steamaway
Smoke Blower
I have the Char-griller. I am surprised how long it has lasted, I don't even cover it, lol. Weber has to be even better built and It's cheaper too. I am sure you made the right choice.
ADVICE: Need a new grill - Weber vs. Char-Griller
- Thread starter shlongstar
- Start date
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alaskabgenut
Newbie
- Nov 1, 2011
- 2
- 10
I have a Char-Griller for grilling, I have a Weber kettle for grilling, I have a Weber Smokey Moutain bullet (it is very good, in most conditions for low and slow BBQ'ing and smoking), I have a XL BGE for low to high heat BBQ or grilling, and it is excellent in ALL conditions. I also have a Brinkman off-set grill for BBQ and grilling, but consistent heat is a problem so I don't use it unless I need to. The Weber Smokey Mountain is affordable and it is an excellent choice for most BBQ and smoking. I recommend the WSM. If you really want to be good, then make an investment in a Big Green Egg. Regardless of what you pick, having good control of your heat is the key.
woundedyak
Smoke Blower
Kettle for the win! I think it would be safe to say that 90% of the people on this site, cut their teeth on the kettle. Once you master the kettle, Everything else is secondary. I have bought many new smokers and cookers since my first love affair with the kettle. But for some reason, I always go back to her to remind me were I came from!
magslam
Smoke Blower
huntnfool
Newbie
I've got both...and sometimes use them both at the same time if I've got a lot to grill. I like the extra room the CG gives you and the cast iron grates. I've used a Weber for decades, but I think the CG is more versatile. Hard to go wrong with either one...
sskyking
Newbie
As you can see, it's close to unanimous. My next one is going to be a return to Weber as I'm on my fourth other "heavier" grill since I first replaced my Weber about 15 years ago. The best of the replacements was a Kingsford branded oval kettle that was made of the same type of enameled metal as the weber and the cooking chamber outlasted the wood shelves & handle as well as the metal legs. The other two were "heavier guage" metal, but had to be replaced because they rusted out and the charcoal trays burned through. One thing I've noticed about Char-Griller and the like is the lack of available parts for most after the first year or two. Even my trusty Bandera is an endangered species anymore, (so I keep it in the garage unless actually smoking) That's never been a problem with Weber and I kept mine outside in the weather without issue for over 12 years! What I do have to do with the next Weber is break down and shell out the extra money for the rotisserie ring. Not because I want the rotisserie, but because it raises the kettle lid enough to take a whole turkey and I've been grilling our turkeys for over 10 years.
You should start a new thread and ask this question IMHO
Except to those of us that own both
the kettle is pretty versatile, too.
One of the things I love about this site is that 16-18 months or maybe even a couple years can go by and lo and behold some one resurrects an old thread such as this one, which BTW has been resurrected twice
rtbbq2
Master of the Pit
comosmoker
Smoke Blower
Weber!!! Weber!!! Weber!!! I have the 22.5" and an offset firebox smoker. Everything can be done on the Weber. I bought my smoker this year and not because my Weber died. But when it does, I will get another one. Can't go wrong with it!!!
imjesse1
Meat Mopper
scootermagoo
Smoking Fanatic
I have both. Speaking from experience, I would get the Weber. You can't beat them for grilling. They are so airtight, when done grilling, you can save the coals. Not going to happen on the CG, way to many air leaks. I use the CG for BBQ and only BBQ. I was pulling double duty on the CG for a while, but I was tired of burning off the seasoning when I grilled with it.
gingerweigel
Newbie
:) I'm probably a little biased, but I only use Weber products. My kettle is a Weber, my gas grill is a Weber Genesis, and my smoker is a Weber Smokey Mountain. You just can't go wrong with a Weber product.
sskyking
Newbie
I'd forgotten that little detail, thanks for reminding me. One tip for those who do this though... don't forget to shake/blow off the ashes and dump before reusing the saved coals. If not, they won't burn as well.
videomaker2000
Newbie
- Aug 11, 2011
- 2
- 10
Weber. I purchased my Weber Genesis Gold Gas Grill over 10 years ago. It finally developed a small hole in the bottom case. They sent the part followed by two tech's who replaced it at no charge. I'm a Weber "Customer For Life".
