Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

[KieranBrady]

Hi everyone,

So i was gifted one of those £80 cheap offsets apparently everyone hates, but as my only means to learn on how can i improve it?

It seems really leaky and the metal is only about 1.2mm thick so i'm guessing i'm going to run into problems.

Anyone on here than can help me out?

Thanks in advance!

[BraaiMeesterWannabe]

Do you have a pic?

[KieranBrady]

Do you have a pic?

I'm not sure how to post them to be honest?

[derekmiller]

I'm not sure how to post them to be honest?

You cant upload them, but you should be able to link them.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4

[Tiny]

Old Chum,
I started with an cheap offset smoker, sadly I purchased mine. My advice would be to ebay it, add the money you will waste on sealant fire rope and hi temp paint and buy a weber kettle. To chase a cheap offset will take you to the brink of madness.

Cheers
Tiny

[KieranBrady]

Old Chum,
I started with an cheap offset smoker, sadly I purchased mine. My advice would be to ebay it, add the money you will waste on sealant fire rope and hi temp paint and buy a weber kettle. To chase a cheap offset will take you to the brink of madness.

Cheers
Tiny

I was afraid of that. Unfortunately I can't see me having enough spare money to pick myself up one anytime soon. Bad times.

[BraaiMeesterWannabe]

Perhaps e-bay the cheap offset and use the proceeds to make yourself a UDS?

[Verminskti]

Seal the gaps you don't want, direct the heat where you want it and add some thermal ballast.

[PyroBoris]

Perhaps e-bay the cheap offset and use the proceeds to make yourself a UDS?

What he said!

[PDC7]

Why not just give it a try? it might be alright, it might be great, it might be rubbish, worst case scenario is you use it for grilling, and in my opinion if it was free and it grills, you got a bargain. You don't want to end up doing loads to it and then finding out you don't like being outside in rubbish weather, my first BBQ was a pile of trash from the range, but I had a lot of fun with it