Smoker advice

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calvinsmom

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Looking to get Himself a smoker for his Bday. I was going to go with ease of propane but he happily surprised me saying he wants one we can use if grid is down. Searched threads but I can't find anything for wood fuel/duel with wood options. Ideas?
 
calvinsmom said:
Looking to get Himself a smoker for his Bday. I was going to go with ease of propane but he happily surprised me saying he wants one we can use if grid is down. Searched threads but I can't find anything for wood fuel/duel with wood options. Ideas?
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience with this, but was eyeballing this one on Amazon because some of the reviewers mentioned using wood with it.
https://www.amazon.com/Dyna-Glo-DGO1176BDC-D-Charcoal-Offset-Smoker/dp/B00BQ59VTO
 
If you peruse the BBQ thread, you will find a metric shit ton of excellent advice and first person narratives on sevearl tyoes of smokers, ease (or difficulty)of use, and some excellent recipes.
 
my first smoker was charcoal, what a pain in the ass! Added almost an hour to cooking times. I have an electric one now and I love it. I know its not as versatile if the grid is down but I have other ways of cooking if that is the case.
 
Get one where the firebox is on the side. Vertical models are more difficult to control the heat. I've seen good ones at home depot, Lowe's abd even BJs over the years. You should be able to get one for under $300 (or so).
 
Golddiggie said:
Get one where the firebox is on the side. Vertical models are more difficult to control the heat. I've seen good ones at home depot, Lowe's abd even BJs over the years. You should be able to get one for under $300 (or so).
Click to expand...

My opinion is just the opposite.. and any offset smoker for $300 is crap. If you go with a cheap Brinkman vertical, the design restricts airflow and chokes the fire. spend the money and go with a Weber Smokey Mtn Cooker and learn how to use it.. once you understand how it works, it'll run a good 12-15 hours on one load.

learn more here..
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/
 
I've been wanting to do this for years, but the time factor is always what stops me. I'd be much more inclined to get a set it and forget it unit (electric/gas) vs something I have to tend to (really real wood/charcoal whatever unit).

I did some research in the past and that LP powered SmokeVault has always gotten good/great reviews.
 
+1 Weber Smokey Mountain...I own 2!!! the 14.5" is good for meals for 4 up to 6 people...and the 18.5" can feed 8-12 for chickums halves or reeyibs! big stuff like pork shoulder and brisket are easier on the larger model, but not impossible on the small one.

as with anything, buy once cry once.

EMTDAD said:
My opinion is just the opposite.. and any offset smoker for $300 is crap. If you go with a cheap Brinkman vertical, the design restricts airflow and chokes the fire. spend the money and go with a Weber Smokey Mtn Cooker and learn how to use it.. once you understand how it works, it'll run a good 12-15 hours on one load.

learn more here..
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/
Click to expand...
 
I'm building my own smoker/bbq... Using stainless beer kegs. Short pony for the firebox, and a half barrel for the main cook chamber. I haven't decided (still) if I'm going to add a cool smoke chamber to the left side. I have the stand fabricated (has been for a while) and hope to finish the cooking grate as well as the firebox lower grate this weekend. I plan to paint the stand since that's not stainless, so it won't rust out too fast.

IME, you can't beat the flavors you get with good (hardwood lump) charcoal. Add some good wood chunks (or chiminea cut wood) for flavor as needed. I get the wood I use from a place in Maine... I don't use mesquite or hickory either... That's been done to death.

Depending on the OP's budget, will reflect what the options are. If you have $1k to spend, you'll get a MUCH different unit than $200. Either way, I wouldn't use either electric OR propane for bbq/smoking. Especially with the 'grid down' use requirements. If you run out of propane mid cook, what are you going to do (at midnight)?? With charcoal, chances of you running out are greatly reduced. Well, unless you don't check how much you have the day of/before. Even grocery stores carry good charcoal these days.
 
I have the Weber Smokey Mountain 18.5 and I wish I bought the 22" one instead, which is why tomorrow I am going to go out and buy the Weber 26" charcoal grill to smoke the bigger pieces of meat such as brisket.
 
JAYNOSE79 said:
I have the Weber Smokey Mountain 18.5 and I wish I bought the 22" one instead, which is why tomorrow I am going to go out and buy the Weber 26" charcoal grill to smoke the bigger pieces of meat such as brisket.
Click to expand...

