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Need a Smoker

E

effinwill

New Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
36
I had a New Braunfels offset smoker/grill for many years but got rid of it a while back. I'm thinking a smaller vertical smoker would be the best thing to replace it with. I'm also guessing purists and connoisseurs, such as the gentlemen on this board, would favor the wood burning types, no?

I usually smoke ribs, turkey breasts, tri-tips. Occasional whole turkeys or briskets.

Any recommendations would be welcome. Thanks!
 
I use the charcoal vertical with pig hickory (if possible) or shagbark hickory. Charcoal is a little more work and mess but you can also cook a great steak by using just the bottom charcoal pan and one of the grills directly on top of it.
 
I've got a Weber Smokey Mountain that I love. Holds a constant temp, plenty of room to cook.

I've heard the electrics don't have a lot of power and can be sketchy in windy weather. Never used the side by smokers.
 
Satchmo said:
I've got a Weber Smokey Mountain that I love. Holds a constant temp, plenty of room to cook.

I've heard the electrics don't have a lot of power and can be sketchy in windy weather. Never used the side by smokers.
Click to expand...


:thumbs:
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There are threads on here already, about smokers.
 
Click here for the last smoker you'll ever need to buy... well, for a really long time at least.
 
I love my Cookshack smoker. I can put a roast in it and walk away for ten hours to come back to "fall of the bone" meat that is not dried out.

Wood and charcoal takes a lot of attention, and tends to dry out what ou are cooking. It's a bit of an investment, but well worth it. I hear Bradley smokers are good ones too.
 
For about 3 years I used a Weber Silver series grill that had a smoker included, it worked great but I wanted to take a small step up. I bought a Charbroil offset smoker from Home Depot for $150. I use lump and some red oak and although it requires some effort to maintain the charcoal I think it was well worth the price. I figure after this season I'll take it to the next level.
 
Thanks very much gents, both of those look awesome - if a wee bit costly. The convenience of the smokeshack product is compelling.

Based on my past experience the offset smoker/grills need frequent tending, and there is a bit of a learning curve involved.
 
Checked out the Bradleys, too. I may have to use some of my stimulus check here to get something really trick! :D
 
I have an electric H2O smoker and love it. Fire it up, toss on the food, and walk away. Never had any problems with it when it comes to the cold or wind. Great thing is that I found a way to adapt it to gas to cook on the go (camping) since I don't have a long enough extension cord. :laugh:
 
I have the Bradley Original 4-rack model. Love it...but wish I had the 6-rack model.
 
I have a Brinkman Pitmaster offset smoker. It can be made to work decently, but I wouldn't recommend one of these to others. Straight out of the box it is a terrible cooking machine.

A vertical smoker is the way to go, unless you're willing to either spend big bucks on a tuned cooker or invest a little time and labor into some modifications to make a cheap horizontal cooker work well.
 
Custom made oil barrel smoker, get a local welder to put it together, not too expensive if you find parts at junk yard
 
I picked up a vertical gas fired smoker at Wally World a couple of years ago. Holds a ton of food, and has a wide range of temps (cause it's gas) and best of all.....

only $99

Linky
 
I have a Bradley original and I love it. It's easy to operate and reliable as heck.

I 2nd staying away from the Big Box offsets unless your willing to do the mods - seal the offset to the box, lower the chimney, lower and replace the thermometer, add sheet steel baffle to help balance the heat, etc.

If you want to spend big $$, you can't beat a Stumps.
 
Oh, and if you're going to look at the Weber Smoky Mountain, give a hard look at the ProQ Exel20. It's everything the WSM should be - bigger, heavier build, probe grommets, latches together, you can add levels, etc.
 
This thread got me looking for a gas powered smoker. So I am picking this up Saturday morning at the local Cabela's. Well, as local as it can be for an hour and a half drive.

Cabela's Smoker


This should do the job nicely for an entry level unit I think.

Bill

edit: Cabelas called and they dont actually have one in stock after all. :( At least they called me prior to my hour and a half drive. :thumbs:
 
macattak said:
Oh, and if you're going to look at the Weber Smoky Mountain, give a hard look at the ProQ Exel20. It's everything the WSM should be - bigger, heavier build, probe grommets, latches together, you can add levels, etc.
Click to expand...

The ProQ Excel 20 seems difficult to find in the USA. I don't know if I want a socialist smoker made in France :)

Willie
 
wpeloqui said:
macattak said:
Oh, and if you're going to look at the Weber Smoky Mountain, give a hard look at the ProQ Exel20. It's everything the WSM should be - bigger, heavier build, probe grommets, latches together, you can add levels, etc.
Click to expand...

The ProQ Excel 20 seems difficult to find in the USA. I don't know if I want a socialist smoker made in France :)

Willie
Click to expand...

You mean as opposed to a WSM made in socialist China? The ProQ is a Brit product anyway. Have you ever heard of a Frenchman named Ian?
 
I've been using a Kenmore vertical electric 4 rack water smoker for a while now, and I'm ready for an upgrade. I'm thinking about a Bradley digital 4 rack or a WSM.

I've been reading a lot of reviews about the Bradley digital, and it has temperature control issues that can require a $160 add on temperature controller upgrade if you want to keep it within +/- 1 degree, otherwise temperature variations of up to 30 degrees are common. If I have to babysit it like I do with the one I have now, I think I'd prefer charcoal.

I'm not sure what I'm getting yet, but I'm thinking it will be the Weber. I really want a lot of smoke and using the WSM I can achieve that since it burns charcoal.

Anyone use both of these and have a comparison?
 
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