Which charcoal smoker do you have?

[NeoBrew]

Or to put someone in place for indirect heat and has made it more versatile.

Um, I don't think you should be using people as a heat shield.

 

[Transamguy77]

Um, I don't think you should be using people as a heat shield.

Hahahahaha! That’s what I get for drinking and posting!!

 

[ITV]

Another vote for the 18" WSM. It does a better job smoking then my ceramic Vision grill. The WSM holds temps very stable and the porcelin coating makes it lasts for many years. WIth rib racks I don't find it to be too small.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Another vote for the 18" WSM. It does a better job smoking then my ceramic Vision grill. The WSM holds temps very stable and the porcelin coating makes it lasts for many years. WIth rib racks I don't find it to be too small.

What about the Vision makes it harder than a WSM? I would think it should hold temp better than the WSM...

 

[ITV]

What about the Vision makes it harder than a WSM? I would think it should hold temp better than the WSM...

The advantages I like the WSM over the Vision is that the meat is moisture, possibly due to the water pan.
Smoking temps are easier to hold, with Vision if I crank the vents down to almost close I can hold smoking temps but the Vision is better at higher temps.
Larger distance between grates with the WSM.
Easier to add fuel if you need to.

I use my WSM under the overhang of my shed so I don't have to deal with windy conditions or rain/snow.

The VIsion is great at very cold temp cooks, I have done a turkey at 0 deg. F, burned a little bit more lump then normal but it held temps great.

 

[Ridenour64]

I have an Oklahoma joes side smoker and I hate it for smoking. Great for grilling though and very heavy duty. It’s either not hot enough, or too hot. I feel like the heat doesn’t transfer to the main compartment very well. Open the vent a little more and before you know if there’s a flame, too much heat, and no smoke.

I want this, but feel like I wouldn’t use it enough to justify.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pit-Boss-Pit-Boss-Pro-Series-1322-sq-in-Mahogany-Pellet-Smoker/1000601259

 

[OG-wan Kenobi]

I have been strongly considering the Masterbuilt 560 you can smoke with it and than crank it up as high as 700 degrees and grill or make pizza's, it's a gravity fed charcoal grill so there is no auger to fail. The Youtube videos I have seen have been very positive about the grill. Basically it's a charcoal grill that operates like a pellet grill you can set it and forget it fans maintain the temps

https://www.masterbuilt.com/collect...ity-series™-560-digital-charcoal-grill-smoker

 

[GBRbrew]

I have the pit barrel cooker, been using it for a few years now and it works great heres a pic of the pastrami I made this weekend

 

[_BullDog_]

18” WSM... have cooked for 20+ on it and don’t feel bad firing it up for just the family either

 

[stealthfixr]

Used to have WSMs but converted to a Kamado about three years ago.

In my experience, the Kamado/BigGreenEgg smokers are far superior in dealing with wind, outside cold temps, maintaining inside temperature stability and produce a better BBQ result. I bought a Grilla Grills Kong with a BBQ Guru DigiQ temperature controller and the combo locks in temperature perfectly. Charcoal lasts longer than the highest duration sessions I have done, which was 16 hours @ 220F, without adding any. Probably use my Grilla Grills Kong about 3-4 times a week and it is holding very, very well. Highly recommended.

 

[kestrelbrewing]

I have the smaller version of this. Have had it for about 3 years now and it's solid. If I had it to do over again, I'd get this one. The little one is great until Thanksgiving rolls around and you want to smoke a 20lb turkey.

https://www.smoke-hollow.com/collections/combo-grills/products/model-6500-combo-gas-charcoal-grill

 

[Chetbrews]

I recently purchased the Barrel House Cooker. It's the same as the Pit Barrel Cooker (I think they are both owned by the same company), but you can lift the barrel off the base for easy access to add more charcoal. Fairly new to the BBQ game and I have to say I really enjoy being able to set it up and walk away from it as it holds a pretty consistent temp. I think mine was around $300.

 

[cfrazier77]

I have a Humphreys insulated verticle and it is amazing. I cook for my church on it all the time. They hold temp rock steady. The are more than $400, but so are big green eggs.
https://www.humphreysbbq.com/

 

[Knightshade]

I just got a KJ Classic II a couple of weeks ago. Had a variety of smaller weber charcoal grills earlier in life, but have been all gas for the past 15 years or so. Have put it through 3 L&S cooks so far, and definitely still getting the hang of setting/maintaining temp. Extra time spent setting up, cooking, etc., has been well worth the end result. Really digging it so far.

 

[OG-wan Kenobi]

The last 2 or 3 months I have been torn between the Masterbuilt 560, WSM and the PBC so of course I just made the only logical decision (it was time to just pull the trigger enough with endless hours of research)

Went with a Kamado Joe Classic, now if I could only get my kids to help me get it off my truck

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

The last 2 or 3 months I have been torn between the Masterbuilt 560, WSM and the PBC so of course I just made the only logical decision (it was time to just pull the trigger enough with endless hours of research)

View attachment 696808

Went with a Kamado Joe Classic, now if I could only get my kids to help me get it off my truck

Congrats! I'm sure you'll love it!

