Budget Offset Worth Buying

Gunman9 · 07-19-2018, 10:21 AM

Hi All,

Been sometime since I posted last. I’m looking at getting a budget offset smoker to do beef ribs and brisket on and the occasional pork ribs and butt. I use my Smokin-it 3D for normal use. Is there an offset y’all would recommended that I could pick up locally for a good price or on that doesn’t cost as much as the smoker to ship? TIA

Stlsportster · 07-19-2018, 10:45 AM

There is a good thread by Smitty that lists the best smokers under $500. Most are Old Country or OK Joe models found at Academy Sports,Lowe’s or Home Depot.

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=202034

SmittyJonz · 07-19-2018, 10:53 AM

I like the Old Country Smokehouse the Best.

SmokyDick · 07-19-2018, 11:03 AM

OK Joe are fine, I use a char-broil smokin' pro that I got for $60 and make some good food.

Don't get bogged down or disheartened when all these people show off their $10k pits that would be 10000% overkill for your usage.

JasonS · 07-19-2018, 11:17 AM

I picked up a OK Joe Highland for dirt cheap at Wal-Mart a while back. I have successfully cooked everything you list with great results.

jeffjenkins1 · 07-19-2018, 11:19 AM

Going from an electric smoker to a cheap offset could be an issue. I started with a cheap offset and had to tend the fire every 20-30 minutes. The temps would fluctuate and it ate charcoal/wood.

I have a large offset now with a Stoker and I can put a bag of charcoal in it and it will last 5 or 6 hours.

Not saying the food off the cheap one wasn't good, I did briskets, PP and ribs but if I would have gone from set and forget to that, I would have been discourage and thought the issue was me, not the smoker.

Jeff

Kanco Connection · 07-19-2018, 11:20 AM

I’m starting to to get the itch, too. Paying attention to these threads now...

Drunk Monkey · 07-19-2018, 12:03 PM

I got a Bayou Classic 36" from Costco for $399. Had it a year, great pit so far.

SmittyJonz · 07-19-2018, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drunk Monkey

I got a Bayou Classic 36" from Costco for $399. Had it a year, great pit so far.

Those are No Longer available.

If you want to run on charcoal I would not buy an offset - some people can make it work but there are much better Charcoal smokers.

If you’re wanting to burn wood most of the pits are going to require a split every 40-45 minutes

jeffjenkins1 · 07-19-2018, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmittyJonz

Those are No Longer available.

If you want to run on charcoal I would not buy an offset - some people can make it work but there are much better Charcoal smokers.

If you’re wanting to burn wood most of the pits are going to require a split every 40-45 minutes

Right, I start with a bed of charcoal and add wood for smoke at first but go to all wood after a few hours. With the stoker it runs really efficient.

Jeff

Rockinar · 07-19-2018, 01:28 PM

I would lean twords an Old Country. I think the larger exhaust might draft better. I wonder if someone made a small basket if you could run it on a small red hot charcoal bed with a little wood to relax the temp swings you would get cooking with wood only on a thin metal pit like that?

CptKaos · 07-19-2018, 01:54 PM

I made a basket for my offset that holds approximately 10lbs of lump and a couple of splits, it will run 3-4 hours on that so I can start a fire early then go back to bed for a few hours then finish up with oak or mesquite and have a brisket ready for lunch.
You just have to get a cooker and learn its workings.
The thicker the metal is in the firebox and cook chamber the easier it will be to cook with.
Larry

jimbotx · 07-19-2018, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmittyJonz

I like the Old Country Smokehouse the Best.

Wonder if they are still available. Don't see them on Academy's site.

SmittyJonz · 07-19-2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbotx

Wonder if they are still available. Don't see them on Academy's site.

