Seasoning the Outside of Your Firebox

OddThomas · Posted: Aug 30 2008 Post subject: Seasoning the Outside of Your Firebox

Howdy,

This is going to sound like a noob question, but have any of you guys ever seasoned the outside of your firebox?

I've been having to leave my DP 70 outside in the elements while I'm doing some work on my house and I am not happy about it. Sad

It's not permanent though, I'm building a new 12x12 storage building for all my catering supplies with an attached, semi-enclosed (3 sides) �carport� for the smoker on one side and a wood storage deck on the other. In the mean time I've been trying to be diligent about proper oiling and whatnot to avoid rust. I always oil it when it was cool.

So I was doing a cook yesterday and thought to myself I wonder what would happen if I put some cooking oil on this here firebox while she's going full blast. So I got some tongs, a bowl with some oil in it, and an old kitchen towel. I rolled up the towel and dipped it in the oil and proceeded to rub down the firebox. Okay... when I say there was a lot of smoke, that's an understatement. A couple of times the towel even caught on fire--especially when I was working right in the middle of the firebox where my fire was going strong. Smile

The cool thing is, it started to carbonize really fast (within seconds) and left a sort of cast iron finish on the outside of the firebox. I kept at it once every hour or so until it was coated pretty well and when the fire burned mostly out I was able to coat the center really well also.

I was checking it out this morning and it looks pretty cool and it looks like it would hold up to at least some water and morning dew. It's shiny and just the slightest bit tacky, but really sealed up well. It wouldn't surprise me if it eventually burned off completely, so I'll probably have to do it again.

I just had never thought about trying it and thought it was kinda neat and wanted to share.

Fatrat · Posted: Aug 30 2008 Post subject:

I oil up the outside of my firebox as well, though I do it cold. It can be difficult to fight the rust during season, as my smoker is always out side. I may perhaps invest ina cover, but the outside seasoning of the fire box does help. And to answer the back door question, you will have to repeat the process as long as you leave it outside after the cooks.

Ray
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JamesB · Posted: Aug 30 2008 Post subject:

I too use oil on my fireboxes. I normally do it when they are still very warm after a cook. I will also use some spray oil (cooking spray) to oil 'em up in between cooks. Keeps the rust away!

My fireboxes are square, so I've also been known to use the tops as griddles and cook bacon, eggs etc right on 'em.
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J0K3R-X · Posted: Aug 31 2008 Post subject:

I also use veg/corn oil on the outside of mine, works great! I also bought a large tarp to throw over it and I just bungie it down.

OddThomas · Posted: Aug 31 2008 Post subject:

Yeah... I've always oiled it since day one. I burned the paint on the first time I fired it up, lol! I've just never oiled it while I was cooking full blast. It seriously looks just like my cast iron pan, lol.

OddThomas · Posted: Aug 31 2008 Post subject:

J0K3R-X · Posted: Aug 31 2008 Post subject:

That's what I have a big blue tarp. You must really love your baby to build her a home of her own! Laughing

I would do the same if I had the $$$!!

Bryce Crane · Posted: Aug 31 2008 Post subject:

Do it cold
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OddThomas · Posted: Aug 31 2008 Post subject:

BBQMAN · Posted: Sep 01 2008 Post subject:

I do the same as you do with my Stumps Mike, and it works real well. When I received it it was a rusty crusty mess.

I normally apply the oil while the cooker is still warm, as opposed to red hot.

My Stumps lives under a carport.

I would recommend the enclosure you mentioned- those blue tarp have the potential of trapping moisture and actually making the problem worse.......................

I'd also add that I've never had that problem with my big cookers! Wink

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SMOKESTACKS BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 293 Location: ozarks

you can use oil as stated before, you can also use silicone spray, ive used it with good result. i also use the silicone on my race car headers to keep them from rusting.
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OddThomas · Posted: Sep 01 2008 Post subject:

Harry Nutczak · Posted: Sep 01 2008 Post subject:

I do mine after every cook, I went a step farther and bought an HVLP gravity feed spray gun filled with cheap veggie oil, I run about 10-12 PSI at the gun, and coat the firebox and snouts after every cook.

The steel is blued very nicely, I have no rust, and the smoke is minimal during the initial start-up. And I do not need to be reaching over a smoking hot steel cylinder waiting to burst into flames when oil hits it.

Keep an eye on the bottom of the firebox too, It is tough to get in there with a rag, A spray gun hits those tight places and low clearance places too.
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OddThomas · Posted: Sep 01 2008 Post subject:

icecoldkicks · Posted: Sep 03 2008 Post subject:

I wipe Crisco on the fire box with a towl
as the fire box is cooling off
I also use Crisco to season the inside of the smoker as well Rolling Eyes

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Bushbow · Posted: Sep 04 2008 Post subject:

Crisco works great - Put it on HOT and it makes a thick hard finish. Last quite a wile but you will have to re-apply from time to time

Bob Urban