Stick Burner Or Pellet Grill

[amlong88]

The Yoder Wichita might be one you would want to look at. If you don't want one that big the Cheyenne is the model below that. Horizon as mentioned above its a good company. They made the original okj before they sold that company and started horizon.

 

[Rings Я Us]

The Yoder Wichita might be one you would want to look at. If you don't want one that big the Cheyenne is the model below that. Horizon as mentioned above its a good company. They made the original okj before they sold that company and started horizon.

1/4 " steel . not sure about Yoder.

 

[amlong88]

Yoder uses 3/16 to 1/4.

 

[Rings Я Us]

There is a yoder dealer in Michigan a courthouses from us but not sure what they have there to look at.

 

[mphugh]

Dyna-Glo ? Not sure of the quality but they seem to be popular.They can be bought from Big Box stores and they make Horizontals too. http://www.ghpgroupinc.com/product-catalog/smokers.html

My research tells me that the steel is too thin to consistently hold temp here in Michigan's winter months.

 

[mphugh]

I've had several smokers over the years, although I have never had a pellet smoker.
I do however have a Lang & it is by far the best smoker I have ever used.
Yes you have to add a split of wood every hour or so, but it holds a steady temp & the food coming out of it has a better flavor than the other smokers I own. If cost is an issue, then the next best option, in my opinion is a 22.5 WSM. You can outfit it with a BBQ Guru & it will hold whatever temp you set it at until you run out of wood & charcoal. I have that setup too & it has ran 22 hours without adding any wood or charcoal, and you get a real wood/charcoal flavor.
Al

Al, do you believe the position of the smoke stack matters in the off set smokers? Which position is best for those that aren't reverse flow?

 

[culpepersmoke]

I had a stick burner but when we sold our house to live full time in our RV, I sold it and bought a GMG pellet smoker as it was the only one I could find that would fit in the MH. Its OK but it doesn't compare to cooking with real wood. Smoke ring isn't as bright and the flavor just isn't there. Others mentioned running a A-Maze-N with the pellet smoker but I'm guessing my smoker is too small as it just starts burning out of control. As soon as we decide on where we are going to live and buy a house I'm shopping for a stick burner again. A Lang will be on top of that list.

 

[mowin]

I had a stick burner but when we sold our house to live full time in our RV, I sold it and bought a GMG pellet smoker as it was the only one I could find that would fit in the MH. Its OK but it doesn't compare to cooking with real wood. Smoke ring isn't as bright and the flavor just isn't there. Others mentioned running a A-Maze-N with the pellet smoker but I'm guessing my smoker is too small as it just starts burning out of control. As soon as we decide on where we are going to live and buy a house I'm shopping for a stick burner again. A Lang will be on top of that list.

They make a 6” tube that will work nicely in your DC. Keep pit temps a little lower and you'll have no problems. I use a 18" tube all the time in my DB.

 

[mphugh]

There is a yoder dealer in Michigan a courthouses from us but not sure what they have there to look at.

Do you think there is a real need for an insulated smoker. Looking at a backwoods chubby & a Humphrey's now.

 

[Rings Я Us]

Couple courthouses.. Lmao.. should say couple hours.
No I don't think about smoking in temps below 40 degrees.. I would just rather grill and wait for better weather for smoking myself.

 

[SmokyMose]

Couple courthouses.. Lmao.. should say couple hours.
No I don't think about smoking in temps below 40 degrees.. I would just rather grill and wait for better weather for smoking myself.

Yeah, it finally dawned on me he was talking about a couple of counties away. Not as quick as I used to be ;-)
I’m with you, Rings. Cold smoking with the mailbox setup or doing something on the Weber is fine, but tending the offset in the 40s just isn’t fun for me....

 

[mphugh]

Yeah, it finally dawned on me he was talking about a couple of counties away. Not as quick as I used to be ;-)
I’m with you, Rings. Cold smoking with the mailbox setup or doing something on the Weber is fine, but tending the offset in the 40s just isn’t fun for me....

Concerning my dilemma over which smoker to chose and living in a cold weather climate in the winter, would you smoke during the winter months if you had an insulated smoker to use?

