Toggle sidebar

When to get a new smoker?

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
Remove the Ads for LIFE - 50% Off!
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
mrlederman

mrlederman

Smoke Blower
Original poster
Jan 25, 2013
88
12
The Big Easy
Hey everyone, first post here other than Roll Call...

My wife gave me a Char-Broil smoker that uses a SFB. I have not smoked a whole lot on it, and it serves it's purpose (doubles as a grill more often than a smoker). However, it is about two years old now and I was thinking of getting an entry-level ECB vertical charcoal smoker (I don't have a ton of money right now to a buy a smoker) and maybe buying a Weber kettle grill or something cheaper to grill on, maybe even a propane grill to cut down on fuel and time (love grilling the usual, but lighting up the grill to do some dogs or burgers can be tiring).

I was wondering when do yous decide to change your smoker? Do you think I should stick with what I have to get more experience?

Also, I was thinking of going to the horizontal smoker rather than the SFB because the horizontal smoker seems a little bit easier to add coals and clean the ash (I have a hard time keeping ash clear in the SFB, which chokes my fire).

Thoughts, comments?

Thanks for any and all help in advance.
 
The ECB is basically a lateral move compared to the Chargriller - neither one is a stellar smoker, but they do work. If you want to step up and move to a vertical then either build a UDS (Ugly Drum Smoker - don't let the name fool you), or buy  Weber Smokey Mountain.

The UDS can be built for less than $100, and once you get used to using it will run like a champ in all kinds of weather and hold a lot of meat. Check out the build forums for how to build one.

The WSM comes in two sizes: 18.5" & 22.5" and run $299 & $399 respectively. I moved from a Chargriller to the 22.5" WSM 3 or so years back and have never once regreted it. Like all Weber products the WSM just plain works! No muss, no fuss, lite it, get it up to temp, put on meat, and walk away! My version of an "overnight" smoke is to light it at 11:30, meat on by 12:00, make sure temps are where I want them, then go to bed! Wake up, get a cup of coffee, pad out to the smoker - temps are right where I left them - have breakfast, shower, and go about my day till it's time to pull the meat off and rest it.
 
Hi. A electric or gas smoker is harder to get a nice smoke ring with but are much easier to use. Charcoal or wood will make a good smoke ring. No smoker because of the indirect heat is going to work well as a grill. I'm a noobie though so what I'm saying is not law but my opinion. Good luck with what ever you do though.
 
JIR and kaveman, I have looked into the UDS, but I am not handy nor am I a big fan of it. I know the vertical smoker I am looking at is a lateral move, but I don't have the budget right now for a step up, definitely not $400 for a WSM. I would like to get a real solid smoker one day after a year or so of practice and when the bank account and wife are OK with it.

Lee, I definitely agree. The smoker I use now though, however, allows me to cook with direct heat as well. If I were to move to the vertical smoker I would probably get a propane grill or another charcoal grill for grilling my steaks.

How long did everyone wait until buying a better smoker?

Thanks for the comments and advice everyone.
 
MrLederman said:
Hey everyone, first post here other than Roll Call...

My wife gave me a Char-Broil smoker that uses a SFB. I have not smoked a whole lot on it, and it serves it's purpose (doubles as a grill more often than a smoker). However, it is about two years old now and I was thinking of getting an entry-level ECB vertical charcoal smoker (I don't have a ton of money right now to a buy a smoker) and maybe buying a Weber kettle grill or something cheaper to grill on, maybe even a propane grill to cut down on fuel and time (love grilling the usual, but lighting up the grill to do some dogs or burgers can be tiring).

I was wondering when do yous decide to change your smoker? Do you think I should stick with what I have to get more experience?

Also, I was thinking of going to the horizontal smoker rather than the SFB because the horizontal smoker seems a little bit easier to add coals and clean the ash (I have a hard time keeping ash clear in the SFB, which chokes my fire).

Thoughts, comments?

Thanks for any and all help in advance.
Click to expand...
You might want to add a charcoal basket, I have read where a lot of people do that to keep the ash out of the coals and it seems to work very well.

Don't know how much you smoke at a time but the Mini WSM works very well too and can be built for less than $100.
 
I had my Horizontal for 20 years before an upgrade. There are plenty of Mods you can do to make them run well. I had an ECB, well the Mecco version, it was not better at all. Spend your money on a nice gas grill if you wish but I would definitely stick with the smoker you have over an ECB Vertical...JJ
 
Last edited:
Thanks again everyone for all the input.

I think I am going to stick with what I have for a little while longer to get better at this, but maybe make a few key investments (especially a digital thermometer or two).

I have been reading about the charcoal baskets, but I am not exactly sure how that will help keep the ash in the box from choking my flame. Any one use them in a SFB, if so, do they help keep the ash from choking the fire?

When I smoked my first butt (haha) I ran into the problem of the ash smothering my flame around the 7 or 8 hour mark. I just started to use some tongs or a metal skewer to poke the ash and create air flow, and while I don't mind watching the grill, I don't want to literally sit next to it all day (how would I watch football?).

Thanks again everyone!
 
I don't use charcoal much but from what I have read on here (and it makes sense to me) the basket allows the ash to fall away from the coals through the holes in the basket instead of staying piled up around the coals.
 
A charcoal basket will raise your coals above the ashes which will help you.  Since you have the smoker you might as well save your money and learn to use it.  For a little money you can significantly improve the performance.  I am sure this website has a list of mods somewhere.  

I also recommend a cheap gas grill for cooking quick items.  if it takes more time to light the coals then to cook the meat, it goes on my gas grill.  
 
Last edited:
Just my experience, OK?

I purchased my offset with the thoughts of a smoker/grill combo.

I already had a Weber or two on the patio.

We only have two in the house now and we don't entertain a lot.  If you entertain a lot, your mileage might vary.

I have found that for two, it is hard if not impossible to beat the 25 year old Weber for a grill.

The offset is just a dedicated smoker now.

We even use the Weber for cold smoking cheese!

Good luck and good smoking.
 
Thanks again. My wife and I like to entertain so I will stick with the SFB and maybe get a gas grill for hotdogs, burgers, etc. I agree; I love to grill, but having to get a charcoal fire going for four burgers deters me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Similar threads

M
Combo Pellet smoker/Grill?
Replies
5
Views
415
Pellet Smokers
DougE
DougE
PapaRed
Fine powder ash
Replies
2
Views
270
Charcoal Smokers
PapaRed
PapaRed
T
BGE Owner: Considering a smoker
Replies
6
Views
645
Charcoal Smokers
jcam222
jcam222
gnappi
Stainless smoker
Replies
4
Views
468
Charcoal Smokers
gnappi
gnappi
el ducko
Adding Extra Smoke to Pellet Smokers
Replies
20
Views
2K
Pellet Smokers
old grisly
old grisly
C
Pit Boss Temperature Issue
Replies
2
Views
399
General Discussion
Cmertz
C
Trailboss60
Char Broil's aquisition of other companies...a good thing for the consumer?
Replies
9
Views
870
Charcoal Smokers
tsk
T
Gatorzilla
New Pit Boss Owner
Replies
8
Views
617
Roll Call
912smoker
912smoker

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Top Bottom
Back
Clicky