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I bought a #3 several years ago with the intention of adding an auber PID controller later. I got so that I didn't feel the need to have that much control. I just use a Smoke thermometer for remote viewing of box and meat temps.
I have a 4 qt cossori for the camping trailer, an 8 qt instant pot pro for main home cooking, an older 6 qt bluetooth instant pot for our snowbird digs. I like the 8 qt for making stews, soups and cheesecakes, just don't get enough leftovers with the 6 qts. My SO won't get rid of the slow...
I have been taught that you have to get every molecule of rust/iron off or it will keep coming back. And that you can't do anything that will leave a molecule of iron on the stainless steel from something like a wire wheel with iron bristles.
Buy it, for $200 it is a bargain. I use my #1 frequently instead of my #3 because of the ease of use when cooking small butts or a single rack of ribs.
Check the blade for chips/damage. It should run smoothly. If the sharpening stones are there, are they intact?
Does the tray table slide ? Is the hand guard intact? Does the thickness adjustment go to zero and adjust smoothly?
Are the screws holding the blade on frozen or stripped?
Check out the Smokin-It #1. I take that camping a lot. I think you could use some 2 in tubing to get the smoke out of your garage. But I would just park it under a pop-up canopy.
Senate Ham and Bean soup as made for the US Senate is my favorite recipe.
It is also what I use to get people started using an Instant Pot for making soup as it is so easy and quick.
Attached is the recipe I use.