What do I do with $1100 cash and a dream?

[bruno994]

Lots of great advice, but the last sentence of your post made me smile....  I'll keep chugging along till I meet the smoker I've been dreaming about.

Finding the right smoker is like cooking a brisket...lots of patience are needed.  Before I built mine, I bet I spent a year surfing here, smokerbuilder and numerous other sites looking at pits, not to mention inspecting every pit or smoker at the big box stores getting ideas and deciding exactly the route I wanted to take.  I know Craigs list has been mentioned, but around here we have a web based classified ad site that there are always 15-25 pits for sale at anytime, maybe there is something similiar in your area?  Just a thought.  I agree with others that finding a local welding shop that might build it for labor if you can round up the materials would be a great choice.  Check local scrap yards for pipe, plate and other items needed for your build and you will come out way ahead of the game.  I think with some effort you could round up the materials for less than $500 for a good 36-48" model and then have it built for less than $500, coming in under your budget.  If you need smoker plans, they have plenty on the smokerbuilder site for purchase. 

Best of luck and keep us updated. 

 

[ribwizzard]

Take the money and buy one of these.

Please select 5 products to compare POWER MIG[emoji]174[/emoji] 180 Dual MIG Welder - K3018-2

Quick View
POWER MIG[emoji]174[/emoji] 180 Dual MIG Welder

Top Features

• Dual Input Power Capability – Select 120 or 208/230 volt input power
• Industrial Cast Aluminum Drive – Dual gear-driven drive rolls deliver positive traction.

Get more details

Industrial Price: $1,029.00

Input Power	120/1/60 or 208/230/1/60
Rated Output	120V:90A/19.5V/20% 208V: 130A/17.6V/30% 230V: 130A/20V/30%
Input Current	20A
Output Range	120V: 30-140 Amps DC 230V: 30-180 Amps DC
Solid Wire Size Range	.025-.035
Dimensions (H x W x D)	14 in x 10.15 in x 18.16 in (357 mm x 258 mm x 472 mm)
Net Weight	64.000 lbs (29.030 kg)

Middle Column
Top Features

• Dual Input Power Capability – Select 120 or 208/230 volt input power
• Industrial Cast Aluminum Drive – Dual gear-driven drive rolls deliver positive traction.

Input Power

• 120/1/60 or 208/230/1/60

Processes
MIG, Flux-Cored

Right Column
Industrial Price: $1,029.00

Output

Input

 

[themule69]

I bought this off of a creigslist poting that i made under wanting to buy pipe 36" to 48"    3/8" wall and at least 5' long

The piece on the back is used 36"   3/8" wall 10' long

The piece on the front is new 42"    1/2" wall and 5' long.

Then thier is a piece of 8"   1/2" wall you can see next to the pipe on the back.

You can't see the 3/8"  3x3 angle on the other side of the trailer. About 200'

pipe 1.JPG

• themule69
• Jul 11, 2013

Total price 200.00

I'm going to make a outdoor wood boiler out of part of it. Then a smoker or 2 out of the rest.

Then i scored a new sheet of 3/8" new plate from a craigslist WTB post for 100.00

That alone is enough steel to almost build a big reverse flow. With left over steel for barter.

I look forward to seeing what you end up with.

happy smoken.

David

 

[themule69]

With the above steel If you can't weld. You could find a farmer who want to make a little side money on a winter project.

I say spend a little time looking threw the smoker builds on here. Draw out some plans. Then shop the build around the local welding shops.

just my

.02 cents.jpg

• themule69
• Apr 24, 2013

David

 

[delibsribs]

Holy guacamole, I can't justify me buying welding equiptment, the necessary supplies than actually learning to build and assemble a smoker I actually would like. I'm like everyone else in that I am limited in my free time. That's the main reason I am looking to make a one time purchase of a higher quality unit. Thanks again for all the help and encouragement. I am always looking on Craigslist for used units as well as any leads on having one built.

 

[pineywoods]

I'm partial to Lang's they are a great smoker and hold value very well if you nee to upgrade in the future

 

[ribwizzard]

 I can't justify me buying welding equiptment, the necessary supplies than actually learning to build and assemble a smoker I actually would like.

$5000.00 for a decent smoker vs $2500.00 for tools and supplies and you get a decent smoker , a welder, and save $2500.00?   Even if you had 40 hrs in it, thats $62.50 and hr your putting back in your pocket.

 

[delibsribs]

Ribwizzard just hit me with some well done meat math. Looking at it that way really makes me feel lazy. All joking aside thanks for the perspective and the advice.

 

[themule69]

I'm thinking draw it out and have it built.

David

 

[veryolddog]

I do not think that you have to do your own work, spend money on tools, and frustrate the crap out of yourself. 

I recently purchased a very nice 1/4 steel plate offset smoker from Yoder of Hutchinson, KS. This is a company that been making wood smokers for many years and their units have won many competitions. I purchased the Cheyenne model which happens to be the smallest unit that they make with a firebox. This unit is 1/4 inch steel and weighs 360 lbs. The options that I added are the heat management plate which distributes heat evenly across the grill surface, the charcoal grate for using the entire grill for direct grilling a port to run my thermometer wires through the unit. The cost of this was $1150 including shipping. Shipping cost may vary depending upon where you are located. That is brand new. Go to yoder.com and look around. You can afford a quality unit if you choose.

Ed

 

[ribwizzard]

I recently purchased a very nice 1/4 steel plate offset smoker from Yoder of Hutchinson, KS. This is a company that been making wood smokers for many years and their units have won many competitions. I purchased the Cheyenne model which happens to be the smallest unit that they make with a firebox. This unit is 1/4 inch steel and weighs 360 lbs. The options that I added are the heat management plate which distributes heat evenly across the grill surface, the charcoal grate for using the entire grill for direct grilling a port to run my thermometer wires through the unit. The cost of this was $1150 including shipping. Shipping cost may vary depending upon where you are located. That is brand new. Go to yoder.com and look around. You can afford a quality unit if you choose

This a very good alternative.There are several smokers on the market this size around the $1000.00 mark. Yoder being one of the better ones. And with practice and some minor alterations can be a BBQ champ.

My math was based on a trailer size pit, but if all you need is a patio smoker, that would be a better way to go.

 

[delibsribs]

Thanks. I will check it out. I know I like the 1/4 inch construction. I have decided to purchase the Lang 36 Patio, basic model.

Just an update: found a used Meadowcreek TS60 two weeks ago for $1300.00 picked up. In this instance my patience/procrastination paid off. I'm very pleased with this unit and am looking forward to some great smokes ahead. Thanks again to everyone for their input.