Comparing Johnson and Lang minimal units for home use

powersmoker

Newbie

Original poster

Jun 3, 2016

5

10

The Woodlands, Texas

• Jun 6, 2016

• #1

I have searched for (but not yet found) any information here on the reverse flow smokers manufactured in Ennis, TX by Johnson Fabrication.  I am (or will be soon) in the market for a small reverse flow smoker.  Johnson "looks like" a good unit, and, being in TX, it is more attractive geographically to me than Lang.  Q1: Can anyone here relate any experience with any of the Johnson units?   I am eyeing their Compact Patio smoker at $1375.  I can pick it up myself with a rented trailer all within the space of a day.  Lang, on the other hand, wants $500 to ship its $1295 36" Original to me from GA.  I am not complaining about the shipping cost--these things just cost a lot to ship.  I get around this with Johnson by their being more-or-less in my back yard.

Also, I am trying to figure out what the Lang size (e.g., 36", 48", 64", etc.) refers to--Lang calls it "cooking capacity."  I originally thought it was cooking cylinder diameter, but this does not appear to be correct, based on photos on their site.  I looked through their FAQs and other information without success to find out what this number in inches actually refers to  Q2: Does anyone know precisely what this number refers to?

So, two questions (Q1 and Q2) to the group.  Thanks!

Tommy

 

Last edited: Jun 6, 2016

weev

Smoking Fanatic

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Mar 10, 2014

535

116

Edmore Michigan

• Jun 6, 2016

• #2

500 for shipping holy smokes I was looking into them but didn't realize how much to ship

 

jasper7

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 14, 2013

385

32

just a little bit south of cape caution

• Jun 6, 2016

• #3

According to Lang's web site the cooking cylinder on their 36" Patio Smoker is 36"x21.5", so I'm assuming the 36 refers to the length of the cooking chamber.  But someone here that owns one should be able confirm that for me.

 

danbono

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Feb 19, 2012

1,702

115

North New Jersey Paramus

• Jun 14, 2016

• #4

HI Give Shirley Fab. a look..My 24 x 36 Patio.

Dan

smoker 2.jpg

• danbono
• Mar 16, 2016

 

phatbac

Master of the Pit

Jun 11, 2013

2,207

1,159

Monroe, NC USA

• Jun 14, 2016

• #5

Both of those smokers are very comperable as far as i can tell if you can ship for a couple hundred (gas and trailer rental) then that might be the deciding factor. One hidden cost youhave to consider is sales tax. When i bought my lang they told me if i pick it up it would be an extra 7% for tax which is about $90 but there was no tax for out of state delivery. If you pick up a johnson there may be sales tax associated with the purchase. Either one you buy will prob be a first rate smoker. I know the lang will be.

IMG_20160214_103929915_HDR.jpg

• phatbac
• Mar 25, 2016
• 1

phatbac(Aaron)

 

powersmoker

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jun 3, 2016

5

10

The Woodlands, Texas

• Jun 14, 2016

• #6

Thank you, Aaron.  The tax angle is a good thing for me to keep in mind.  Even so, I think the shipping for a Lang (or Shirley, which looks nice, too-love the wheels) would tip me toward Johnson.

As long as oil is selling below $50/bbl, I doubt I will be getting either.

 

Cheers,

Tommy

 

lonesmoker

Newbie

Jan 5, 2016

2

10

• Jul 6, 2016

• #7

Tommy, did you ever purchase a Johnson Smoker?  I'm looking into Lang and Johnson too and have the same questions.  If so, how is it?  What's the deal with the removable baffle?  Curious if that leaks any smoke?  Also found KAT Smokers in CA.  Looks to be on par with the others but there is a 6 month lead time which is a bit rough.

 

powersmoker

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jun 3, 2016

5

10

The Woodlands, Texas

• Jul 6, 2016

• #8

Lonesmoker,

No, my smoker shopping is dormant for now, and will likely remain that way until my oil and gas clients begin to want work done again.  I am still eager to gather information on Johnson vs. Lang, however.  I received a PM indicating that there might be more info on this available on the Texas BBQ Forum, since there does not seem to be much response here.

Cheers,

Tommy

 

scott m

Newbie

Oct 5, 2014

26

14

• Apr 25, 2017

• #9

my johnson smoker is OK. 

There is a no refunds, no warranty policy that made me a little nervous.  Because of that policy there was not much of an incentive to really do much "customizing".  If you don't like it, there isn't much of a recourse with a policy like that.  It seems like they sell you a smoker they want you to have.

 Welds and steel are good.  After six or seven uses I'm still trying to figure how how to tweak it for consistent 250F heat. The smoking device is a work of art, but the demonstration at pick up led me to believe they don't actually do much cooking with what they sell.  The device was supposed to be "seasoned" at delivery.  Seasoned is burning off machine oils getting the device up to temperature for a few hours and then cleaning it with cooking oil...like you would a giant iron skillet.  It just seemed like there was just a little bit of wood burned in the firebox and that was it.  Not exactly seasoned.

I like the unit but still need practice figuring out the best way to cook with it.  so far it does ribs nicely and chickens come out OK but watch your temperatures.

 

powersmoker

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jun 3, 2016

5

10

The Woodlands, Texas

• Jul 29, 2019

• #11

Back in the market and back on the forum for the first time in about 3 years. Now looking at the Lang 36" Hybrid Patio and wondering if I can carry it in the back of my newly-acquired standard-bed (6.6' bed length) Silverado... Would we be able to get it up in the bed, and would we be able to get it down again? It appears to be a beast.

 

Dantij

Meat Mopper

Oct 21, 2018

170

70

Frankfort, IL

• Aug 3, 2019

• #12

Love my Lang!! You'll be waiting a long time for the Shirley Fab but they appear to be worth the wait. Paying for shipping sucks but it was my only option. Worth every penny.

 

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TomCrump

Fire Starter

Aug 11, 2019

64

32

Traverse City, Michigan

• Aug 11, 2019

• #13

Texans may have the ability to pick up their smokers and avoid shipping costs. Many of the pit manufacturers are located in Houston.

In my recent research into backyard smokers, I also considered Lange, Lone Star, Gator and Johnson.

Gator impresses me, and they have a sale going on. http://gatorpit.net/traditional-pits.html