I have a big decision need advice!!

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marrey25

Newbie
Original poster
Oct 19, 2014
13
10
So right now I have a Big wood smoker with an offset fire box. So my birthday is coming up and I was contemplating adding either a BGE or a MES 40" to my collection. Is this just over kill considering what I already have? The problem is my current setup is a big monstrous that take a lot of wood and I feel is for bigger projects. I also think I might want to get involved in smoking cheese. Should I invest in either one of these new additions and if so which one? what are the pros and cons of either one?
 
Can't give you firsthand advice on either, but many folks here can. For smoking cheese your best friend wil be one of the Amaze-n smoke generators sold by Todd Johnson. They use either dust or pellets to generate smoke and create very little heat in the process. They're also very reasonably priced.
 
 
You might also consider a 22.5" WSM, small footprint while still having two racks with plenty of room.
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Or if your are handy build a UDS or a Mini-WSM.

For smoking cheese all you really need is a card board box and a smoke generator. Get a AMNTS, or AMNPS from Todd at http://www.amazenproducts.com/ and you can use that in your offset for cold smoking. The AMNTS works better at High altitudes
 
Yep, agree with Dirtsailor.....I've seen that guys cardboard box setup for doing cheese...outstanding hillbilly rig. Personally, I would not own a MES....if you can, go look at one at a Lowes or Home Depot. Changed my mind in a heartbeat on that. BGE's are what?? about 800 or 1000? with add-ons. Outside my current reach although I hear they are pretty good. I'm into pellet pushers now...pretty cool for a few hundred bucks.....Willie
 
Well I have a BGE, a MES 40 and a UDS. I have built a few larger stick burners. I agree on the stick burner being hungry for fuel. The BGE will just sip fuel and you can do anything from about

200°-750°+ I like my BGE. Mow to the MES 40 if you go that route make sure you get a first generation. You will also want to add a AMNPS. It will truly cold smoke or hold any temp between 100° and 275°. It is great for making snack sticks that you want to start low and gradually kick up the temp in 10° increments. The draw back to a MES is the upper 275° temp. You will have to use an oven or a grill to finish chicken if you want crispy skin. The UDS that was mentioned does well between 150° and 400°. You can cold smoke in it. It will go overnight with out any adjustment or fuel added. It does use quite a bit of fuel for a brisket or butt say 10-20 LBS. I wouldn't get rid of any of my smokers. they all have their place. As mentioned the WSM is also a good rig and I don't

have first hand experience with it.

MES


BGE


MES


UDS


UDS


MES


MES


Whatever you decide you will be happy.

Happy smoken.

David
 
 
Having several Smokers is cool
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 , if I could afford one , I'd suggest an Egg. versatile and as Case said , do Cheese in a cardboard box with an AMNPS.
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 JMHO
I talked to Todd about using a AMNPS in a BGE for cold smoking cheese a while back. He figured it would get to hot in the BGE. I gave my brother-in-law a AMNPS last year. He also has a BGE. To the best of my knowledge  he hasn't tried it yet.

I just did a spell check on this
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. If homeland security
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is fallowing SMF I bet that we throw up all kinds of red flags
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. About half of what Stan and I have wrote in this one post are not found in spell check.

Happy smoken.

David
 
If you are considering a BGE (or another brand of Kamado style cooker), consider Craig's list.  They last almost forever, so a used one is frequently a good value.  I tend to prefer Kamado Joe products, but all of the ceramic eggs do a great job of doing the full range of low and slow to 750 degree sear.  As said before, they run forever on a single load of charcoal and wood chunks. 

They are the perfect compliment to an offset smoker, as they work the opposite end of the spectrum.  I have built two mini-WSMs and have owned a WSM, as well as a MES40. The three kamado cookers I have get the most action. 
 
I am with Addertooth on the CL thing. I found one in Jacksonville not to long ago for $450 for an XL it included a nest. Some guy was moving and didnt want to take it with him. I have cooked on a few ceramics but I prefer the Primo. I like the oval shape a little better than the egg. my favorite egg style cooker was the chargriller. WAY CHEAPER! plus you can spend extra money doing a few mods and it will work great. If you live near a place that has some scrap areas or houses that have a lot of junk you can try and find some sort of steel shell and make your own. Sometime you can build a kick a** smoker for less than buying one. You can also build a UDS but throw in a pellet hopper into it. The possibilities are endless. Do some research before you pull the trigger.
 
There are pros and con's to all of the smokers mentioned so my suggestion would be to get one of the ones you want for your birthday and for Christmas get one of the others!! You can never have to many smokers!!
 
You can do cheese in that big ole stick burner just order one or two Amazen Pellet Smokers from Todd and put them in the fire box no wood and smoke the cheese. You can never have too many smokers I have a Lang 84 but use one of my GOSM's more often. The other nice thing with electric or propane is they are close to set and forget so you don't have to tend them as much.
 
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Thanks guys I have gotten a lot of good input and feedback from everyone
 
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