[J P Stein]

Controlling heat is probably the main function in barbecue/smoking......I've done a number on some perfectly good hunks of meat by effing that up......and that was with an electric smoker with proper controls and adjustability.

There is no way I'd try a wood fired smoker. I think the learning curve is way long.

Your son's smoker is a decent first attempt, but looks to need more thought reference the above.