lindag33•20d agoMost Upvoted

Had to choose between a $300 pellet hopper and a $20 firebrick fix

Last weekend my offset smoker's firebox cracked right down the side during a big cook for my neighbor's block party in Austin. I was stuck deciding between ordering a fancy hopper upgrade online or patching it with firebricks I had stacked in the garage. I went with the firebricks (you know, just stacked them around the crack to insulate it) and honestly it held temp better than before for the whole 8 hour cook. The brisket came out with a perfect bark and the bricks didn't budge. Has anyone else tried weird DIY fixes instead of buying new parts?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimmurphy20d ago

Did you check if the crack was letting in too much air and changing your temp curve?

grantp1420d ago

Ha, honestly I'd argue the opposite. A tiny crack usually doesn't move the needle enough to mess with your temp curve unless you're in a hurricane. Focus on bigger leaks first before blaming a hairline crack for your troubles.

marywilson20d agoMost Upvoted

I gotta push back on that a little, @grantp14. You say a tiny crack usually doesn't mess with your temp curve... but that depends on where it is. If that hairline's near the gasket or the door seal, even a little draft can mess up your whole flow. I've seen a crack right above the burner kick the temp down by 10-15 degrees just on a breezy afternoon. So yeah, big leaks matter more, but calling a tiny crack irrelevant feels like a gamble you don't need to take.