Pellet Fan

Pit Talk -- Comments and Questions Regarding These Pellet Pits => Dansons/Country Smokers...Louisana Grills...Pit Boss => Topic started by: BrandonLutz on April 14, 2023, 04:46:18 PM

Title: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 14, 2023, 04:46:18 PM
Recently decided to get a vertical cabinet smoker to start taking on the local competitions with me instead of having to lug around my very heavy Grid Iron smoker. After a lot of research, I decided to go with the 7 Series Copperhead from Pit Boss.

Unfortunately, as soon as I ordered it, I came down with Covid, so other than the burn off period, I have yet to test it out cook wise. From what I could tell, during the burn off it held temps really well, so I have good hopes for this unit. Hopefully by this weekend I'm better and I can cook something on it before I drag it off to the next competition I'm in next Friday. I'm thinking a nice Pork Butt will be a good test for it. I'm also pleased at how well it matches my existing Blazn Grill color so it matches well when they are side by side.

Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 14, 2023, 04:53:34 PM
Do not let it out in the rain.  Unfortunately, I did.  Water got into the pellet dump door and long story short jammed the pellet auger.  I haven't fixed it yet.  It's been about 3 years.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 14, 2023, 04:55:32 PM
Do not let it out in the rain.  Unfortunately, I did.  Water got into the pellet dump door and long story short jammed the pellet auger.  I haven't fixed it yet.  It's been about 3 years.

I have the cover on order for it and it will always be kept under my patio. I'm pretty religious about watching the weather and making sure I cover up the grills to make sure that doesn't happen.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Bentley on April 14, 2023, 09:27:00 PM
I enjoyed Product testing that unit!  I think it was a tad smaller then yours, but it was a versatile smoker!
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: yorkdude on April 15, 2023, 04:19:12 AM
Do not let it out in the rain.  Unfortunately, I did.  Water got into the pellet dump door and long story short jammed the pellet auger.  I haven't fixed it yet.  It's been about 3 years.
I did the same thing and it was not fun clearing it. I have had the 5 series for about 5-6 years and love it. Thinking about buying the 7 as we speak. You will enjoy it.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Canadian John on April 15, 2023, 08:35:27 AM

 Too bad about that nasty Covid.  Perhaps this will help cheer you up...  That's a nice touch to a cooking arsenal.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Brushpopper on April 15, 2023, 09:06:27 AM
I am sure that one will be much easier to take to comps.  A wise choice. :clap:
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: 02ebz06 on April 15, 2023, 10:29:58 AM
Glad you are recovering.  Good looking Smoker.
Let us know how if does.
I had a GridIron. It is a beast.  Wouldn't want to move it often.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 15, 2023, 07:21:49 PM
Glad you are recovering.  Good looking Smoker.
Let us know how if does.
I had a GridIron. It is a beast.  Wouldn't want to move it often.

They are not fun to move alone  ;D. In the next month or so, I'm going to see if I can build my own comp cart for it. I've got a welder and need an excuse to start my first major project. :D

I'm mostly over the virus so I may test it out tomorrow. I got a whole chicken and a couple of spare racks I'll trim down tonight to see if I can test tomorrow.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Brushpopper on April 16, 2023, 12:20:37 PM
I'm always looking for an excuse to weld.  And since we put in an RV plug close to my barn I can weld in the shade instead of on the driveway by the house in full Texas summer sun. :cool:
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 16, 2023, 01:26:06 PM
Did a quick cook this morning on it and I'm pleased with the performance of the smoker. Don't have my full energy back yet so I just cooked a whole chicken and some jalapeno sausage I had in the fridge. Spatch-cocked a whole chicken this morning, and put it on at 8:30 at 225 for 2 hours. Final part of the cook was at 350 for 30 minutes and that is when I threw the sausage on. Everything came off at 11:30 and shut it down.

Pit held temps really well. Even with a cold North Wind whipping around and under my rear patio, I never saw it drop more than 5 degrees from the set point.

For those of you with the vertical smokers, do you always use water in your water pan? Or do you sometimes just wrap it in foil and let the drippings hit it?
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: 02ebz06 on April 16, 2023, 02:00:42 PM
I don't put water in too often.
I've been wrapping with foil lately.  Mainly doing that for sandwiches, so I don't get the hard bark.
Hard bark is nice to chew on, but I don't want it ending up in a sandwich.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BigDave83 on April 16, 2023, 05:57:03 PM
I used to put water in mine, then I got tired of messing with it.

I just put oil dry in then I can pick out the clumps and it still helps with the temps.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 23, 2023, 12:29:19 AM
Well, she got her trial by fire today. Didn't make the tables this go around but it was a great weekend weather-wise for a BBQ comp and I had fun. Now I have a ton of brisket, ribs and chicken left over that I've brought home that I'll have to make disappear. 8)

Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: urnmor on April 23, 2023, 07:28:01 AM
They all look great so I am sure being the magician that you are they will disappear in a jiffy
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Canadian John on April 23, 2023, 07:59:57 AM

 That cook is text book perfect, from the layout of the meat to the seasoning the pit has taken on. 

 The photo is one to frame, hang up & admire!
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Bentley on April 23, 2023, 12:36:41 PM
You were entered in a Competition and did not do turn ins?

Didn't make the tables this go around...
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: 02ebz06 on April 23, 2023, 12:46:51 PM
No doubt you will have volunteers to aid in disposing of the leftovers.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 24, 2023, 02:13:23 PM
You were entered in a Competition and did not do turn ins?

Didn't make the tables this go around...

What I meant was that we did not make the final judges tables. Back in November I placed 10th in Brisket and 11th in Chicken. However no love what-so-ever this time around from the judges. But it's a BCA event and they pull people off the street to judge, so you really never know what profile you are cooking for. While I like the laid back style of IBCA and BCA comps, I much rather the judging from Memphis in May or KCBS comps. At least with the latter two, you know the flavor profile you are cooking to and exactly what they are looking for out of your final product.
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 24, 2023, 02:15:41 PM
BTW, don't ever let them tell you that you can't get a smoke ring from a pellet moker. 8)

Some cuts off the very end of the flat. It's the only part I remembered to take a photo of as I was pressed for time trying to get everything sliced up and into a box.

Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: Bentley on April 24, 2023, 04:01:04 PM
Familiar with ICBA event, been out of the game to long I guess, never heard of BCA!  But if they do a final table like IBCA that makes more sense!
Title: Re: Picked up a new toy
Post by: BrandonLutz on April 24, 2023, 04:06:40 PM
Familiar with ICBA event, been out of the game to long I guess, never heard of BCA!  But if they do a final table like IBCA that makes more sense!

Yep BCA started taking over the local IBCA events we have around here. It stands for Barbecue Competitors Alliance. I think it was started by some former IBCA remembers. The cooking rules are exactly the same as IBCA. Same double blind system with the tickets, same presentation rules for the boxes, etc.