JeffH wrote:
Until I build something for myself, I have a second-hand Brinkmann
Smoke'N Grill to do my hot smoking in. I've used it a few times and
get nice flavor out of it, but consistently the problem is that it's
impossible to get the heat up where I want it (so far that's been
225F).

My mods to the grill so far have been to move the feet to the outside
so the fire pan can sit on some bricks below and the rest of the
smoker can be lifted off for refueling. I also drilled a total of 4
holes in the bottom of the pan. I've tried both lump hardwood charcoal
as well as briquettes with the same effect: temperatures between 140F
and 170F. I don't think it's EVER reach 225F. The mods/fuel/water pan
level seem to have almost no effect on the temperature.

Any ideas on different mods/technique to get the temperature up
hotter? Due to the lid design, there's no vent adjustment there, only
the gap between the body and the lid.

Thanks,
--Jeff

Just borrow some aluminum foil off of your hat antenna and you're ready to
get to work.

Use some HD foil and run a strip around the lid and then tuck the strip
inward so it can help close up that gap when you put the lid on.

MartyB in KC