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.
You should start a new thread and ask this question IMHOI just bought one how did you seal it up?
Except to those of us that own bothSeems like a no brainer: Weber.
the kettle is pretty versatile, too.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...
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 twiceAs 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.
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....They are so airtight, when done grilling, you can save the coals...
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 thatI 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