I think the one I liked the most was a converted Porcelain Steel refrigerator.
But I've spent my life with one sort or another of an electric smoker. Just easiest to control.
When I began smoking bacon, I realized the need for more hanging room.
God Provides, and someone near me had a defunct MES 40 to give away. My Inkbird PID has a new home and purpose, running the "40".
These MES smokers are the first I ever had (Besides the fridge) that are insulated.
I'm more of a cold/warm smoker than an outdoor oven that can smoke guy. So my wants are toward that end.
After my first smoke with a new MES 30, I began building it into the smoker I wanted. In retrospect, I could have gotten an analog electric, and built on a PID and been happy. But I went one step up and have a good all around smoker for my methods.
Then the MES 40 fell in my lap. Perfect! Has the size and height to hang slabs of bacon inside it.
If you want an insulated box to work with, that has heating built into it, for a low price, then the MES series is a good start.
I was turning away from a long time with a Bradley Smoke generator. They priced themselves off my market, and had to be ordered (No local source).
So I eventually gravitated to an
AMNPS, Pellet fuel (Available everywhere around me), and highly modified MES smokers.
After 50 years of DIY and casual smoking, I'm capable now of a variety of smoking options.
To me, it was better than building my own.
