Newb looking at smokers, could use some help

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troyo

Newbie
Original poster
Jul 26, 2017
13
10
I am eyeballing a smoker for my B-Day. I've never really tried smoking meats before (Well, except eating it, LOL), and looking to get my feet wet.

I have a couple of front runners, but I can't seem to find out much about these "Bullet" style smokers (Which itself may be an indication not to get them, LOL.) Searching this forum for  " Southern country smoker " is about as useful as searching for " and or the ".

(I'll call this the MBB)

 (This is the SCS)

The MBB at $59 ... awfully temping. Maybe spend the difference on some good cuts of meat and woods?

The SCS is a little more at $109, but it also looks to have a larger overall size. It's near enough the MES price it seems I might as well just get one of those.

They both look to have larger elements than the ubiquitous MES smoker, and presumably may be able to reach higher/roasting level temps that would be handy for chicken. (The better I can smoke a chicken the happier the wife will be, LOL.)

I'm not sure they are so great on the low end, but I have a dual temp remote thermometer already so I could always do a mod with an SCR or PID Controller and manually adjust temps that way.

Getting going at $60 sounds good, but not if the thing is just an irritating, temperamental POS.

I'm probably slightly favoring just getting a MES, its popular, well documented and at least "decent."

Are there any others <150$ due significant consideration?
 
Hello Troy. Just from the looks of it I will probably buy the more expensive one. It looks like it has more room as far as surface size for smoking and I would assume it comes with a water pan but I didn't see one in the pictures. I've got an older Brinkmann electric smoker that looks similar to it and I love it. Another thing I noticed on the more expensive model you're looking at is the ability to set the temperature. That's the one disadvantage I do not like about my electric smoker is it stays at a constant 195 degrees. But other than that I love the stupid thing. If it's just between the 2 go with the larger one.
 
In terms of heat, the bullet ones look like they are not insulated. So a 1500W heater without insulation may not get it as hot as you might expect, vs an 800W insulated smoker.

$60 is a nice price. At $108, like you said, it may be worth considering an insulated digital MES. I paid $140 for mine on Amazon.
 
I hadn't considered the insulation factor, and indeed some of the reviews mention not being able to push the internal temps of those bullet style ones up very high.

OK, so I've narrowed down to some kind of MES and now I'm questioning the digital vs analog versions. They both cost the same, so digital would seem to be a no brainer except.... that reliability issue with the digital controls.

This is the analog one:


This is the digital that everyone knows and love/hates:

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20070910-30-Inch-Electric-Controller/dp/B00104WRCY/

A couple of factors weighing in here....

The digital (was) down to $130 this morning, (Yay) but as of now there's none left (Boo) as "new" Amazon purchases. There is one for $116 through warehouse deals, but I'm not sure I'd trust the digital controller without getting a Squaretrade warranty with it. I don't think you can do that through Amazon Warehouse Deals. It does have an extra rack over the analog.... but the actual volume is about the same.

The analog also has issues, mostly related to the connector/plug for the analog controller and loose connections leading to failure. That's easily enough remedied by a quick teardown and look-see before using it. That being said, the same (or at least very similar) insulated box and layout coupled with the larger cooking element AND ease of repair/replacement and hackability of the heating element/controller/system is pretty tempting. I can also skip the warranty and buy an AMNPS with it instead. Another CON might be that it doesn't have a chip loader... AMNPS seems to cover that though, and there's always the hole-saw option.

I still have a couple of days to stew on it, but the Analog MES w/AMNPS is currently leading.... until I think of something else, or someone chimes in with more food for thought ;P.

Thanks all for the pondering points and tips!
 
I considered the analog, but went with the common digital, 20070910.

It seems like the analog doesn't get discussed too much here. So there may at least be less support for it. It doesn't have a chip loader tube, though this likely doesn't matter with an AMNPS. I'm not sure if it's insulated the same way as the digital 800W. It's tempting to say it has the extra power (1500W) because it needs it (ie- less insulation), because it still only has setpoints up to 275F, per some Amazon reviews. So either they weren't sure how much power would be needed, or it's not insulated as well, or something else.

It sounds like the digital can still be converted to PID readily enough, by wiring the controller right to the heater. I've heard people say that the digital units seem safe to maybe around 325F, but that the insulation may start to break down after that. It would be nice to be able to crank up the temperature, but just watch out for overheating it.

A friend has the analog, he said it takes a bit of fiddling to get the temp set the way he wants.

I decided the digital sounded like a better fit for me. Easier control out of the box, and a lot of experience to draw from here. But if the analog would safely reach higher temps, is still insulated well, etc, then I could see some appeal there. I did get a SquareTrade warranty with mine, $18 for 4 years.
 
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Further details on the Analog model...


