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TTQ B4U

By TTQ B4U
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TTQ B4U Rookie

TTQ B4U

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Hey all. Here at the house, I love my Big Green Egg but we're looking to buy a nice smoker for the farm as we'll be spending more time out there this year. Given the use I'm not going to spend what we did for another BGE, but rather something else.

 

From what I've read and seen the Webber Smokey Mountain series is the best. Any thoughts on other makes/models? Not opposed to propane, but have had such great luck with lump charcoal that I'm going to stay that route unless there are compelling reasons.

 

Feel free to chime in with tips and tricks too. Always interested in recommendations.

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Gergwheel1647545492 Newbie

Gergwheel1647545492

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http://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-GS40-Propane-Smoker-40-Inch/dp/B004EBTYCG

I prefer propane just cause its so much easier to get a nice even heat and you don't have to maintain the coals every hour. My brother has this smoker and it has worked great for him and he really likes it. If i was in the market i would get this one.

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XChris1632X Newbie

XChris1632X

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I absolutely love my char grill trio. It has propane stove (starts my lump), propane grill, charcoal grill, and smoker. It does it all and can be had for $300. Sure I would love to have an egg but my wife is weird about charcoal and sometimes I'm in a rush but still get to grill. It is much cheaper than an egg but not near the quality either. I did do some modifications to mine to get it to run the way I like. There are a ton of right ups on modifying them and making them better cookers. I plan on refining mine more and even permanently mounting into a table when I finish my patio.
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xlr8tn Newbie

xlr8tn

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I use a charbroiler texas style. Cheap, parts can be found cheap, and there's really not much you can't do on them. Chargriller also has a nice texas style smoker. They each have trade offs. The charbroiler has a fatter cooking chamber but the chargriller's chamber is longer and seems to hold heat better. The charbroiler has cast iron grates which are awesome but the end of the fire box on the chargriller opens up so you can rake ashes out during the cook versus the charbroiler's tray system. I would own either really so it'll just be which one I can get cheapest when I buy my next smoker. The charbroiler I have now is 10 years old. I've replaced a few parts on it in those 10 years but it's hard to beat it for the price.
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cybe Newbie

cybe

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Electric? Gas? Soaking chips?! Heresy.

 

 

 

mmm..

 

http://imgur.com/T5JeO.jpg

 

fuck it, more food

 

http://i.imgur.com/rlT1m.jpg

 

I've got a pair of WSM, they are completely bomb-proof (and idiot-proof.) Hell, one of 'em got hit by a truck backing into my driveway. That thing will hold 225 for 12 hours in the snow with nary a kick in the coals.

 

I have a rusty-ass Brinkmann in the back yard that we use for a burn barrel.

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russian rocket Newbie

russian rocket

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+1 for bradley smoker. i have the original bradley smoker and love it. i did have to modify it a little to make it perfect but it worked great with out being modified. i use mine almost every weekend even in the winter months. only downside is that you have to buy their special wood brickets.
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TTQ B4U Rookie

TTQ B4U

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http://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-GS40-Propane-Smoker-40-Inch/dp/B004EBTYCG

I prefer propane just cause its so much easier to get a nice even heat and you don't have to maintain the coals every hour. My brother has this smoker and it has worked great for him and he really likes it. If i was in the market i would get this one.

 

 

^^ Read about them all morning, looked around today and this is the one I bought.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W4NDPY/ref=s9_simh_gw_p86_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0AAQX77ZY4Y1K170NTG9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

 

Same as yours but 18" and has two doors. Has great reviews everywhere I looked just like the webber. I really like that it is able to use propane/charcoal. Dual capabilities is nice.

 

Bought it at home Depot. Paid a bit more than Amazon but they build it for free and I can pick up tonight. I have read a lot of complaints from Amazon that grills arrive damaged. A lot of them. Some things UPS just should deliver I guess.

