Finally getting a smoker! (and question)

[Mr. Bones]

BTW:
Howdy from Kansas Territory, Welcome to Th Pit!

Lookin forward to learnin along with, an from ya!

[Mr. Bones]

Two Steps'd be jus fine, from an ol' OKJ stickburner...

Come across any questions, please; feel free to gimme a holler...

I'll help in any way I rightly know how....

[Sweaty Paul]

Salutations from Hays, Kansas!

[Gizmoto]

Thanks for the documenting tip, will do

[Soonerpop]

Welcome from north Texas. You’ve already found the free advice channel. Have fun with the new smoker.

[rickgregory]

Hello All,
After years of wanting a smoker and not getting one I am picking up my new Oklahoma Joe's Highland at Lowe's on Friday.

Here's a mod you missed:

[LA Pork Butt]

Welcome to the Pit from Dallas, Texas!

[Starsky]

Welcome!

[saneric38]

That's awesome. My first smoker was a Pit Boss vertical pellet smoker from Lowes in April of 2020. The latest model has many upgrades. I now have a pit barrel junior too, and look forward to a gravity fed one day. I think I'll go with the offset Old County Brazos from Academy when I start stick burning. Couldn't find the metal thickness on the Highland, but the Brazos is quarter inch, but double the cost. Brazos doesn't reverse flow if that's a key feature.

[Stuey1515]

Welcome from Oz, you will like it here.

Overthinking seems to be part of this instant global communication we have now.
I am guilty of it myself, bought a COS several years ago, did all the youtube mods etc.
Now it leaks a little bit here and there but I can now produce reasonably consistent good eats.

Why? Because I have learned how to drive it.
Get that sucker burnt in, start with something cheap, chicken wings or even snags and get cooking mate.
There's a world of info here that got me up and running, but the best way is just have a crack yourself.
Documenting your cooks until you know that suckers behaviour by heart is very important.
And remember that failure is always an option with a smoker, write down what you did and learn from your mistakes.

End of sermon, most importantly have fun with your new hobby/addiction haha

[Panhead John]

You seem to have a really good plan as I mentioned. 👍 Your main areas of concern, for leaks, will be the firebox and cooking chamber doors. And honestly, a lot of smokers have at least some small air leaks, don’t get too concerned about that unless you think it’s affecting your cooking temps. There’s also still plenty of smoke inside for your meat if it’s not too bad.

[Gizmoto]

And that's what I will do

[Panhead John]

Yeah, try not to over think it. I wouldn’t waste my time rubbing anything. Spray with Pam or something similar. Then just let it burn hot for a few hours at least, afterwards.

[Gizmoto]

Wow, what a nice welcome. Thank all of you!

[Gizmoto]

I’m assuming you’re going to do all the mods before your burn ins, except for the gaskets.

The Rutland 2000F Stove Gasket Cement for the firebox I'm using during assembly needs heat to cure, I am basically just "gluing" the 2 halves' mating surfaces with the bolts and to cooking chamber. If it lasts great if not oh well but the red RTV is only rated to 650F and looks crappy. The smoke stack connection, RTV here, will be sealed during assembly and given at least 24hrs to cure.
I'm holding off on the lid gaskets for now and see how it goes.