1st Cook on the Assassin w/ video - Page 2

stephan · 07-22-2013, 08:34 AM

Nice video and smoker.

Nutz4bbq · 07-22-2013, 04:13 PM

Great looking smoker... had some folks at bbq festivals tell me it was a great smoker and easy to use... Enjoy!!

BRBBQ · 07-22-2013, 05:42 PM

Looks nice

K5TAM · 07-22-2013, 06:06 PM

Very nice smoker! Thanks for the video

Ron_L · 07-22-2013, 08:45 PM

Nice job on the video and nice looking smoker. I am curious about the rack spacing. The picture on the Assassin web site looks like the shelves are evenly spaced. Did you have them put in with the different spacing for a reason?

mep · 07-22-2013, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

Nice job on the video and nice looking smoker. I am curious about the rack spacing. The picture on the Assassin web site looks like the shelves are evenly spaced. Did you have them put in with the different spacing for a reason?

The spacing on that I mentioned is the standard way the smoker is built. When I was first investigating the Assassin, I got this information from Jeff Connelly, the builder. His idea is that this gives you options with the minimum being 4". On the larger Assassin 28 all the shelves have 6" spacing.

Ron_L · 07-22-2013, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mep

The spacing on that I mentioned is the standard way the smoker is built. When I was first investigating the Assassin, I got this information from Jeff Connelly, the builder. His idea is that this gives you options with the minimum being 4". On the larger Assassin 28 all the shelves have 6" spacing.

Interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It limits where taller cuts like a big butt or a brisket with a large point can be in the smoker.

mep · 07-22-2013, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

Interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It limits where taller cuts like a big butt or a brisket with a large point can be in the smoker.

I don't see how it is too much of a problem. When compaing to other similar smokers it is pretty standard. On the Stumps most of the spacing is 3.5"; the Rebel is 3.5"; the Superior is 5.5"; the Pitmaker Safe 4.5"; Backwoods Party 4". So, I think that you can see that having a 4", 4.5", 5" and 5.5" does give some options.

Ron_L · 07-22-2013, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mep

I don't see how it is too much of a problem. When compaing to other similar smokers it is pretty standard. On the Stumps most of the spacing is 3.5"; the Rebel is 3.5"; the Superior is 5.5"; the Pitmaker Safe 4.5"; Backwoods Party 4". So, I think that you can see that having a 4", 4.5", 5" and 5.5" does give some options.

I don't like the spacing on those, either

(except the Superior) I cooked on a Rebel 23 this past weekend and if I used one for competitions I would only use three shelves. I would leave out the second shelf down, and not use the bottom shelf. On my Party I had the rails built for 4 equally spaced shelves. 4" or 4.5" just isn't enough clearance for big butts without taking off some rub, so with the stock spacing butts would go on the third shelf down or the bottom shelf. The same would be true for a big brisket. We had one on Saturday that wouldn't fit in the 3.5" shelf spacing on the Rebel, and from looking at it it would have been very tight at 4.5"

I like the equal 6" spacing on the Assassin 28 much better, but the weight would be an issue.

I'm still impressed by your Assassin. It's just that my primary use is for competitions and the tighter spacing on the top two shelves would be limiting for me. I'm sure that Jeff could do one with four equally spaced shelves, or even with one less shelf if asked.

mep · 07-22-2013, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

I don't like the spacing on those, either

(except the Superior) I cooked on a Rebel 23 this past weekend and if I used one for competitions I would only use three shelves. I would leave out the second shelf down, and not use the bottom shelf. On my Party I had the rails built for 4 equally spaced shelves. 4" or 4.5" just isn't enough clearance for big butts without taking off some rub, so with the stock spacing butts would go on the third shelf down or the bottom shelf. The same would be true for a big brisket. We had one on Saturday that wouldn't fit in the 3.5" shelf spacing on the Rebel, and from looking at it it would have been very tight at 4.5"

I like the equal 6" spacing on the Assassin 28 much better, but the weight would be an issue.

I'm still impressed by your Assassin. It's just that my primary use is for competitions and the tighter spacing on the top two shelves would be limiting for me. I'm sure that Jeff could do one with four equally spaced shelves, or even with one less shelf if asked.

