion with the wood is the get good wood with a high moisture content (ie, not dried out wood).   Many of us here are using wood from smokinlicious.com; I have not had any combustion issues since switching to their wood.   Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: NDKoze on May 25, 2016, 09:43:34 AM
Congratulations Scott! You are going to love your new beast of a smoker. I'm not guaranteeing that you won't have any hiccups, but the learning curve is short and the results are awesome!

BTW, if your seasoning doesn't go as planned with the Auber don't get too worried. These things are tuned to be used with meat in the smoker. So, some have seen issues with the temps during seasoning. Not anything to be worried about.

I am looking forward to the day when I can spring for a #4.

BTW, good luck on your catering business!
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: SuperDave on May 25, 2016, 11:01:02 AM
Congrats from a fellow #4 owner.  We're a small percentage of the SI family and our units run just a little different than the rest.  We look forward to your posts.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 25, 2016, 11:29:59 AM
I am sure you will be happy with smoker!    The key to avoiding combustion with the wood is the get good wood with a high moisture content (ie, not dried out wood).   Many of us here are using wood from smokinlicious.com; I have not had any combustion issues since switching to their wood.   Welcome aboard!
Thank you!! I believe Gregg also mentioned that place for wood chunks. Seems a bit expensive, but if it doesn't take much for a long smoke, GREAT!!

Looking forward to sharing some photos in the future. :)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 25, 2016, 11:31:41 AM
Congratulations Scott! You are going to love your new beast of a smoker. I'm not guaranteeing that you won't have any hiccups, but the learning curve is short and the results are awesome!

BTW, if your seasoning doesn't go as planned with the Auber don't get too worried. These things are tuned to be used with meat in the smoker. So, some have seen issues with the temps during seasoning. Not anything to be worried about.

I am looking forward to the day when I can spring for a #4.

BTW, good luck on your catering business!
Thanks Gregg. Steve should give you a commission for this sale as it was in large part made because of your posts and replies to me. :)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 25, 2016, 11:32:53 AM
Congrats from a fellow #4 owner.  We're a small percentage of the SI family and our units run just a little different than the rest.  We look forward to your posts.

Thank you!! I can't wait to post some photos of some hopefully stellar Q. :)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: NDKoze on May 25, 2016, 12:03:16 PM
Congratulations Scott! You are going to love your new beast of a smoker. I'm not guaranteeing that you won't have any hiccups, but the learning curve is short and the results are awesome!

BTW, if your seasoning doesn't go as planned with the Auber don't get too worried. These things are tuned to be used with meat in the smoker. So, some have seen issues with the temps during seasoning. Not anything to be worried about.

I am looking forward to the day when I can spring for a #4.

BTW, good luck on your catering business!
Thanks Gregg. Steve should give you a commission for this sale as it was in large part made because of your posts and replies to me. :)

Thanks Scott. I was just trying to give you as much information as possible for you to make an educated decision.

As far as the wood goes, it is a small price to pay as compares to the price of some of the meat that we smoke. Considering how much meat costs, I don't want to skimp on my wood. Plus, a box of wood from Smokinlicious will last you a LONG time.

Now, the waiting game plays. I would think you would easily have it by next week sometime.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: drains on May 25, 2016, 01:09:11 PM
Welcome from Texas Scott! That's a beast of a smoker you're getting. Good luck with all your future smoking endeavors.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: swthorpe on May 25, 2016, 01:30:43 PM
The wood from smokilicious does go a long way...I bought a box of hickory/cherry last October and still have a ways to go before I will need to re-order!   Take a look at Maine Grilling Woods for another alternative...they sell small bags of wood.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: old sarge on May 25, 2016, 06:05:14 PM
Congrats on the 4.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: es1025 on May 30, 2016, 07:00:59 PM
Congrats on your purchase. I use Maine grilling woods for the past two years. Great product no issues.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: DivotMaker on May 30, 2016, 08:15:39 PM
You know what they say, Scott --- "Go BIG or Go HOME!"  LoL!  You have definitely stepped into BIG!  Congrats!!!  That's a beast of a unit, and now has the PID controller built in!  I know you'll enjoy it, so let us know how it goes!

Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: gregbooras on May 30, 2016, 08:31:44 PM
Scott,

Great choice.

Greg
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: Glock_21 on May 30, 2016, 08:41:10 PM
Not gonna lie, I had some pretty serious "buyers remorse" after purchasing my #3.  My first couple smokes didn't go as well as I would have liked considering the money I spent.  I got a lot of great help and advice from the people on this board and I was able to adjust my methods to fit the SI.  Now I look at that smoker as one of the best appliance investments that I have ever made.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: DivotMaker on May 30, 2016, 09:44:32 PM
Glad it worked-out, Travis!  You're making some great-looking Q on that bad boy! 8)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 31, 2016, 10:56:50 AM
Hey everyone. Thanks for all the replies. Sorry  for the late response. I was on a bit of a mini vacation last week and got home late Sunday and spent all day yesterday vegging and running a few errands.

 Tomorrow is supposedly the delivery day for the Smokin-It 4D.  I am excited, yet nervous all at the same time. That is a huge expense for us, and hopefully one that will pay itself off in no time at all.  I look forward to sharing my first smokes with you, including photos.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: old sarge on May 31, 2016, 11:03:01 AM
Scott - Looking forward to your posts. Dave
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on May 31, 2016, 12:33:07 PM
Scott - Looking forward to your posts. Dave

Looking forward to sharing them. :)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: DivotMaker on May 31, 2016, 08:10:08 PM
Hope you hired two men and a boy to help you lift that beast, Scott! :o   Congrats!
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on June 01, 2016, 10:56:39 AM
Hope you hired two men and a boy to help you lift that beast, Scott! :o   Congrats!
I'm hoping I never have to move it once it's delivered. Getting the casters on may be another issue altogether. ;)
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: DivotMaker on June 01, 2016, 07:33:29 PM
I'm hoping I never have to move it once it's delivered. Getting the casters on may be another issue altogether. ;)

Drink fluids, lift from the legs, and take frequent breaks. ;)   Or, use a crane (if needed).
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on June 02, 2016, 12:37:08 AM
I'm hoping I never have to move it once it's delivered. Getting the casters on may be another issue altogether. ;)

Drink fluids, lift from the legs, and take frequent breaks. ;)   Or, use a crane (if needed).

I almost needed to. ;)  It's seasoning right now.  Not happy with what I am seeing, but hopefully, my fears are misplaced.
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: old sarge on June 02, 2016, 12:54:14 PM
Scott - what is it doing or not doing?
Title: Re: Pulled the trigger....OH MY!!!
Post by: id2nv2nj2ca on June 02, 2016, 01:51:13 PM
Scott - what is it doing or not doing?

Hi David.  If this works, here is a link to a thread I started about it.

http://smokinitforums.com/index.php?topic=5126.0

Currently, I put in some hickory chunks I got from Amazon after foiling a good portion of the smoker box as has been suggested elsewhere.  Also, set the temp for 150 for .7 hours (whatever that works out to, since I suck at math) and then to go to 225 for a total of 4 hours.  The first .7 hours, it smoked really nice.  Had what appeared to be thin blue smoke to thin white smoke.  Then I couldn't see any smoke at all just before the .7 hours ended and it ramped up the temp, going to 225.  It has now been "puking out" thick white/grey smoke for the last 20 minutes or so.  Pretty sure the chunks caught fire.  This does not make me want to put any meat in there as expensive as it is.  Everyone says there is a learning curve to these things, but I may end up just using my AMNPS. 

Thanks. :)