Water Smoker

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jhuyser

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Hello new to the site but loving it.. What would all of you recommend for "best bang for the buck" when it comes to a water smoker? Or possible insulated one?
 
jhuyser said:
Hello new to the site but loving it.. What would all of you recommend for "best bang for the buck" when it comes to a water smoker? Or possible insulated one?
Click to expand...

Without knowing your budget or intent of use ( comp, catering, backyard)..

I use mine dry but overall "bang for buck" I think you'll hear Weber Smokey Mountain come up quite a bit. $300 and a water smoker that just flat out cooks.
 
Welcome to the site.

Hard to go wrong with a Weber Smokey Mountain. Lots of folks here get terrific results with theirs. Weber makes them in two sizes (big and bigger) and you can easily duplicate the design using a Smokey Joe to create a mini-WSM.

DSC_5940-PP.JPG
 
Would like to do some competitions possibly some day. Alread have a brinkman offset firebox smoker. Looking for something that i can use for smoking in the winter's here in iowa. Takes a lot of fuel to keep the brinkman going at 15 degree weather :)
 
The WSMs have a lot of bang for the buck. If you decide to go that route, I highly recommended getting the larger one (22").


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As you can see in HankB's photo, WSMs can chug along very well even in low temps. BBQGuru makes an insulated cover for the WSMs.

If you have your heart set on insulated, and might do some competitions, definitely find a way to get a look at Backwoods. I went from the WSM to the BWS Party, and absolutely love it.


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best bang for the buck is definitely the WSM. I love mine. As for insulated, I prefer stumps but that is not a water cooker. Though you can just put a water pan in the chamber to add humidity.
 
On the insulated side there are a lot of good choices. Since you are in Iowa take a look at the Spicewine smokers built in Columbia, MO. You can drive down there and pick it up when it is ready and save a lot on shipping.

Backwoods also makes some very good insulated smokers and there are a few Backwoods dealers who are members here. Check out the Brethren Ventures section for them.

There are lots of others, Stumps, Superior, Assassin and others.

There is an Assassin for sale by a member in NC in our General For Sale section...

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151118

There is also a member selling a beautiful home built Stumps clone, but it is in California...

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151357
 
Who generally has the best deals on the Smokey mountain? Also have any of you experimented with putting temp control system on one of these? if so what brand and style of controls?
 
jhuyser said:
Who generally has the best deals on the Smokey mountain? Also have any of you experimented with putting temp control system on one of these? if so what brand and style of controls?
Click to expand...

Price is pretty much standardized across the US. Except for that crazy period last year when they went on some sale for some reason for like $49.00.

Because they are quite prominent on the competition circuit, most all systems have a WSM adapter.
 
Anyone have any good ideas on how to make a brinkman offset firebox smoker more air tight?
 
jhuyser said:
what did you put around the doors to seal them?
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Red atv high temp silicone as well. You put the silicone on and then either spray it with non stick cooking spray or use wax paper over it to prevent the doors from sticking together. Close the doors and let it sit for 24 hours. Makes an airtight seal fairly easily.
 
thanks. i assume you just put the caulk on one side and when you shut it with the wax paper it spreads itsself out in order to fill the low areas in the seal?
 
jhuyser said:
thanks. i assume you just put the caulk on one side and when you shut it with the wax paper it spreads itsself out in order to fill the low areas in the seal?
Click to expand...

Yes. Also make sure the bead of sealant you use is large enough, on mine I needed a fairly large amount in a couple of places as the gaps were quite large.
 
It is imposible to beat the MJH cooker from Backyard Bomber when your looking at a Backwoods Style Insulated cooker. 10-15 Hr burns and insulated all the way around.
Plus their made close to you in Mn.

D9AA2731-5BA7-449B-A5B8-CA1A51962FFB-3067-000001AAD544EE15.jpg
 
Best bang for the buck is the WSM.

Another good option would be an ugly drum with an added water pan. Would also give you the option to take the water pan out and cook straight over the coals.
 
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