I'm sure that they can be built with optional spacing. I will have to experiment with the spacing and use of the shelves. I'm not a competition cooker but I hope to cook a mixture of meats (brisket, butts, ribs) all at the same time.

FLAQUE · 07-23-2013, 12:01 AM

very nice and thanks for the video!

thunter · 07-23-2013, 12:14 AM

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.

Meat Man · 07-23-2013, 12:22 AM

Nice job on the video, I know you will really enjoy your cooker as you get to use it more and more. I just use a chimney for start up, and load up the chute after I've dumped in the hot coals. I have a rebel 17 and love it, I have to agree that for me anything short of 6" clearance really limits what you can cook on those lower shelves. You can always take one out which is what I would do, for loading one up with big meats. But it's nice to have that extra shelf for stuff like ribs, and man these verticals are a rib cooking machine.

PaPaQ · 07-23-2013, 08:06 AM

Nice video, great smoker. I am sure you will enjoy it. One thing I started doing with my gravity feed smokers was cut a small piece of plate and put it over the charcoal chute under the lid, that will keep all of the mositure inside the cute and keep the top of the charcoal cute and the gasket dry. It works for me.

mep · 07-23-2013, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaPaQ

Nice video, great smoker. I am sure you will enjoy it. One thing I started doing with my gravity feed smokers was cut a small piece of plate and put it over the charcoal chute under the lid, that will keep all of the mositure inside the cute and keep the top of the charcoal cute and the gasket dry. It works for me.

Good idea. Thanks.

07-22-2013, 05:42 PM	#18
BRBBQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-05-08 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa	Looks nice __________________ Stumps XL Baby/UDS

07-22-2013, 06:06 PM	#19
K5TAM Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-27-12 Location: League City, Texas	Very nice smoker! Thanks for the video __________________ 22.5 Weber OTG x2, New Braunfels Offset, Orion Smoker

07-22-2013, 08:45 PM	#20
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Wandering, but not lost Name/Nickname : Captain Ron	Nice job on the video and nice looking smoker. I am curious about the rack spacing. The picture on the Assassin web site looks like the shelves are evenly spaced. Did you have them put in with the different spacing for a reason? __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Naked Fatties Rock! PKGo X 2/PK360/Weber Q1000/Blackstone Camping Griddle/Pit Boss Pro Series 850

07-23-2013, 12:01 AM	#26
FLAQUE Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-09-12 Location: Cary, NC Name/Nickname : Jason	very nice and thanks for the video! __________________ Char-Griller Akorn Kamado,18.5" WSM, UDS

07-23-2013, 12:14 AM	#27
thunter is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-21-06 Location: Indianapolis, IN	Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. __________________ Tony Hunter Pit Happens! Smokefleet Command Lang 48 Patio - "Enterprise" Weber 22.5 Premium Kettle - "Galileo" Weber SmokeFire EX6 - “Defiant”

07-22-2013, 08:34 AM	#16
stephan is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-02-10 Location: lake grove, new york	Nice video and smoker.

07-22-2013, 04:13 PM	#17
Nutz4bbq On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-16-13 Location: Tallahassee, FL	Great looking smoker... had some folks at bbq festivals tell me it was a great smoker and easy to use... Enjoy!!

07-23-2013, 12:22 AM	#28
Meat Man Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-08-11 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah	Nice job on the video, I know you will really enjoy your cooker as you get to use it more and more. I just use a chimney for start up, and load up the chute after I've dumped in the hot coals. I have a rebel 17 and love it, I have to agree that for me anything short of 6" clearance really limits what you can cook on those lower shelves. You can always take one out which is what I would do, for loading one up with big meats. But it's nice to have that extra shelf for stuff like ribs, and man these verticals are a rib cooking machine.

07-23-2013, 08:06 AM	#29
PaPaQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-07-07 Location: Mt. Gilead, NC Name/Nickname : Clyde	Nice video, great smoker. I am sure you will enjoy it. One thing I started doing with my gravity feed smokers was cut a small piece of plate and put it over the charcoal chute under the lid, that will keep all of the mositure inside the cute and keep the top of the charcoal cute and the gasket dry. It works for me.