Can you help me choose a smoker?

[k47k]

http://store.cookshack.com/c-65-smokette.aspx

Cookshack smokette so long as you dont plan to use it for competition. It has an electric element that you put a box of wood over. The electric element is on a thermostat so you dont have to constantly tend to the smoker. put a chunk a wood in, set it to the temp you want and come back when its done.

I do pork butts for 12 hours or so, real easy. The other options are kind of a pain and not easy to control. You will get top notch results.

 

[mrk305]

I have owned three upright charcoal water smokers. The best and easist to use had a seperate base for the charcoal. The whole upper shell could be removed for adding charcoal. The other two you had to add thru the little door.

This really comes in handy when you are smoking a turkey for 16 hours. You have to add charcoal every three or four hours.

The biggest meal I ever smoked was six pork buts for a company dinner. I wrapped them in foil and stacked them up like a pyramid. One of the best was smoked black fin tuna that I caught. One fish = dinner for eight.

You will use a LOT of charcoal. I have friends who have electric smokers and they use theirs more because they are so much easier to use. I only use mine a few times a year.

 

[cheezydemon3]

did you have the platesetter in there for indirect cooking?

I didn't have any problem controlling the temps the first time I used my bge (yesterday) Never understood the water smoker criticism against the bge either. If you want water just place a tray of water on the platesetter.

No platesetter. Perhaps I was too hasty. A plate to re-direct heat I presume?

Might work......but still, I would have to see that in action to judge.

 

[GatorBru]

BGE is the best for all in one and great for the really long smokes. It holds the temperatures for 12 + hours without any issues. If your on a budget, the tractor supply chain has a side smoker like the one the Neely's use for under $200. BGE gets my endorsement for everything from steak, ribs, even pizza.

 

[humann_brewing]

I have a traeger on the way, haven't used it yet but if it lives up to the hype I will be a happy man!

 

[lschiavo]

I decided to build an Ugly Drum. Actually I will be building (4) with my brother and two buddies. One buddy works at a place where they do lots of metal fabrication so he is having the charcoal baskets made for free. I found all the drums for free. So I guess a few grates and some hardware is the only cost. I'll post some pics when we get em done.

 

[buffalobrewer]

How are the uds's coming? cheezydemon3, yes the platesetter is needed for an indirect cook on the egg. It should be set up like the picture below. You can even use it as a brick oven pizza cooker.

 

[jbreiding]

Sorry if you're a noob always start with an ECB to hone your skills then go from there. ~$50 to start.

 

[jezter6]

I know this thread is past it's prime and settled, but I tell you what - I absolutely LOVE my cheapo Lowe's electric Brinkman.

Separate bottom with a heater element. Can pull the top off to add chips and muck with things, that's a great feature. Only thing I don't love about it is no thermostat. Only an "on" setting, and that's when it's plugged in - it's ON.

I've smoked a number of pork butts and beer can chicken. I may be a noob, but for my needs, this things ROCKs for the $70 or so I spent on it.

I've made meals for 6 on it with NO problems and don't see any need for anything larger unless you're catering parties of 10+ on the regular. Last time I had it, I made pastrami (smoked brisket), 2 full chickens, and a 5# pork butt with no problems. Just had to plan around moving things because each item took just a little different time.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I know this thread is past it's prime and settled, but I tell you what - I absolutely LOVE my cheapo Lowe's electric Brinkman.

Separate bottom with a heater element. Can pull the top off to add chips and muck with things, that's a great feature. Only thing I don't love about it is no thermostat. Only an "on" setting, and that's when it's plugged in - it's ON.

I've smoked a number of pork butts and beer can chicken. I may be a noob, but for my needs, this things ROCKs for the $70 or so I spent on it.

I've made meals for 6 on it with NO problems and don't see any need for anything larger unless you're catering parties of 10+ on the regular. Last time I had it, I made pastrami (smoked brisket), 2 full chickens, and a 5# pork butt with no problems. Just had to plan around moving things because each item took just a little different time.

Might want to check with Brinkmans website. I heard there are mass recalls for a number of their grilles and smokers. I think most of them are the fuel based products but might be worth checking into.

 

[humann_brewing]

been smoking on my traeger for a few weeks now a love it

 

[buffalobrewer]

I know this thread is past it's prime and settled, but I tell you what - I absolutely LOVE my cheapo Lowe's electric Brinkman.

Separate bottom with a heater element. Can pull the top off to add chips and muck with things, that's a great feature. Only thing I don't love about it is no thermostat. Only an "on" setting, and that's when it's plugged in - it's ON.

I've smoked a number of pork butts and beer can chicken. I may be a noob, but for my needs, this things ROCKs for the $70 or so I spent on it.

I've made meals for 6 on it with NO problems and don't see any need for anything larger unless you're catering parties of 10+ on the regular. Last time I had it, I made pastrami (smoked brisket), 2 full chickens, and a 5# pork butt with no problems. Just had to plan around moving things because each item took just a little different time.

can you add a johnson controller to it to control the temp?

 

[MTtoAZ]

SmokinTex is the best thing I have used and I've tried quite a few. I have a 1400 series and the thing is absolutely amazing! You really have to work hard to mess things up in it and everything I have cooked in it comes out perfect!

I went with the 1400 after months and months of research. Glad I did.

 

[jezter6]

can you add a johnson controller to it to control the temp?

Dunno, do johnson controller's go that high???

