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Thinking about buying new smoker
#6815139
07/07/17 04:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,623
DPirates80
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,623 |
I have an older charcoal smoker but I mainly keep it at the lake camp cause I smoke more up there when the whole family goes up. Thought about about buying a new smoker to keep here at the house. Been browsing the internet looking for the perfect one for the money. Should I go electric smoker or stay charcoal smoker style? Any suggestions? I don't want a real big one but a decent size one.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: DPirates80]
#6815507
07/07/17 09:35 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,112
JLP83
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,112 |
I like the egg style setups personally. You can grill, bake, smoke, basically whatever you want and it should last forever.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: DPirates80]
#6815743
07/08/17 12:46 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,940
Stub
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,940 |
What is your price range and how much meat do you plan on cooking at one time? Charcoal is normally used for grilling, you can add wood chunks to it for a smoke flavor. There are several variations of more traditional smokers. Like mine is a nice small smoker with a firebox and smoking chamber. There are big green eggs, traeger uses pellets, electric ones with bluetooth remote functionality etc. Pic of mine which is what I call a traditional smoker.
Faith, Family and Freedom
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: Stub]
#6817899
07/10/17 11:49 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,623
DPirates80
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,623 |
What is your price range and how much meat do you plan on cooking at one time? Charcoal is normally used for grilling, you can add wood chunks to it for a smoke flavor. There are several variations of more traditional smokers. Like mine is a nice small smoker with a firebox and smoking chamber. There are big green eggs, traeger uses pellets, electric ones with bluetooth remote functionality etc. Pic of mine which is what I call a traditional smoker. Yeah, my old one looks like that but she's seen better days as I had it for years. That's why I keep it at the lake. I think I might want to try a vertical set-up one that's electric temp. control.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: DPirates80]
#6819499
07/11/17 07:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 464
GunsUp18
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 464 |
From what you're describing (Charcoal and vertical) your best bet in my opinion would be a Weber Smokey Mountain or an Ugly Drum Smoker. Both you can put a blowers fan on it to keep temps within a +/- 10 degree range. In my opinion Pitmaster IQ is best and just happens to be one of the cheapest. If you want an affordable Ugly Drum without having to build one yourself I would check out Riley Smokers.
Follow my BBQ Adventures on Instagram and YouTube! @mikebowerstv
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: DPirates80]
#6819544
07/11/17 07:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,637
MacDaddy21
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,637 |
I have a large trailer pit (350 gal propane tank and 2x2x4 firebox) and I built a custom PID controller that is wired to two powerful computer fans that mount on either side of the firebox where the dampers used to be. I keep the temp probe in the hotter part of the pit. With the PID unit tuned to the pit, it keeps my temps within 2-5 degrees. All I do is keep a clean fire and add a split every 2 hrs depending on the size of my goal bed. It's not set it and forget it, but about as close as you can get with a stick burner. I am not a huge fan of electric smokers. I have a masterbuilt 40 and only use it for cold smoking bacon, and I do some various sausages in it occasionally. I just don't like it for most bbq. The texture of the meat is just different, I think due to the different heat sources. Just my opinion, but I'd go with a wood burning pit. Something like a Yoder or a Lang.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6819582
07/11/17 08:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225
thecytochromec
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225 |
I have a large trailer pit (350 gal propane tank and 2x2x4 firebox) and I built a custom PID controller that is wired to two powerful computer fans that mount on either side of the firebox where the dampers used to be. I keep the temp probe in the hotter part of the pit. With the PID unit tuned to the pit, it keeps my temps within 2-5 degrees. All I do is keep a clean fire and add a split every 2 hrs depending on the size of my goal bed. It's not set it and forget it, but about as close as you can get with a stick burner. I am not a huge fan of electric smokers. I have a masterbuilt 40 and only use it for cold smoking bacon, and I do some various sausages in it occasionally. I just don't like it for most bbq. The texture of the meat is just different, I think due to the different heat sources. Just my opinion, but I'd go with a wood burning pit. Something like a Yoder or a Lang. I don't mean to thread-jack, but I'm going to have to see pics of this. What else can you say about the build?
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: DPirates80]
#6819588
07/11/17 08:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,044
Eagle 1
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,044 |
I don't mean to sound like a stuck record; but, you can have all the eggs, sticks, and pellets you want. Buy a Pit Barrel Cooker and forget it. I do not work for them but after trying everything out there for the past several years, the PBC is the easiest, fastest and most consistent smoker I've used. www.pitbarrelcooker.comJMc
JMc
This message is brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department...