1) There is a double shell but no insulation in between the layers, just a 3/4-1 inch air gap. So, although it's not insulated exactly, that air gap would seem to be a lot better than just a single wall would be. Enough better for cold weather use? No idea. Probably at least for basic smoking but maybe not enough for roasting below freezing?



2) A handful of reviews report using it at 350-400 or having it "max out at 375". That's enough for finishing off higher temp foods I'd think. If that holds in winter temps is unknown. I considered propane, but the idea of "set and forget" would be pretty nice. It might be a pipe dream though, lol.
 
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Not sure what I did 2 my last post, so sorry if this is a dupe. I discovered some details about the analog option.


1) Its double walled, but not insulated in between. Surely the 3/4 -1 inch air gap is probably way better than just a single wall would be? Is it enough "better" for cold weather smoking?


2) its rated to 450 according to the product details (but the main text says 275). In the reviews, some have mentioned it "only reads to 400" and on that said it would "only get to 375" and another mentions smoke-roasting, which indicates it can top 350-375 at least, which seems like enough for higher-temp food finishing.


I'd think that "extra power" would be enough at least manage low and slow even in colder weather (at least as much colder as I'd want to be in to run it, lol.)


I did consider propane, and I even have way too many tanks to spare but the set and forget aspect of electric is too much to ignore.... even if it a pipe dream.


Soooo.... more info. It's still a strong contender.
 
Hmm.. sounds good. Make sure you get one that has room to put one of those maze things in for the pellets. [emoji]128526[/emoji] and has a rack big enough for a brisket like 22 inches.. I would get one with the window too. Lol
 
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Alllriiigghtyy then, this is my huckleberry! The Analog is just winning me over, between the higher temps and hopefully greater reliability and for sure greater mod-ability the analog Masterbuilt 2007210 model is my winner!


It's been ordered and it's on the way..... and because I'm a sucker for good mod(s) on just about anything I also have a PID controller and sundry showing up along with an AMZNPS. PID parts were only 45 and I got a warehouse deal on the AMZNPS for $22 with pellets.


Hmmmmm..... and I think I just named it too.... the "Huckleberry". Thanks all for the help and guidance!

Troy
 
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Very cool, good luck! It sounds like a good combo, especially if you're willing to do the PID changeover. Even better if you do it right away, so you get precise digital control from the outset.

I still have a lot to learn about the units, and about smoking. I just finished my second cook yesterday. When I'd read about the analog unit, I was turned off by things like the lack of a chip tube, and of course the analog control. But I got an AMNPS anyhow (so don't need the chip tube), and I actually think the idea of adding a PID controller sounds kinda fun. So if this thread had been created a few weeks ago, perhaps I would have ended up with an analog unit too. I like my unit so far, don't get me wrong, but tighter temp control, and the ability to go past 275F, sound nice, for a similar price to my basic digital unit. (Edit- I realized that without a chip loader tube, you don't have an existing port to use with a mailbox mod, if you chose to do that. You'd have to cut a hole for the duct)

It's unlikely, but *if* the side panels could be removed easily, perhaps you could add something like thin fiberglass insulation between the walls. But they're probably riveted together or something, vs just screws to take them apart. Either way, it's probably easier to investigate when it's new, vs after it gets all gunked up inside.

What PID parts did you order?

I hope you'll share how it works out, enjoy!
 
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I found a agptek TA4-SNR on amazon for $17, then added a 25a ssr w heat sink for around $9, and a 4" long k type thermocouple with 10 foot lead or about $6. Add in a plastic ammo can and some sundry it was around $45 not including the extension cord.


I've never built a PID before but I'm familiar with similar projects and wiring. (I converted a milling machine to CNC amongst other things.)
 
I got the Analog one! I just picked up some chickens, 2 racks of ribs and some ABT and Fattie supplies to start with.

In testing so far... it will just make 425 but it was on a cool-ish drizzly day. Lol the built in templates gauge says 350 tho. It's temp control swings about 50 tho. I do have a pid made but I haven't tested it yet.

I haven't actually smoked in it yet, but I added some high temp felt gasket stuff to the door and used dielectric grease on the main power connection.

The question is which comes first... the chicken or the ribs, lol!
 
Very cool, that's great it can reach 425! Wow.

It sounds like with what you've done already, plus using the PID, should make it a pretty nice setup! And more versatile than their digital units, given the ability to reach higher temperatures.
 
Ended up being ABTs first up.

The PID worked great.... held to +- 1 as far as I watched it.

Alas, there were..... issues, lol. Grease and cheese dripping ON the AMPS not a good idea, lol. Wrong kind of smoke....

AMPS went out pretty regularly too..... methinks I will need some added ventilation. If I open the door for a sec it regained traction so I think with the sealed door and only the paltry 1/2" or so vent at the top is just not enough air.

So... for now I'm just leaving the door latched but not locked. It leaks some smoke but seems to keep burning.

Lessons learned.... tent/cover AMNPS from dripping and figure out to get some air in there.
 
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