I've got a 26" kettle and use it with great success as a smoker, got a 9.5lb pork shoulder for tomorrow. Never done a brisket on it, was going to try this summer. Best, cheapest DIY improvement I did was to put a couple bricks in it lengthwise - holds the charcoal off to the side, blocks the radiant heat and helps the heat stay constant. Someday I'll get one of the 22" Weber Smoky Mountain cookers, but this kettle was free and has worked great for me for years. Make sure you get one with the hinged grate, otherwise its a pain to add fuel.
 
It better have the hinged grates or I will not be happy. I bought this already to keep the charcoal off to the side.

http://www.abcbarbecue.com/slow-n-sear-xl


thorin said:
I've got a 26" kettle and use it with great success as a smoker, got a 9.5lb pork shoulder for tomorrow. Never done a brisket on it, was going to try this summer. Best, cheapest DIY improvement I did was to put a couple bricks in it lengthwise - holds the charcoal off to the side, blocks the radiant heat and helps the heat stay constant. Someday I'll get one of the 22" Weber Smoky Mountain cookers, but this kettle was free and has worked great for me for years. Make sure you get one with the hinged grate, otherwise its a pain to add fuel.
Click to expand...
 
http://www.yodersmokers.com/ys640-comp-cart.html


ys640_comp_hero.png
 
Golddiggie said:
I'd rather go with this one: http://www.yodersmokers.com/durango20.html
Click to expand...


Nice Choice. They do have some nice ones there. However, the pellet smoker is a kind of set it and forget it. Auto temp control and timers make smoking only as difficult a task as it takes to put on your rub to season the meat. No fire wrangling...but if you like fire wrangling then that's ok too.

this one is easier to move around...lol

cimarron_trailer_hero.png
 
JAYNOSE79 said:
It better have the hinged grates or I will not be happy. I bought this already to keep the charcoal off to the side.

http://www.abcbarbecue.com/slow-n-sear-xl
Click to expand...

That looks pretty sweet, I bet it will work well. Since mine is getting pretty old, just for kicks I looked for Webers on craigslist and there are some pretty nice deals out there, I may have to invest in a 2nd one. Here's a nice older blue Performer for $90 https://westernmass.craigslist.org/for/5775317948.html

My neighbor used to own a BBQ restaurant for a long time. He was telling me about his "Oyler pit" wood burning pit.I think he paid about 20 grand for his back around 1990, wonder what they cost now. http://www.jrmanufacturing.com/products/smokers/the-oyler-pit/
 
Last edited:
JAYNOSE79 said:
It better have the hinged grates or I will not be happy. I bought this already to keep the charcoal off to the side.

http://www.abcbarbecue.com/slow-n-sear-xl
Click to expand...

I have a 22" weber. When I saw this I purchased one for my kettle grill. I will let you all know how it works out. They even list how to manage the burn. And since the makers of the "Dummy" series of book were designed with me in mind this is something even I should be able to do. Thanks for the link...
 
JAYNOSE79 said:
It better have the hinged grates or I will not be happy. I bought this already to keep the charcoal off to the side.

http://www.abcbarbecue.com/slow-n-sear-xl
Click to expand...

robjax said:
I have a 22" weber. When I saw this I purchased one for my kettle grill. I will let you all know how it works out. They even list how to manage the burn. And since the makers of the "Dummy" series of book were designed with me in mind this is something even I should be able to do. Thanks for the link...
Click to expand...


As soon as it arrives and I do the test burn I'll add some pics...
 
I bought the 26" on Saturday but by the time I had it assembled I was way to buzzed to use it, and then Sunday I was to hungover to cook. So I will break it in either Friday or Saturday.
 
I use a stainless box and put wet wood chips in it. Then I put the box over the left burner of my grill. Leave it on low until it starts chugging out smoke, then I load it up with meat. Leave the other burners off. Wrap the grill in foil and then I go screw off for the rest of the day.
 
robjax said:
I have a 22" weber. When I saw this I purchased one for my kettle grill. I will let you all know how it works out. They even list how to manage the burn. And since the makers of the "Dummy" series of book were designed with me in mind this is something even I should be able to do. Thanks for the link...
Click to expand...


just got the fedex number. says it should be here on the 28th.
 
calvinsmom said:
Looking to get Himself a smoker for his Bday. I was going to go with ease of propane but he happily surprised me saying he wants one we can use if grid is down. Searched threads but I can't find anything for wood fuel/duel with wood options. Ideas?
Click to expand...

Why couldn't you use propane if the grid goes down? A 200lb propane tank could support daily use for years. I run an indoor 4 burner gas range (that's used every day) from a 200lb tank and I use about 20-30% of the gas in it each year.
 
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