thinking about a small, horizontal offset

ButtBurner

ButtBurner

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Hey gang

I would like try my hand at a offset. I dont know why lol

I dont need anything big. And I do have a small budget for this, I have 3 other smokers as it is. I have modded Bradly (boring) and 2 WSM clones. I might end up selling the Bradley at some point.

While at Lowes looking for other stuff I saw they have a Ok Joe that seems to be built pretty hefty. Its $400, a little more than I want to spend but can live with that. $300 is more in my price range.

The only thing is its too big. Its just the wife and me (we are empty nesters) and only entertain once in a while. I think it would be a waste to do 1 slab of ribs on a cooker this size

All I need is the space to do a few slabs of ribs or 2 butts max with this unit. Usually I just do 1 slab or one butt at a time

So what I am looking for is a small cooker of decent quality that wont set me back too much. I have been looking at used but all I have found is junk, I am in no hurry with this so I can just keep looking

any ideas on a cooker like this?

thanks
 
They're about 18.5 diameter. So, enough for a couple buts or slabs of ribs. They're insulated so they don't use much fuel and you can really crank the heat. That adds versatility to your "fleet". They make great pizzas. And, they're about $300
 
MaximumJEFF said:
They're about 18.5 diameter. So, enough for a couple buts or slabs of ribs. They're insulated so they don't use much fuel and you can really crank the heat. That adds versatility to your "fleet". They make great pizzas. And, they're about $300
Click to expand...

thats what my WSM clones are for.

I can do pizza on my Weber kettle
 
$300-400 isn't much for an offset. The OK Joe is probably your best bet for a new smoker in that range. If you're not in a hurry watch Craig's List for a while and you might find a deal on a used one that is better quality.
 
Unfortunately an offset for that price is not going to be of great quality. This is made by charbroil and I believe they are made in China now. I would surmise that the emphasis on quality has been lost, but that's my personal opinion.

Most well built offsets will be larger and will probably use reverse-flow in an effort to keep the cooking chamber more evenly heated and a more uniform application of smoke.

Check Craig's List for used offsets, that way you will not feel disappointed because of what you spent on a cheap offset. However some of these can be modified to perform very well if you have the time and ability to do the work on the smoker.

Bottom line is search and look at what a good horizontal smoker is priced at, then compare it to the Charbroil OK Joe. You will see that you get what you pay for.

Try building a UDS if the budget and you space is limited. Surprisingly enough these produce some great BBQ food items.

.
 
Look at the pictures. It is sitting on a patio table. The gas tank is one of those coleman camp stove bottles. The smoking chamber is 6"x13"
 
IamMadMan said:
Unfortunately an offset for that price is not going to be of great quality. This is made by charbroil and I believe they are made in China now. I would surmise that the emphasis on quality has been lost, but that's my personal opinion.

Most well built offsets will be larger and will probably use reverse-flow in an effort to keep the cooking chamber more evenly heated and a more uniform application of smoke.

Check Craig's List for used offsets, that way you will not feel disappointed because of what you spent on a cheap offset. However some of these can be modified to perform very well if you have the time and ability to do the work on the smoker.

Bottom line is search and look at what a good horizontal smoker is priced at, then compare it to the Charbroil OK Joe. You will see that you get what you pay for.

Try building a UDS if the budget and you space is limited. Surprisingly enough these produce some great BBQ food items.

.
Click to expand...

actually just because its made in China doesnt mean anything anymore. Some Weber stuff is made in China. My 2 WSM clones are made in China, they are very nice cookers.

I did not look real close at the OK, just because its too big for me

I think the best thing is just to stay away from the grill dept when I visit Lowes LOL

I will just keep an eye on CL and see if anything pops up.

I was wondering if anyone knew of anything that I was not aware of

thanks
 
Diamond In The Rough

Hey Brother I was in your same spot. What I did was waited it out on Craig's List and found this Diamond in the Rough. It is a New Braufels Silver Smoker, I paid $70 for it and put about another $70 in refurbishing and mods. And It has put out some really good Que.
 

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Mi dos pesos. Watch your's and surrounding towns for a quality offset that needs rescuing. Offsets seem to get listed frequently. Some quality units that are just ugly from sitting outside. Bring it back to life with elbow grease. Use quality materials in your restoration project. You will be quite happier with a frugally restored quality offset than a cheaply constructed cost anything.
 
For 300.00 your not going to find quality but it will satisfy your hunger for more effort as pits in that price range are fuel hungry beasts. I have Looked at the new Ok Joe several times and the quality did not impress me poor welding ad a very drafty fire box that would cost as much as the unit to fix properly.
For less than 200 you can get a CharGriller Outlaw and for the cost of 8' of 1" angle iron a piece of 12X24 expanded metal and a had full of machine screws have a pretty decent little offset that is pretty efficient mine uses 1 split every 45 min running between 275-300 deg.
 
Just a warning that a cheap offset in Michigan is going to mean a short BBQ season. Trying to keep those at cooking temps in cold weather is a LOT of work. I'm in Maryland and I quit using mine come late October. Just something to consider.
 
ButtBurner said:
actually just because its made in China doesnt mean anything anymore. Some Weber stuff is made in China. My 2 WSM clones are made in China, they are very nice cookers.

I did not look real close at the OK, just because its too big for me

I think the best thing is just to stay away from the grill dept when I visit Lowes LOL

I will just keep an eye on CL and see if anything pops up.

I was wondering if anyone knew of anything that I was not aware of

thanks
Click to expand...
What I can be sure is that air inlet of BGE is made in China too.
I think that none believes BGE is second
 
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