Looking for suggestions for first smoker

[dnmccoy]

NVM i found the kits, not sure I can find the barrels locally though

 

[ammaturesmoker]

I am a huge fan of the WSM. My only problem is I have 4 kids. However there is not better in terms of a turkey or briskit.

 

[drewed]

A grill is a grill, and a smoker is a smoker.  Two different tool for a similar, yet different job.  Can you drag race a dump truck? Sure, but a funny car will do it better.

There is nothing wrong with making ribs and smoking a butt on a Weber kettle.  Many guys do.  I did for years. But a WSM does it better, easier, more efficently.

Can you do a stake on a WSM? what a about crispy skin chicken?  Sure, but it is easier on a grill.  

See the point?  Also don't forget about "Jack of all trades, master of none" when looking a combo units that say they can do both.

IF I was just starting out / over, I would by a weber kettle grill.  Heck, I'd buy the performer if I had the space.  Use it, learn it, love it.  Make beautiful food together.  Do so 'Q on it.  In a few years when the family is demanding you 'Q something up for every holiday gathering, then get the WSM, and don't fool around - just by the big one.

Somewhere in there you will end up with a rotisserie too.....

 

[m00se]

Well. Either you going to smoke or grill.. A smoker has the heat away from direct contact of the food. A grill
Has the heat right at the meat.. My advice is. Buy a Weber 26 kettle. You can offset the heat and smoke on the other side away from the coal.. And the cook directly above the coals for a nice scear

I think Lemans is trying to steer you in the right direction and I have to agree. The WSM is a terrific smoker (I have one), but for grilling you're going to compromise. With a kettle you have the depth and width to add smoke to your fire and indirectly cook your food if desired. If I had to have *one* device it would be a kettle. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Or...in-Charcoal-Grill-in-Black-16401001/205504095

I would also consider buying a smoke tube or rack like this for it: http://www.amazenproducts.com/product_p/amnps5x8.htm  - Just tossing wood chunks on burning charcoal works ok, but the wood tends to catch fire easily and make control a little uhh... interesting sometimes.

The Bradley smokers have a heck of a time holding accurate temperatures, so people wind up using one hack or another. Auber Instruments makes a PID controller for that smoker that'll set you back about $170+tax+shipping, but it will keep temps +/- 2F whereas the built-in thermostat will go wild on you http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=380  . Just something to keep in mind when considering cost.

Also, factor a good thermometer in your budget. There you can spend around $60 for an RF unit that you can monitor from your house  , and up to $100 for an instant read like the Thermapen http://www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-Mk4  . Whatever your smoker choice, you'll be buying a good thermometer eventually.

You will have to spend a LOT more than your budget for a good pellet cooker.

Good Luck!

 

[dnmccoy]

Thanks for the insight. I'm leaning towards the 22WSM instead of upgrading later. With having a little one, the ability to hold up and hold Temps is my primary concern

 

[garvinque]

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• garvinque
• Jun 27, 2016

BigPoppaSmoker.com

 

[dnmccoy]

So Ive pretty much got it narrowed down to a WSM or a Pit Barrel Cooker. Im doing research and it seems there are fervent crowds on both sides. The PBC is $299 to my door while the 18.5WSM is around $300, and then requires a few upgrades. How are the PBCs?

 

[jarhead1979]

So Ive pretty much got it narrowed down to a WSM or a Pit Barrel Cooker. Im doing research and it seems there are fervent crowds on both sides. The PBC is $299 to my door while the 18.5WSM is around $300, and then requires a few upgrades. How are the PBCs?

I can't speak for the PBC...but I brought home a 22" WSM the other day and smoked an awesome brisket that night! While there are mods/upgrades that you CAN do, there aren't any that are REQUIRED to get this sucker throwing out delicious grub! And for a first smoker, she is pretty foolproof.

 

[b-one]

I haven't upgraded a thing on my 18.5 WSM it works fine. Ever look on craigs list you can find some deals and save cash for more meat!

 

[lancep]

No mods here either and I'll put my WSM up against my brother in law's pbc any day of the week. The pbc is well made and great at what it does, I just think the WSM is more versatile.

 

[dnmccoy]

Why do you think its more versatile. I wasnt sure how much I liked the idea of hanging everything on the PBC, vs laying on the grate of the wsm

 

[rferguson]

Dnmccoy,

    I have a pellet grill, its the Rec Tec 680. It is more than your budget but they do offer 24 month zero percent finance, but have a $ 120 or $ 130 fee to go that route. I went with it to get into a better grill. You could put the funds you have as kind of a down payment to get your payment much lower. To give you a idea I financed $ 1,500.00 and the payment is $ 61 bucks a month.

 

[lancep]

A few reasons:

Temp control- the damper on the pbc is for altitude adjustment not temp control. The pbc is designed to run at the temp it's designed to run at. I like being able run at 225 for some things and 3-400 for others.

Drippings- I like to stick a pot of beans under my brisket to catch the drippings or a pan under the turkey for a nice smokey gravy. The lower rack allows me to do just that easily.

Grilling- the pbc comes with a rack for grilling and is great for burgers and dogs etc. but for some things (reverse searing a steak) I want the coals up under the grate. No problem with my WSM. Put the fire grate on the lower cook grate and you're in business.

These are just a few things. Don't get me wrong, the PBC is great at what it does and many folks love them, I just like the versatility of the WSM and highly recommend it.

 

[garvinque]

I have a first gen PBC and I love it, 8 spares at one time, 4 packer briskets at one time, etc. They also have some new things such as a turkey hanger and new grate that allows you to hang some food and space to use the grate at the same time.

 

[garvinque]

Hey Lance how far are you from Tupelo and New Albany area?

 

[lancep]

East Olive Branch, about 45 from new Albany and about an hour or so out of Tupelo.

 

[garvinque]

Thanks for responding, Our family reunion is in New Albany next year and along with my Uncles I will doing a lot of the cooking.

 

[ammaturesmoker]

Bullet style smokers are great but not for 40 people unless you want to maintain 5 of them. I would just rent a large trailer smoker. Not saying one is going to be better than another for that because a one time use need is not going to reflect what he will want after for his back yard.

 

[dnmccoy]

I just found a place locally I can get 55gal food grade steel drums with lids. Now Im considering a UDS setup. What are pros/cons to the UDS vs the WSM?

 

[lemans]

By the time you buy and fabricate all the parts for a UDS you could have been smoking on a WSM