Newbie has questions about Smokers

[CrackerJack from KC]

I have been smoking Briskets, Turkeys, and Jerky for years on my 2 cheapo Brinkmann electric smokers. They work great, but I have never cooked in a smoke ring, and I am ready to get in tune with the Piromaniac inside of me.

So I have been lurking here for a while and I have a few questions.

My 1st question is does every smoker need to be modified out of the box?
Does the U in UDS reallys stand for Ugly?
Should I look at Banderas, Offsets, or just default to a WSM?
Is there a difference between a Bandera and a SKD?
Should I buy new, or try to get a deal on a higher end used one?
PS, my budget is $300.
Are there ever any deals on smokers in KC?

I am sure these questions have been answered before, but I figure this is why the forum is here to help out newbies like me.

[NotleyQue]

Build yourself a UDS. For less than 50 bucks you can have yourself a serious kick ass smoker. Plus the build it yourself factor is really awsome.

[smooookin]

The smoker you decide on is kinda based on what do you want to do with it. You mentioned a WSM, 250 bucks would build you enough UDS's to cook for a neighborhood. They are pretty much set it and forget it and the Q is fantastic. I gotta warn ya, once you go drum you may not go back. LOL My offset is in the backyard looking like the old dog ya couldn't house break.

[Contracted Cookers]

w.s.m great cooker you could also build a couple of drums . for a lot less. not sure what a briscuits is. if you need any help with the u.d.s just keep posting. alot of help out there for that cooker

[SmokinCoyote]

Originally Posted by CrackerJack from KC

Should I look at Banderas, Offsets, or just default to a WSM?
PS, my budget is $300.

It depends on what you want to do. Are you just wanting a nice little smoker for the backyard and that's all or are you wanting to eventually move up to maybe doing some local cookoffs. Do you want a set it and forget it smoker or do you want to have one to mess with. The first smoker I had was a little store bought offset. It was a great tool for learning fire control, draft, hot spots and cold spots, fun to play with by modifying different things to see what it will do witch will help you if you ever get a bigger one for cookoffs and such. You can learn alot with one of these. I am glad I had an offset as a first smoker just for the knowledge I got from it.

If you want a set it and forget type a WSM is wonderful for your price range. I cooked a ham on mine tonight. Dump briquets and some wood chunks in it and forget about it. If you have access to a drum the Ugly Drum Smoker seems to be a hot item here lately. I am in the process of trying to find a drum now just because "I just got to have one now".

[CrackerJack from KC]

My issues with building a UDS is that I once built a Cyclone Dust Collector (for my other hobby woodworking), and althought it works great, I would not wish that level of effort on anyone.

I noticed that a lot of WSM owners built a UDS, so my next question is other than the price and the fact you made it yourself, what are the advantages of the performance of a UDS? and is there anyone that ever built a UDS that said they wouldn't do it again?

[smooookin]

If you followed the thread about the XXL UDS, I built that in less than a full day. A regular UDS just takes a few hours and minimal tools. Besides, If you decide to do one, I know an avid woodworker that would be willing to help out. :D

[Azinine]

WSMs are awesome. You won't regret the $200 spent.

[NotleyQue]

UDS do not take more than an afternoon and a half to build, a full day at the most. Not much effort at all. I actually spent more actual time locating a drum. Once I had the drum, it was done in a matter of hours (an hour every couple days, and a Saturday morning).

The reason I like it better than the WSM already is cooking space. You run out of room real quick on a WSM. I LOVE my 2 WSMs, dont get me wrong. I will cook on my WSMs at comps probably more than I will on my UDS, but I can get way more meat into my UDS than I can on WSMs 18.5 inch grills

Originally Posted by CrackerJack from KC

My issues with building a UDS is that I once built a Cyclone Dust Collector (for my other hobby woodworking), and althought it works great, I would not wish that level of effort on anyone.

I noticed that a lot of WSM owners built a UDS, so my next question is other than the price and the fact you made it yourself, what are the advantages of the performance of a UDS? and is there anyone that ever built a UDS that said they wouldn't do it again?

[DaChief]

I agree that a lot depend on how much you intend to cook at a time. I love my WSM but only cook for family and small parties. If you want to cook more at a time, then the UDS has more capacity. Both are pretty consistent with being able to walk away and not closely monitor

[CritterCook]

[quote=NotleyQue;538648]UDS do not take more than an afternoon and a half to build, a full day at the most. Not much effort at all. I actually spent more actual time locating a drum. Once I had the drum, it was done in a matter of hours (an hour every couple days, and a Saturday morning).

I agree. It took me a friday night to put mine together. I have five different smokers to cook on and I use the UDS by far the most. Don't know if I'll use it for comps or not, but for home use it can't get any simpler.

[Spydermike72]

If you just want to buy a smoker and use it, the WSM is the way to go. If you want to make something yourself, I would say the UDS is the way to go. Again it depends on what you are trying to do as well, backyard or comp or both. You will not regret buying a WSM no matter which way you decide.

[Nitrofly]

I wish my first smoker was a WSM
you will have a ball. be carefull.
BBQ is very habit forming.
have fun.

[tonto1117]

I would also say WSM is the way to go. ready to rock and roll right out of the box.

[Markbb]

Get the WSM first and then if you feel like building a UDS go for it but you can start cooking as soon as you get the WSM home...