I'd consider helping you get it off the truck in exchange for a steak if you weren't 3000 miles away lol...

 

[Bigdaddyale]

18 WSM minion method and my weber kettle with the snake method. Brisket and pork butt is all I ever cook on the WSM with ribs on the kettle. I started to build a DIY Heatermeter but decided I really don't need it 3/4 of the way. I'm not that serious about maintaining tempts and living in SoCal it's not that difficult to hold steady tempts in the WSM

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Kamado. I've had it for about 4 years as a learner's set. Happy. First time opening the charcoal. Impressed

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Kamado. I've had it for about 4 years as a learner's set. Happy. First time opening the charcoal. Impressed

I really dig the charcoal. If you can catch it on the Costco roadshow, it's a good deal. I also really like the Primo charcoal (at least the last time I tried it) but it's a much bigger price tag.

I got a bunch of the Royal Oak once on a big sale, and I was not impressed.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Yea. That torn up bag is the Royal oak I think. I picked that bag up at BJs for like $18. Well worth it. Got another bag waiting in the garage. I may pick up more. There's an orchard close by selling apple wood. Good friends with that dude. I'll take whatever he gets

 

[jim_CdY]

We have the Big Green Egg and really enjoy it, a true test of a new smoker is to place a dollar bill under the closed lid. It should come out with resistance. If it slides out with no resistance it will leak air and be more difficult to control. That is a big reason we selected the BGE, all that said I have a RecReq pellet smoker that we really love, we do all the smoking on it, set and forget.

 

[LokiM4]

I just use my 22” Weber kettle grill and lay out my charcoal and wood based on the (Weber/Kingsford) snake or fuse method.

Doing a brisket today with it actually, started the charcoal at 4am and it’s been running steadily since between 240-260F, it’s a great method that does not require a dedicated smoker. I did a pork butt about a month ago and it turned out amazing.

 

[ITV]

The last 2 or 3 months I have been torn between the Masterbuilt 560, WSM and the PBC so of course I just made the only logical decision (it was time to just pull the trigger enough with endless hours of research)

View attachment 696808

Went with a Kamado Joe Classic, now if I could only get my kids to help me get it off my truck

Great choices, I like the Kamado Joe Lump, stay away from Cowboy lump which throws sparks and the bag is about 1/4 dust. The Kamado Joe Classic would have been my choice of ceramic grills if price was no object.

 

[DarrellQ]

I have the smaller version of this. Have had it for about 3 years now and it's solid. If I had it to do over again, I'd get this one. The little one is great until Thanksgiving rolls around and you want to smoke a 20lb turkey.

https://www.smoke-hollow.com/collections/combo-grills/products/model-6500-combo-gas-charcoal-grill

Looks good, does the gas fire the charcoal?

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

We have the Big Green Egg and really enjoy it, a true test of a new smoker is to place a dollar bill under the closed lid. It should come out with resistance. If it slides out with no resistance it will leak air and be more difficult to control. That is a big reason we selected the BGE, all that said I have a RecReq pellet smoker that we really love, we do all the smoking on it, set and forget.

I recently inherited a Traeger. Normally I use the Kamado Joe for all smoking tasks, but I might have to give it a shot just for set @ forget.

 

[bmullins393]

I have this Akorn among many others.

I placed twice in major competitions with it. It's not quite as forgiving as a green egg but close enough at $300. I can get 7-8 hours at 225 without touching it.

I have this grill as well, and I love it! There was a bit of a learning curve going from the Barrell style, but it didn't take long and now it is amazing . I cook with it, grill, smoke and bake and everything comes out delicious!

 

[BQ&W]

I have a Weber kettle (Master Touch) and a Pit Barrel Cooker. The PBC is definetely my go-to for smoking.

 

[MikeCo]

Just bought a Kamado Joe Classic II in July when Costco had a deal on them. I'm still new to it and meat smoking in general, but so far I love it. Have made some great pulled pork and ribs. I love the versatility of the grill for smoking as well as other grilling, pizza making, baking etc. I look forward to learning and doing those other things.

 

[Edward's Beer Cellar]

WSM 18" (butt, brisket, chicken), Weber Kettle (grilling), Smokey Mtn Propane (jerky, bacon, sausage) - and I'm shopping for a gas grill for quick cooks.

I have the smaller version of this. Have had it for about 3 years now and it's solid. If I had it to do over again, I'd get this one. The little one is great until Thanksgiving rolls around and you want to smoke a 20lb turkey.

https://www.smoke-hollow.com/collections/combo-grills/products/model-6500-combo-gas-charcoal-grill

This one interests me. I converted a cheap offset many years ago trying to combine functions. I'm curious how well constructed it is though at that price point.

 

[mike neff]

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