This is mine. My wife still doesn't know how much I spent.

Here's what it does. Close off all air leaks to the smoker (mine has a lot), and hook this thing up. It is a computer controlled fan with a temp probe that you stick inside the grill, near the meat. It controls the amount of air to the coal to control the temp of the grill.

Here is the set up. Notice the "box" with the brains and the fan with a hose to the dog bowl (manifold) that blows air into the air vent of the smoker.




Notice the solid green light....right on temp


Ribs 2 hrs into it.





Beer can chicken......so good.





So let's take today for example. I light the coals, let it get going with the lid open while I prepare the ribs, then put the ribs on the grill and close the lid. The box will allow just enough air to enter the smoker to raise the grill by a certain amount of degrees per minute until it reaches the preset temp. This way it doesn't over shoot it's temp. Once it's up to temp, the fan will run just enough to maintain the temp. So, I put the ribs on the grill and close the lid and leave the house to go for a run, even though the grill wasn't up to temp yet. I come home 50 minutes later (almost died from running in 95 degree temp), took a shower, grabbed a beer and checked on the temp. After 2 hours, it was still holding 275. I freaking love this thing!

I especially like Fritos or Cheetos. Bugles are making a comeback for me and they are cheap right now. But with all this climate change drought in the midwest, I bet snack prices are gonna go up a lot. A good reason to eat less snacks.

My lass impulse buy was the S.S. What an expensive one too..... But its by far the best.

I have that same charcoal chimney and I had a very similar grill (mine eventually rusted enough to go to the big scrap recycler in the sky...or across town actually). That's a pretty cool device. I could see that for cooking ribs or a whole chicken, but otherwise I can't think when I'd use it. Sadly I stick to grilling more standard stuff (steaks, burgers, chicken, shrimp) and nothing that takes too long.

My TIG welder is probably my favorite impulse buy. I saw one for sale and decided I needed one...but I missed it. A week or so later another of the same model popped up (and 3,000 miles closer) so I bought it. I'd been reading a little bit about TIG, but buying one was a "sure, why not?" kind of purchase.

I took a welding class and we learned stick and mig and tig. Spent a lot of time on tig, doing thick metal, sheet metal, and aluminum. A lot of fun. If I had a big garage and spare $$$$ I'd buy a welder.

Beer without a doubt is my impulse buy! With about 1400 breweries in Germany and each one on average brews at a min of 2 types of beer. Thats like 2800 different types to try and that is only for Germany. I still have the rest of the EU to taste test.

Hmm, this is a tough one. Since I've made some horrible decision purchases, I try to be a bit smarter about my purchases. I tried the best I could to not impulse buy, but I had my mind made up long before I tried to even justify the purchase. I picked up a raggedy, but mostly complete 87 Dodge Shelby Charger. It's the second one I've owned, and even though my Trans Am is a lot of fun to drive, and really, just a much better car, there is still nothing like driving an old, quirky, 80's turbo car. One day I'll actually take pics of the heap.

I would say my turbocharger. It is indeed expensive at $1400, but it was entirely pre-meditated so it doesn't count.

My spontaneous purchase was a Blainefab steering column w/ adapter.


I bought it after a conversation with Alan.
(Still sitting on a bed of needles until it arrives at my doorstep.)

A 1982 Cj8 scrambler on ebay for 2800.00.

I put the bid in last day, and won.

My wife was in India on business, so I didn't tell her until she got back. My ears are still ringing 7 years later...

A 1979 Cadillac Seville. I've wanted one since they were new. Had my chance after a friend replaced the one he had for a LS* project with an older model with lower mileage. The B-Body front and modified adjustable F-Body rear sway bars are already on it. Still trying to decide what to do about the shocks and wheels.

My wife keeps threatening to get me a long white fur coat and fuzzy fedora to wear when we're out in it.

Oh, and the LS* Seville is a beast, and the engine isn't even modded... yet.

Mine was my SS. I have always liked them but wasn't in the market until one night at work I picked up paper to read the classifieds and there was my future ride for such a super price I was sure it was sold. I called and of course it wasnt so the next day I took my wife to "just look at it" and it ran great but I slept on it and the day after that I went and got it and it was my best vehicle purchase.