A money question

[Neonnblack]

Im glad im not alone.

[BoDean]

Just a lid for my UDS. Most of the rest came VERY cheep.

[DownHomeQue]

My offset was supposed to be 500 bucks and a couple weekends worth of work. matter of fact it wasn't supposed a smoker at all at first.. but me and my dad kept adding and adding.. and 2500 dollars and 5 months later ... its a smoker.. lol.. it happens.. its better to build what you want instead of trying to change it later.. even if that means breaking the bank in the short term.. you have what you want in the end. and you are more proud of it because you build it with your own hands..

[TheJackal]

wife: "What do you want for Father's Day?"
me: "Don't worry about it. I bought myself something."
wife: "Whad'ya buy a new smoker?"
me:
wife:

[SmokinJohn]

Originally Posted by Neonnblack

This is mostly a UDS question, but other smokers absolutely apply. How many of you built/bought your smoker for a good price, and slowly added add ons to it, to realize down the road you have spent a lot more money on this than you ever expected?

Example, my UDS cost me about 80 bucks to build. Then i needed a bigger basket, then i needed different venting system, then i needed another venting system, then i needed a table on it, then i needed a weber lid, then i wanted to paint it, etc.

All of this has happened over about 2 months. I jsut kept saying, oh its only gonna be 15 bucks to add the table, oh im good found a weber lid on CL for cheap, and this and that. Then i added it up (something i shouldnt have done, and suggest you dont do) and realized im up to like 200 bucks. Where did this money even come from!!!!

Is this a common occurrence for you guys also?

No....cough..cough....Yes....but it happens with most anything you buy.

You buy a DSLR camera. You need an external flash. You need close-up and tele lenses. You need bigger SD cards. BOOM! Money is gone.

You buy/build any rig. You add grates, lids, ATCs, baskets, etc. BOOM! Money is gone.

You start with chicken thighs, you move up to ABTs, fatties, ribs, bellies, tri-tips, chuckies, butts, and finally.....brisket. BOOM! Money is gone.

Just tell your other half to enjoy the fruits of your smoking labor.

[Smoothsmoke]

I went from

el cheap-o brinkman offset -> weber kettles -> WSM's -> big green egg -> kamado joe

Only ones I've kept are the kettles and kamado joe. I'm thinking of adding a well built offset to the collection, of course well in the future. As well as build a in ground santa maria grill that can dub as a fire pit for entertaining.

One can never have too many toys.

Wife dont complain much anymore. She eats well.

[samfsu]

Originally Posted by Basted moral support guy

Here it is, dirty, mid cook, and showing off the part I forgot to paint.

Looks like you got a little anal leakage there.....

[Basted moral support guy]

Originally Posted by samfsu

Looks like you got a little anal leakage there.....

Indeed I do.

[chriscw81]

Originally Posted by Neonnblack

This is mostly a UDS question, but other smokers absolutely apply. How many of you built/bought your smoker for a good price, and slowly added add ons to it, to realize down the road you have spent a lot more money on this than you ever expected?

Example, my UDS cost me about 80 bucks to build. Then i needed a bigger basket, then i needed different venting system, then i needed another venting system, then i needed a table on it, then i needed a weber lid, then i wanted to paint it, etc.

All of this has happened over about 2 months. I jsut kept saying, oh its only gonna be 15 bucks to add the table, oh im good found a weber lid on CL for cheap, and this and that. Then i added it up (something i shouldnt have done, and suggest you dont do) and realized im up to like 200 bucks. Where did this money even come from!!!!

Is this a common occurrence for you guys also?

look at it this way:

you couldn't walk in any store with $200 and come out with a smoker like the UDS!!! i've been slacking on finishing mine and recently i've gotten back on it. i dont have much free time but i'll eventually get it done

[batannah]

here a $20 there a $20 every where a $20 $20. Old McDonald Built a smoker..... But now the pigs and cows are making sizzling sounds!!!

[BigBellyBBQ]

my wife claims I coo--coo-...and I had to agree...I only have 16 cooker / grills / smokers and no one should be deprived and have less than 20.....
you wouldn't own a truck without 35's on it would you?

[vafish]

Yep,

Started with a free drum that didn't have a lid, then I bought a drum, made a flat top uds with one shelf and fridge magnets for vents, then my son wanted one so we burned out the barrel, then we found a weber on cl, but it was too nice, so we bought another weber on cl, then I put one ball valve and 2 capped pipe nipples, then I decided I wanted 3 ball valves.

So my one uds from a free drum that was going to cost me only $50 turned into 2 uds and 3 weber kettles, with probably a total of $300-$400.

Buy I don't feel bad.

I have a buddy that wanted to build an offset smoker. Told his wife he was going to spend $700. $7,000 later and still adding to it he has a very nice BBQ trailer.

[Goddahavit]

Sigh, its a ugly downward spiral here..

Started with a:
WSM, then a Stumps stretch, then a PR60 pig cooker, then a bubba keg, then a trailer for these new competition things we are doing, that led to thousands more, then on to a toy hauler, sigh, now add backwoods, hasnt stopped yet, i keep thinking i have everything i need and i keep finding more i need....

Great food, fun on the weekends with great new friends, and time with my family, I am one lucky sob...

I have one understanding wife...

[bigbeef24]

You get more than you put into it! Its the gift that keeps giving.

[NickyG]

I have to agree. First the WSM--Guru--Weber Grill--Backwoods Gater--(Scared to see what's next!). My wife does feed my addiction though. Anytime she sees a smoker or grill for sale she ask if I need it!