 

[jbomx363]

I'm in the same boat as OP...I've been using a MB 44" propane. Love it, but after 4-5yrs it's starting to rust out and time for something new. I'm loving the idea of the camp chef smokepro xxl pellet smoker. (Haven't seen one, haven't seen where people have even used one yet, they are out until January to even buy one as they tell me they sold out very fast) Mainly, I am losing desire to wake up at night to add chunks and water of the MB.

Is there really a major difference in smoke produced by pellets vs. propane (using chunks) vs stick? Or is it the bravado of making fire and tending it for the stick? I get a great bark on the MB and if a pellet doesn't produce it, I may miss that part. But convenience of the pellet is drawing me in, and the lower temps attainable to do some sausage/jerky, etc.

 

[troutman]

There is a distinct smoke difference between a stick burner and a pellet smoker. Most pellet smokers stop making smoke up above about 275*. The burn pit is too busy keeping the temp up that high to smolder. Down in the low and slow ranges (about 225* and under) they do much better. I really like it because its a milder smoke. Others (like my misses) likes the more intense flavor of a stick burner. If you really like the smoke profile I suggest you stay with an offset, OR better yet have one of each :)

 

[bluewhisper]

Yes you definitely can over-do the smoke with a stick burner. It's up to fire management.

I like the way I have a better range of temperature when burning sticks, and I can run hot if I want. It can use up a lot of fuel though. I can burn less fuel to get those temps if I have the fire in the cooking chamber, similar to setting up indirect heat in a Weber kettle.

And one thing about a stick burner is, you don't have to buy pellets. You can scavenge wood. You'd still probably buy charcoal but it is possible to heat with just found wood.

 

[SmokyMose]

Concerning my dilemma over which smoker to chose and living in a cold weather climate in the winter, would you smoke during the winter months if you had an insulated smoker to use?

Not if it was below 40. I’ve done it and the smoker(non insulated) holds the heat ok enough, but I was cold! Not fun for me.
I know there are smoking warriors here, but I’m not one...
I don’t ride the Suzuki when the temps get below 60, either (wind chill?). Maybe it’s age. At 64 I don’t handle cold like I used to. When it gets cold the only fire I tend is in the fireplace ;-)

Your call...

 

[jbomx363]

There is a distinct smoke difference between a stick burner and a pellet smoker. Most pellet smokers stop making smoke up above about 275*. The burn pit is too busy keeping the temp up that high to smolder. Down in the low and slow ranges (about 225* and under) they do much better. I really like it because its a milder smoke. Others (like my misses) likes the more intense flavor of a stick burner. If you really like the smoke profile I suggest you stay with an offset, OR better yet have one of each :)

Thanks for that. I actually have a propane, not allowed a stick burner where I live. I have turned to the hot and fast method on some of my smokes and would have to adjust how I do that with the pellet smoker it seems. Heck, I've never even done a chicken below 275* and if the pellet doesn't produce smoke at that temp.....hmmm.. maybe made up my mind already.

 

[mphugh]

I want to thank everyone for your shared opinions and insight. I can honestly say I started this discussion in the hope I would get more support about an offset stick burner over the pellet smoker (which did happen) because I really wanted one. In fact I was favoring the Old Country ¼” style, but the more comments you made, the more I read, the more I researched the more informed I became, and for that I thank you.

Alas, I have come to the realization that there isn’t a bad way to smoke, only different versions in the way it’s done. The problem I learned about, and subsequently felt I needed to overcome is the cold climate in Michigan, because I don’t want to stop eating delicious food just because it is cold outside. I concluded that stick burners are an awesome tool to use (as are other methods), but won’t be good enough in the winter months. So based on all the gathered information I determined that I need an insulated cooker… one that won’t break the bank, but can do the job for the wife and I.

I decided on a cabinet style smoker. At first I was looking at the Chubby 3400, but I found that it was made in Mexico. So I decided to get the Humphrey's Battle box.

Don't tell the wife, but I bet I will also take a trip to a big box store and mod up a less expensive offset for the hell of it.

Thanks again for helping in my decision.

Mike
Brighton, Michigan

 

[amlong88]

Sounds awesome. That's right, there is no one way to smoke food.