They will come and go Depending on Academy’s Online warehouse stock instead of just showing Out of Stock

Gunman9 · 07-19-2018, 09:28 PM

Thanks for all the advice. Trust me this is not my first stick burner. I had a massive one that I did comps with for awhile but with work can no longer do that. Anywhere around Columbus OH to look for one? No Academy Sports here unfortunately

07-19-2018, 10:21 AM	#1
Gunman9 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-21-13 Location: Columbus OH Name/Nickname : Gunman9	Budget Offset Worth Buying Hi All, Been sometime since I posted last. I’m looking at getting a budget offset smoker to do beef ribs and brisket on and the occasional pork ribs and butt. I use my Smokin-it 3D for normal use. Is there an offset y’all would recommended that I could pick up locally for a good price or on that doesn’t cost as much as the smoker to ship? TIA

07-19-2018, 10:53 AM	#3
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	I like the Old Country Smokehouse the Best. __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............

07-19-2018, 11:19 AM	#6
jeffjenkins1 Babbling Farker Join Date: 03-01-08 Location: Akron, OH	Going from an electric smoker to a cheap offset could be an issue. I started with a cheap offset and had to tend the fire every 20-30 minutes. The temps would fluctuate and it ate charcoal/wood. I have a large offset now with a Stoker and I can put a bag of charcoal in it and it will last 5 or 6 hours. Not saying the food off the cheap one wasn't good, I did briskets, PP and ribs but if I would have gone from set and forget to that, I would have been discourage and thought the issue was me, not the smoker. Jeff __________________ You do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do! Ole Hickory Ultra Que 2 18" WSM 18" Weber OTS Primo Oval XL NB American Gourmet offset smoker UDS Big Chief Smoker Turkey Fryer

07-19-2018, 11:20 AM	#7
Kanco Connection is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-28-17 Location: Colorado Springs, CO	I’m starting to to get the itch, too. Paying attention to these threads now... __________________ Weber Performer Deluxe x 2 / PBC /RecTeq RT-590/ 18” Smokey Joe / Weber Spirit gasser

07-19-2018, 12:03 PM	#8
Drunk Monkey is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-28-12 Location: Lantana, TX Name/Nickname : Drunk Monkey	I got a Bayou Classic 36" from Costco for $399. Had it a year, great pit so far. __________________ Weber 26 , Q100, Mini UDS, Bayou Classis Stick Burner, Blaze Built in, Fornetto Basso

07-19-2018, 10:45 AM	#2
Stlsportster Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-09-16 Location: Random Point In Time and Space Name/Nickname : Parental Assigned Label	There is a good thread by Smitty that lists the best smokers under $500. Most are Old Country or OK Joe models found at Academy Sports,Lowe’s or Home Depot. https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=202034

07-19-2018, 11:03 AM	#4
SmokyDick Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-13-18 Location: KY Name/Nickname : Rich	OK Joe are fine, I use a char-broil smokin' pro that I got for $60 and make some good food. Don't get bogged down or disheartened when all these people show off their $10k pits that would be 10000% overkill for your usage.

07-19-2018, 11:17 AM	#5
JasonS On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-10-15 Location: Carlsbad, Ca	I picked up a OK Joe Highland for dirt cheap at Wal-Mart a while back. I have successfully cooked everything you list with great results.

07-19-2018, 01:28 PM	#11
Rockinar is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-19-13 Location: Houston, TX	I would lean twords an Old Country. I think the larger exhaust might draft better. I wonder if someone made a small basket if you could run it on a small red hot charcoal bed with a little wood to relax the temp swings you would get cooking with wood only on a thin metal pit like that?

07-19-2018, 01:54 PM	#12
CptKaos is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-21-17 Location: Central Texas Name/Nickname : Larry	I made a basket for my offset that holds approximately 10lbs of lump and a couple of splits, it will run 3-4 hours on that so I can start a fire early then go back to bed for a few hours then finish up with oak or mesquite and have a brisket ready for lunch. You just have to get a cooker and learn its workings. The thicker the metal is in the firebox and cook chamber the easier it will be to cook with. Larry __________________ Larry I fix stuff and I know things. Last edited by CptKaos; 07-19-2018 at 01:59 PM..

07-19-2018, 09:28 PM	#15
Gunman9 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-21-13 Location: Columbus OH Name/Nickname : Gunman9	Thanks for all the advice. Trust me this is not my first stick burner. I had a massive one that I did comps with for awhile but with work can no longer do that. Anywhere around Columbus OH to look for one? No Academy Sports here unfortunately