Keep ECB or return for something different? Thoughts?

Well since you like your Weber and want to stick with charcoal you might want to look at a Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM) they are very popular around here and all I have read about them is they are great smokers.

+1 on a WSM, though it sounds like it's not in your budget at the moment. For roughly ECB money, you can make yourself a mini WSM, which will hold about the same amount of food as an ECB, but run circles around it performance wise. Google mini WSM or Tamale pot smoker. Also, make sure if you go this route that you get the Weber Smokey Joe GOLD. The silver will work with some mods, but the Gold seems to be made to be turned into a smoker. Good luck!

I have done a few smokes on my ecb with no mods and I have had great success every time.

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Build a mini-WSM. Return the Brinkmann and buy a Smokey Joe and a tamale pot. The Smokey Joe sells at my local Lowes for $30 all the time. (Have never seen it on 'special'.) The local wallyworld has the 32-qt IMUSA tamale steamer pots for $20 (local HEB supermarket also has them.)

For $50 and the price of a few screws and some time drilling holes (and maybe cutting a hole in the bottom of the tamale steamer), you will get a great little smoker that can be charcoal fired. You can buy wood chunks, too, to produce smoke and wood flavor.

I have a Weber 22.5" OTG and an MES40, but I tend to use the mini-WSM that I made most often for smoking. It will smoke for a long time at low temps (with a water saucer heat sink) on just a very little charcoal. It has the capacity to do whole chickens, small turkeys, butts, etc. I have to cut ribs and salmon fillets in half, but that is a small price to pay. The mini will cook a lot of food or a little; so don't let its relative size put you off. Besides, you'll only spend $50 to get all new gear - less if you find a Smokey Joe on craigslist.

Check out this very extensive thread (on another forum): http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3471094836/m/5870049575

Ugly Drum Smoker...can be set up for $50 or less ( depending on how much "dumpster diving' you like to do) LOL To set it up stylish with all the amenities , wheels , Beer opener , shelf , tolew holded , trash bin , etc. ,up to $100.

If you are 'charcoal' inclined , this is a great deal . Long cooks with start and go relax , or move toe diffuser pan up to use as a Grill.

Just sayin'.-------------------Hello Hutch!!!

Have fun and...

I agree with oldschool build a drum . You said you like projects. Their are 1000 of ways to custom a drum . I even seen a cast iron spider web grate made for a drum smoker on the web for sale.:yahoo: if you need help their is a video of a drum build on here from start to finish.