Pete
Pete
jfoote
Newbie
I have had my Chargriller for a little over a year now. I bought it thinking I could smoke/grill with the same equipment. The main chamber needs quite a few mods to use effectively as a smoker that need to be reversed if you are going to use it as a grill. It isn't the end of the world, but it is not convenient. On the positive side you can use the SFB as a grill with no effort at all. You will not have any temperature control other than the damper. You can grill quite a bit on it, but you need to make sure your temp is good before you throw the food on. The only other complaint I have is that you really need to use wood to smoke with. Charcoal works well if the weather is perfect, but the amount of charcoal skyrockets if it is just a little windy. Wood is pretty well free around here, so that is what I normally use.
In summary, I would recommend this unit, but if you want a grill, get the Weber. If you want to smoke primarily get the Chargriller and use the SFB as your grill. If you want a smoker that you can use in pretty much any weather condition go with electric or propane smokers.
Happy Grilling Season Everyone!
Jake
In summary, I would recommend this unit, but if you want a grill, get the Weber. If you want to smoke primarily get the Chargriller and use the SFB as your grill. If you want a smoker that you can use in pretty much any weather condition go with electric or propane smokers.
Happy Grilling Season Everyone!
Jake
As a CharGriller owner and user for the past five years I disagree with almost everything in your post. The CG can be used as a BBQ smoker effectively with no modifications at all if you are willing to learn how to use the heat zones to your advantage and are willing to tend the fire, which BTW you will have to do with any stick burning offset. All the modifications done to the CG in the name of regulating temperature in the cooking chamber are IMHO just attempts to get the CG to perform like a "set and forget" cooker, like the oven in your kitchen. Where's the fun in that
You are correct in stating that you should use wood to cook with in the CG, but if, like me, you get the wood for free why are you complaining?
I have BBQed in the wind, snow, cold and heat on my deliberately unmodified CharGriller with success and will continue to do so. And if I want to grill steaks on it all I need do is start a fire in the main chamber and grill to my hearts content.
jfoote
Newbie
Cliff,
Maybe my post came off more negative than I intended. I did say that I would recommend it though in my defense if he primarily wants a smoker. You are right, all of the mods i have completed are intended for temperature regulation. I believe that most people would agree that this is important for consistently good results. I think this is important for me, as a fellow beginner, and they take time to disassemble if you want to use the "big" grill.
I have also cooked in hot/cold weather in the unit. The amount of fuel varies some with temperature but not a great deal. My main complaint is the wind. I think this is just basic science, the size of the firebox acts like a giant heat sink and requires the blazes of hell to maintain 225. That is why I warned him about needing to use wood. Like I said to me it is free, but if you had to buy it, you could spend some money. You could counteract this with a insulator of some kind, but then again you are modding, which takes time to disassemble if you want to use the big grill. I have seen when the wind is blowing perpendicular to inlet damper the airflow switch directions. We are talking +15 mph wind for this to happen. You could avoid this with planning and watching the weather.
I still stand by my recommendation.
If you want a grill = Weber
Smoker = CharGriller with SFB
If your on the fence buy both, because more is always better.
Maybe my post came off more negative than I intended. I did say that I would recommend it though in my defense if he primarily wants a smoker. You are right, all of the mods i have completed are intended for temperature regulation. I believe that most people would agree that this is important for consistently good results. I think this is important for me, as a fellow beginner, and they take time to disassemble if you want to use the "big" grill.
I have also cooked in hot/cold weather in the unit. The amount of fuel varies some with temperature but not a great deal. My main complaint is the wind. I think this is just basic science, the size of the firebox acts like a giant heat sink and requires the blazes of hell to maintain 225. That is why I warned him about needing to use wood. Like I said to me it is free, but if you had to buy it, you could spend some money. You could counteract this with a insulator of some kind, but then again you are modding, which takes time to disassemble if you want to use the big grill. I have seen when the wind is blowing perpendicular to inlet damper the airflow switch directions. We are talking +15 mph wind for this to happen. You could avoid this with planning and watching the weather.
I still stand by my recommendation.
If you want a grill = Weber
Smoker = CharGriller with SFB
If your on the fence buy both, because more is always better.
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