Thinking About Getting a #3D.. Talk me into it!

[gunman9]

Ya I just seen DivotMakers cart he made using one of the Harbor Freight carts. I think im going to go that route but box in the sides and put a door on it underneith for better storage. Should add some more rigidity to it as well.

It's fine for the 3, but not the 3D...too tall!  Unless you're about 7' tall, you won't be able to read the display!

Good news is the people at harbor freight only passed 8th grade and don't know how to read lol... Because it was never in stock. So the search continues for something. What would you recommend? Trying to stay around $100

 

[DivotMaker]

Good news is the people at harbor freight only passed 8th grade and don't know how to read lol... Because it was never in stock. So the search continues for something. What would you recommend? Trying to stay around $100

The SI cart sits 21" off the floor (wheels off the smoker).  That's a perfect height, whatever you decide.  Use that as a "baseline."

 

[gunman9]

Good news is the people at harbor freight only passed 8th grade and don't know how to read lol... Because it was never in stock. So the search continues for something. What would you recommend? Trying to stay around $100

The SI cart sits 21" off the floor (wheels off the smoker).  That's a perfect height, whatever you decide.  Use that as a "baseline."

Thanks. And will do. I may end up building my own cart. Haven't decided yet. Does that 21" on the SI cart include the casters?

 

[DivotMaker]

Yes, the height the smoker sits off the floor, on an SI cart, is 21".  Whether you have the wheels on or off the smoker, it is always 21".  If you use the SI cart, you remove the wheels from the smoker, and bolts replace them (to hold it onto the cart).

 

[gunman9]

Yes, the height the smoker sits off the floor, on an SI cart, is 21".  Whether you have the wheels on or off the smoker, it is always 21".  If you use the SI cart, you remove the wheels from the smoker, and bolts replace them (to hold it onto the cart).

Roger that. Not sure what I'm going to do. I have seen some neat ideas on here but now it sounds like the 3D is gonna be a little harder to find a stand for than I originally thought. Thanks for the help so far. Now to build... Or buy.

 

[NDKoze]

Ya I just seen DivotMakers cart he made using one of the Harbor Freight carts. I think im going to go that route but box in the sides and put a door on it underneith for better storage. Should add some more rigidity to it as well.

It's fine for the 3, but not the 3D...too tall!  Unless you're about 7' tall, you won't be able to read the display! 

I use the Harbor Freight with my #3 without any issues. I am only 6'2" and can see the dial pretty easily. I wouldn't want it any taller though.

 

[DivotMaker]

It's fine for the 3, but not the 3D...too tall!  Unless you're about 7' tall, you won't be able to read the display! 

I use the Harbor Freight with my #3 without any issues. I am only 6'2" and can see the dial pretty easily. I wouldn't want it any taller though.


If you ever get a 3D, you won't.  The setup I had, with the stock 3, was fine.  But, the screen on the D-model controller sits at about a 45-degree angle to the viewer, so it needs to be lower than eye level....hence, the "7' tall" comment!   Only applies to the D-model.

 

[ArsenalFan]

I got a Craftsman rolling tool cabinet, and the top surface was a perfect fit for the 3D and it has several drawers to hold tools, wood, racks not being used, therms, etc.

 

[old sarge]

Do you have the item or model number of the cabinet?  May help others.

 

[NDKoze]

It's fine for the 3, but not the 3D...too tall!  Unless you're about 7' tall, you won't be able to read the display! 

I use the Harbor Freight with my #3 without any issues. I am only 6'2" and can see the dial pretty easily. I wouldn't want it any taller though.


If you ever get a 3D, you won't.  The setup I had, with the stock 3, was fine.  But, the screen on the D-model controller sits at about a 45-degree angle to the viewer, so it needs to be lower than eye level....hence, the "7' tall" comment!   Only applies to the D-model.

I see. That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[gunman9]

Got my 3D in today and built a stand for it. 26" tall for the stand is the perfect height if your 5'9" by the way. Here are some pics. Also I set it to 250 and 4 hours. It reads the temp and H. Is this right?

 

[old sarge]

H is looking for the meat probe. Should be t and time.

 

[gunman9]

H is looking for the meat probe. Should be t and time.

I didn't put the meat probe in. I use an IGrill2. do I have to have the meat probe in?

 

[old sarge]

I don't have an answer for you on that. Hopefully someone else can help.

 

[JackT]

H is looking for the meat probe. Should be t and time.

I didn't put the meat probe in. I use an IGrill2. do I have to have the meat probe in?

No, if you're just cooking for temp and a set amount of time, you don't need to insert the probe. The "H" means sensor error, but if you push the "time" button, it will show the time counting up to your designated time setting. If you're cooking for internal temp, you'll set the "f" to your desired temp and insert the probe. Enjoy, you'll get the hang of it quickly. Happy Smoking!

 

[gunman9]

H is looking for the meat probe. Should be t and time.

I didn't put the meat probe in. I use an IGrill2. do I have to have the meat probe in?

No, if you're just cooking for temp and a set amount of time, you don't need to insert the probe. The "H" means sensor error, but if you push the "time" button, it will show the time counting up to your designated time setting. If you're cooking for internal temp, you'll set the "f" to your desired temp and insert the probe. Enjoy, you'll get the hang of it quickly. Happy Smoking!

Awesome thanks! My cookshack is much simpler lol just set the temp and go. I figured out how to program it but how do you set it to a certain preset without cycling through the time. What do all the programming options mean?

 

[DivotMaker]

Awesome thanks! My cookshack is much simpler lol just set the temp and go. I figured out how to program it but how do you set it to a certain preset without cycling through the time. What do all the programming options mean?

Your CS is simpler because it doesn't do what the PID controller does.  Not knocking it, it's just simplistic because it's basically an analog controller with a digital display. 

Attached is the Auber manual for the 1500GPH controller; it works exactly the same as yours.  This may be more detail than you want, but it's a scientific-grade temp controller, capable of a great deal.

If you want the CS simplicity, you can have it!  Just press & hold the SET button until Lck appears in the left window.  Release the SET button, and press the + button to change the right window display to 3.  You will now see "Pgm" in the left window, and "on" in the right.  Use the + or - button to change the right window to "off."  Press SET again to exit.

Once the "single step" mode is enabled, you can just press SET, and you'll see C-1 in the left window, and a number in the right.  Use the +/- buttons to change the right window to the box temp you want, and press SET again to save it.  Done!  It will now be simply on or off, at the set temp.  You can use this to cook by time, or use an external thermometer to monitor the meat.  This mode is as easy as this unit gets!

 

[gunman9]

First cook in the 3D. These were some new ribs from a butcher shop here. Didn't care for the ribs over my usual shop but the smoker did great!

 

[DivotMaker]

Some of the best looking ribs I've seen in awhile, Gunman!  Wow...very nice job!  Great bark, and pull back on the bones!  What temp, how long, and did you use a water pan?

 

[gunman9]

Some of the best looking ribs I've seen in awhile, Gunman!  Wow...very nice job!  Great bark, and pull back on the bones!  What temp, how long, and did you use a water pan?

Thanks man. I don't ever use a water pan in these types of smokers because I have found it to not be necessary. I smoke everything at 275 till their where I want them by eye.