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xlr8tn Newbie

xlr8tn

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that's basically what I carry with me when I have the camper......same style just a different brand. I've gotten so much use out of that thing it's not funny. I use it to smoke with but I also use it like an oven to heat stuff back up in aluminum pans. Nice to not have to get the camper hot and be stuck in the camper cooking when I can just fire that up and put stuff in it.
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Gergwheel1647545492 Newbie

Gergwheel1647545492

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^^ Read about them all morning, looked around today and this is the one I bought.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W4NDPY/ref=s9_simh_gw_p86_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0AAQX77ZY4Y1K170NTG9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

 

Same as yours but 30" and has two doors. Has great reviews everywhere I looked just like the webber. I really like that it is able to use propane/charcoal. Dual capabilities is nice.

 

Bought it at home Depot. Paid a bit more than Amazon but they build it for free and I can pick up tonight. I have read a lot of complaints from Amazon that grills arrive damaged. A lot of them. Some things UPS just should deliver I guess.

 

Great to hear!! For the price its hard to beat them

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xlr8tn Newbie

xlr8tn

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I have a chargill offset smoker that I am happy with.

though thinking of welding up a stainless steel firebox to replace its existing one since it gets so hot the pain comes off and rusts, so I have to brush it and respray it so often.

 

my ashpans take a beating because I use the box side as a grill too on occasion when I'm grilling a bunch of food. I found some really thick expanded metal that I use on the firebox side and it's lasted a lot longer than the grates that come with the side box. I just flip it before every use to keep it from warping. I have some spare cast iron grates I'm going to cut and try in there next. The large ashpan though I just replace every few years....it's only $25.

 

http://www.chargriller.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&category_id=4&page=shop.browse&Itemid=2&limit=33&limitstart=0

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indy82z Newbie

indy82z

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got any pics?

 

Here it is right before I finished it with the ball valves...

 

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj114/indy82z/IMG_20140331_181103.jpg

 

I know some of you wont appreciate the Chicago Bears, but I am thinking of doing my new one as a Chicago Blackhawks one (I'm originally from Chicago). This thing cooks awesome and cost be under $175 to build..

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BigB Newbie

BigB

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I have some build pictures of a smoker that tells you all about building your own and what plates to use and how to set it all up. It's not really plans or measurements just a lot of useful info on building your own using a compressor tank.

If anybody is interested in building your own shoot me an e-mail to hemigremmy@yahoo.com and put smoker info in the subject and I will send them on to you.

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TTQ B4U Rookie

TTQ B4U

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Here's a picture of the smoker being seasoned for this weekend's use. I love that it has rollers on the back legs to make it easy to move. Not sure if I'll put it out on our deck yet. Have to find a weatherproof cover first.

 

The built in Temp gauge read about 15-20* too low, but that's okay as I use the well known Maverick Dual set Thermometer.

Maverick ET-733 Long Range Wireless Dual Probe BBQ Smoker Meat Thermometer Set

 

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj84/crms3er/20140501_171242copyweb_zpsd2676577.jpg

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TTQ B4U Rookie

TTQ B4U

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here's a shot of the cast iron box I'm using for the smoker chips. I actually have two of them and will likely just rote them 90* sliding one in on the left for the first hour and the second on the right for the second hour. They hold and conduct heat very well two. The only mod will be an 8" circular coal rack to serve as a better shelf for them. The gray round tray below is mounted above the burner and is used for charcoal should one choose to go that route.

 

There's water tray that slides into a draw right above it. reviews say it works okay but for longer smokes over 5hrs everyone suggests putting a larger foil baking tray above it on the bottom shelf.

 

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj84/crms3er/20140501_175430copyweb_zps6c4e9231.jpg

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xlr8tn Newbie

xlr8tn

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Last year I started making a little different take on that. I make the bacon weave but then I use burger and put feta in before rolling it up. I slice them into burgers and put them on buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, banana peppers, and drizzle tzatziki sauce on them. It's kind of my take on a gyro burger. Pretty decent.
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