build or buy?

[danj]

hello again, I am trying to decide do i buy a better smoker? (this one http://walmart.scene7.com/walmart/fl...ategoryid=5428)

or do i build one?

 

[mr mac]

Good question. Let me ask the obvious one in return, how soon do you want to be smoking? If you buy one tomorrow, you're smoking tomorrow. Build one and you may end up building, testing, tearing down and rebuilding just to test again before you can use it for the first time. Me, I'm an engineer by trade and love to tinker so I might actually do both or just tinker with mine using various modifications which will still take time...it never ends!

 

[danj]

ok i flipped a coin and my wife is gonna get me a MES for Christmas.. not gonnna try to build one.

 

[meat hunter]

I agree, buy one and your smoking almost right away. Build one, well you get the idea. You are not going to build one in a day or 2. However, if you build one, you can build it to suit your needs, plus it's fun

.
I built my reverse flow, took about a week, and several smokes to see where improvement was needed. Now I am in the works of doing a stumps clone on an old enamel interior refrigerator. This one will be mostly used for sausage.
Then there is option 3. Buy this one, turn out some good smokes, AND build one.

 

[mr mac]

There you go! Now go ahead after a while and follow MHs advice and start building one! UDS' are pretty easy and not at all expensive, some make them from wood or old appliances (I really like the converted dishwasher). The sky's the limit!

 

[irishteabear]

Welcome to SMF. Glad you joined us.

 

[beer-b-q]

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[blue]

Welcome aboard.

I agree with the buy one then build one mentallity. Thats what I did.

 

[warthog]

Welcome to the SMF. Enjoy your stay.

 

[ol' smokey]

Welcome to the SMF, Dan. I'm in the buy then build corner but then I'm usually in a rush.

 

[nickelmore]

I think it took me a few months to gather/build mine and still had some issues. Like some others I like to tinker and took into consideration some of the shortfalls of the the store bought units and built mine accordingly.

Modifications seem never ending, now i am adding an electric element with a PID controller to my gasser so I will be able to swap out heat sources.

I say buy and build one later when you get hooked and figure out what you want to do. You may be able to incorporate some of the pieces into the one you build.

And having more than one smoker can't be a bad thing.

 

[got14u]

Do both...like said before..you can never have to many smokers....lol

 

[murman]

I bought one...

and built one.

Cook and learn,

Murman

 

[chisoxjim]

it all depends, do you have the tools? do you have the free time(time is $$)?

My free time is priceless, and I dont have any tools so i buy my smokers(ECB, Offset, GOSM, WSM).