In any case, I think it does the perfect job at self regulating temps. I don't monitor them, so I don't know for sure, but my cooking times are right on for planned at or around the ~200-225F mark and it never seems to burn anything as long as there's water in the resevoir.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Old thread by to the PO, can we get pics of the UDSs? I'm building mine now.

 

[lschiavo]

Old thread by to the PO, can we get pics of the UDSs? I'm building mine now.

I have all the parts ready to go but havent yet found the time to put it all together.

I was basically planning to follow this build:

http://www.thepickledpig.com/forums...-our-uds-cooker-how-build-one-part-1-a-3.html

My buddy was able to fab up some of the charcoal baskets. I plan to use two cooking grates with a webber top for extra capacity. I will post some pics someday

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

And then spend the equivalent of a UDS to modify it to work better.

The hardest part of building a UDS is sourcing the barrel. And the irony is, that after you have found it and fit it, you'll find barrels EVERYWHERE.

Where did you find your barrels? Im in OKC and wanting to build a double drum smoker... I dont know anyone in town in the food manufacturing biz to source a empty food grade 55 gal drum or 2.

Thanks!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Where did you find your barrels? Im in OKC and wanting to build a double drum smoker... I dont know anyone in town in the food manufacturing biz to source a empty food grade 55 gal drum or 2.

Thanks!

I sourced mine from a seed and feed just outside city limits.

Later, I found another at a construction site. Perfect condition, Open head barrell. Held mineral oil. I think they were using it as a form oil or something. Offered to buy it but they just gave it to me.

You just have to look around. Try some chemical supply co's too. So long as it didn;t hold something terribly toxic, I am not convinced "Food Grade" is all that important since your gonna burn the hell out of it anyway.

 

[dataz722]

Most larger cities and especially areas that have a lot of industry around them have companies that deal with just drums. Its sometimes take a lot of searching and calling to find them but they should be around. I found one about 15 minutes from me. I got a completely refurbished unlined drum for $22.

 

[CrankyOldLibrarian]

I know this thread is past it's prime and settled, but I tell you what - I absolutely LOVE my cheapo Lowe's electric Brinkman.

Separate bottom with a heater element. Can pull the top off to add chips and muck with things, that's a great feature. Only thing I don't love about it is no thermostat. Only an "on" setting, and that's when it's plugged in - it's ON.

I've smoked a number of pork butts and beer can chicken. I may be a noob, but for my needs, this things ROCKs for the $70 or so I spent on it.

I've made meals for 6 on it with NO problems and don't see any need for anything larger unless you're catering parties of 10+ on the regular. Last time I had it, I made pastrami (smoked brisket), 2 full chickens, and a 5# pork butt with no problems. Just had to plan around moving things because each item took just a little different time.

I picked up a Brinkman a few years ago. It was the price that got me. I just smoked a 15lbs turkey on it. It took 16 hours! It was worth it. Pretty damn good!

Get a cheap food thermometer, drill a small hole in the top of the lid, and you now know the temp. As long as the hole is the same size as the thermometer. If you notice that some smoke is escaping, just put a little tin foil around the hole, and you should be set.

The only problem that I've noticed with the Brinkman is that it's a bit underpowered. Temp rarely gets to the ideal 225 and you can't really control it if the food requires different temps.

The nice thing is that you can always convert it for charcoal if you want:

http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=333445&sid=68d70c80b7317c9e18a184587dd35c22

My main complaint with my Brinkman is that it is hard to get the Thin Blue Smoke. I've been thinking of making something like the Smoke Daddy to put on the side of mine (and also to use for cold smoking);

http://www.smokedaddyinc.com/

 

[humann_brewing]

Old thread by to the PO, can we get pics of the UDSs? I'm building mine now.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Thanks humann :Rolleyes:. I know what they can look like. I was curious to how his turned out.

 

[Pat_13]

I am loving my UDS, very easy to cook on, steady temps. Here is mine in action, pork ribs.

At 3 hours, added foil nothing else:

At 5 hours, taking the foil off

Added some corn

Done, a couple left

 

[lschiavo]

I am loving my UDS, very easy to cook on, steady temps. Here is mine in action, pork ribs.

At 3 hours, added foil nothing else:

At 5 hours, taking the foil off

Added some corn

Done, a couple left

Wow those look amazing. I need to get mine done. My buddy had to have his appendix removed of all things so that set us back on this project.

 

[Aubie Stout]

BGE. No question.

 

[lschiavo]

Had a few beers around the barrel fires last night. One for me, my brother and two buddies. These will be done for deer season at the latest!

 

[Fusorfodder]

Being in an apartment, electric was my only option. I picked up one of the Masterbuilt digital smokers from Sam's and it's been great. Good capacity and it keeps temps real stable. You don't need to open the door to add chips which is nice. It smokes better with the vent all the way open, but you need to add chips a bit often when you do. A cold smoke addition can take care of that though. I wish I could do charcoal, but if you're looking at electric, the Masterbuilt is a pretty good choice.

 

[lschiavo]

Finally, they are ready to test. When everything is working good, I plan to clean up and paint. The charcoal baskets are a little overkill...I think they will outlast the barrels easily. Now I just need to find a weber lid and I'll be cookin'.

I was thinking of getting one of these covers eventually. I cant find dimensions for this one. Anyone know a specific cover that fits good? Looks like this one might be a little short.

 

[Hugh_Jass]

So ugly, it's pretty:rockin:

Well done!

 

[mmb]

BGE. No question.

The question is which internal organ you need to sell to afford one.