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: thecytochromec]
#6819625
07/11/17 08:33 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,637
MacDaddy21
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,637 |
I have a large trailer pit (350 gal propane tank and 2x2x4 firebox) and I built a custom PID controller that is wired to two powerful computer fans that mount on either side of the firebox where the dampers used to be. I keep the temp probe in the hotter part of the pit. With the PID unit tuned to the pit, it keeps my temps within 2-5 degrees. All I do is keep a clean fire and add a split every 2 hrs depending on the size of my goal bed. It's not set it and forget it, but about as close as you can get with a stick burner. I am not a huge fan of electric smokers. I have a masterbuilt 40 and only use it for cold smoking bacon, and I do some various sausages in it occasionally. I just don't like it for most bbq. The texture of the meat is just different, I think due to the different heat sources. Just my opinion, but I'd go with a wood burning pit. Something like a Yoder or a Lang. I don't mean to thread-jack, but I'm going to have to see pics of this. What else can you say about the build? Are you asking about the pit iself, or the custom PID controller with the computer fans?
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: Stub]
#6820187
07/12/17 04:37 AM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,097
B Razorback
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,097 |
What is your price range and how much meat do you plan on cooking at one time? Charcoal is normally used for grilling, you can add wood chunks to it for a smoke flavor. There are several variations of more traditional smokers. Like mine is a nice small smoker with a firebox and smoking chamber. There are big green eggs, traeger uses pellets, electric ones with bluetooth remote functionality etc. Pic of mine which is what I call a traditional smoker. What brand is that? I've been looking for one just like that
You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas! -Davy Crocket This is duck hunting...shirts and shoes are optional
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6820305
07/12/17 12:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,501
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,501 |
Both you can put a blowers fan on it to keep temps within a +/- 10 degree range. I have a large trailer pit (350 gal propane tank and 2x2x4 firebox) and I built a custom PID controller that is wired to two powerful computer fans that mount on either side of the firebox where the dampers used to be. I keep the temp probe in the hotter part of the pit. With the PID unit tuned to the pit, it keeps my temps within 2-5 degrees. All I do is keep a clean fire and add a split every 2 hrs depending on the size of my goal bed. It's not set it and forget it, but about as close as you can get with a stick burner. I am not a huge fan of electric smokers. I have a masterbuilt 40 and only use it for cold smoking bacon, and I do some various sausages in it occasionally. I just don't like it for most bbq. The texture of the meat is just different, I think due to the different heat sources. Just my opinion, but I'd go with a wood burning pit. Something like a Yoder or a Lang. This is my first time hearing about the fans, I have to rig my pit with one of those.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: DPirates80]
#6820613
07/12/17 05:16 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 33,382
bigbob_ftw
Big Sprocket Bob
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Big Sprocket Bob
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 33,382 |
Oklahoma joes makes a nice pit.
Ultra MAGA '24.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: bigbob_ftw]
#6820887
07/12/17 10:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,940
Stub
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,940 |
Oklahoma joes makes a nice pit.
Used to, they were bought out by CharBroil parent company and they moved the manufacturing of them to the Ohio plant. Now they use thinner metal and cheaper parts. Not a terrible smoker, just not the good old Oklahoma Joe smoker anymore. Same thing with New Braunfels smokers, they were bought out quite a while back by CharBroils parent co and they went cheap on them too.
Last edited by Stub; 07/12/17 10:30 PM.
Faith, Family and Freedom
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: B Razorback]
#6820890
07/12/17 10:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,940
Stub
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,940 |
What is your price range and how much meat do you plan on cooking at one time? Charcoal is normally used for grilling, you can add wood chunks to it for a smoke flavor. There are several variations of more traditional smokers. Like mine is a nice small smoker with a firebox and smoking chamber. There are big green eggs, traeger uses pellets, electric ones with bluetooth remote functionality etc. Pic of mine which is what I call a traditional smoker. What brand is that? I've been looking for one just like that It is an Old Country BBQ pit, bought it a couple of years ago and like it!
Faith, Family and Freedom
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: Stub]
#6820917
07/12/17 10:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,501
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,501 |
What I like about my smoker fire box is it doubles for direct heat grilling, or if I shut the lid, it can be used as a hot plate to put a pan on it. I would post a pic but photobucket is blocking all my pics.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: Guy]
#6822247
07/14/17 10:45 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 33,382
bigbob_ftw
Big Sprocket Bob
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Big Sprocket Bob
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 33,382 |
What I like about my smoker fire box is it doubles for direct heat grilling, or if I shut the lid, it can be used as a hot plate to put a pan on it. I would post a pic but photobucket is blocking all my pics. You do know that you can post a picture here directly?
Ultra MAGA '24.
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Re: Thinking about buying new smoker
[Re: Stub]
#6822300
07/14/17 12:28 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 33,382
bigbob_ftw
Big Sprocket Bob
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Big Sprocket Bob
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 33,382 |
Oklahoma joes makes a nice pit.
Used to, they were bought out by CharBroil parent company and they moved the manufacturing of them to the Ohio plant. Now they use thinner metal and cheaper parts. Not a terrible smoker, just not the good old Oklahoma Joe smoker anymore. Same thing with New Braunfels smokers, they were bought out quite a while back by CharBroils parent co and they went cheap on them too. well that sucks.
Ultra MAGA '24.
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