Char-Griller Gravity Fed 980 - Full Post Oak Split. Fireboard 2 Drive. Awesome!! 

Finally someone mentions a practical method to prevent over temps on the low temp smoking. I’m going to try the fan door crack open method for my next cook. Thanks!

Those ribs looked like perfection…awesome job!

Dude. Nicely done!!

Yep been using splits for a long time now. It's nice for sure

Great video!

That's a great experiment. I mainly cook on stick burners, but been hearing many positive feedbacks on the result out of gravity fed smokers. I am tempted in getting a 980. Some say that running just wood chunks is even better, have you considered in running an experiment?

Nice...any reason why you went with the fireboard upgrade opposed to staying original with the oem controller? I have the 980 as well and no issues with my controller. As for the switches no issues as well but I bypass it so that way I don't have to deal with any problems in the future. Keep up the great work

I've been really struggling trying to find the best method to get a good fire going with a proper thin blue smoke with hardwood chunks. Ususally I get the coals going to where they're getting white on the outer side. Then throw in some hardwood to burn off the outer layer, with the lower and upper hopper door open while everything is burning as I want it. Once it's where I want it, I'll pull the slide to the BBQ inlet, then I'll close the upper and lower hopper doors to let the BBQ preheat. I think I might hold of pulling the slide to the BBQ and close the hopper doors and the fan door, to get the coals and hardwood burning back to a temp works best for smoking. I like the idea with the wire tie to limit to the air to the fan inlet when needed. I feel like if I can't find a good enough method for getting hardwood (and the bed of coals) get the best ideal conditions for smoking. I might end up just selling it and getting an offset, and having a kettle style for direct/hot cooking. As it's a pain to get it setup when you get a good smoke, Then needing to do it over again and add more coals and hardwood. The other idea I've had is use a coal chimney to add in new coals to keep controlled burns as I see fit. I feel like loading up the hopper and letting the gravity do it's job will just make it burn to a white bitter smoke when new fuel starts to catch. This is my first smoker, and just trying to learn to get the best results with a charcoal gravity. I understand it's not designed for how I'm using it, but still figure there is a way to get the consistant results that I'm after. Maybe even burning off some hardwood in a chimney and sticking that in. Just as you did once you're coals are where you need it (as Char-griller designed it to work) would be the best move. What do you think? Just trying to share what I've tried and see if we can both find the best method for consistent ideal smoke.

Yum!

I have the same smoker and have nothing but issues with temp lately. The first year half it ran great though. How did you wire up the fireboard controller?

How do you keep the temperature from going off the chart when that wood gets going?

those ribs look peeeeeerfect

Did you replace your stock controller with the fireboard

Mine failed soon after warranty expired due to a bad sensor that was impossible to replace. Char Griller was worthless to help.

Nice video I do have a question thou, I’ve watched a lot of videos and I don’t understand this fixation with bark, I get it for brisket but for my ribs I don’t want a bark I want a nice tasting ,tender, finger licking good ,soft rib and when it’s soft it doesn’t split. your thoughts?

Looks good but I think I prefer my masterbuilt gravity smoker.

Different, for sure. But that's barbecuing.