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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking.


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Old 10-05-2011, 03:49 PM   #1
Youngin'
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Join Date: 09-09-11
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Default My first smoker?

My whole life I have cooked with gas. Now that I'm moving in to my own house I want to buy a charcoal smoker.

Should I get a UDS and go big or just go with a WSM, get good at it, and then go bigger?

I'm also planning on buying a Kettle Grill.
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Old 10-05-2011, 04:24 PM   #2
bluetang
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Can't go wrong with either. They will both bring the goods to the table. I have both and use both. But I also want one of every farkin smoker out there. A UDS is a fun project that doesn't take that long to complete. Whichever one you go with, I think you'll be way happy.
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Old 10-05-2011, 05:26 PM   #3
IamMadMan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngin' View Post
My whole life I have cooked with gas. Now that I'm moving in to my own house I want to buy a charcoal smoker.

Should I get a UDS and go big or just go with a WSM, get good at it, and then go bigger?

I'm also planning on buying a Kettle Grill.

Get them both, you'll find over time that you started collecting them.. (LOL)
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Old 10-05-2011, 05:33 PM   #4
Ron_L
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If money isn't an issue I would suggest starting off with the WSM. Before the "build a UDS" crowd jumps my bones , let me explain. You mentioned that this will be your first smoker. I think for a first timer you are better off with a proven entity. Your experience will be so much better because the smoker will just do it's job. A properly designed and built UDS will, too, but if you mess up something in your design or build your experience can be frustrating since you will be fighting cooker issues that you may not know how to solve without experience.
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Old 10-05-2011, 05:44 PM   #5
RangerJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron_L View Post
If money isn't an issue I would suggest starting off with the WSM. Before the "build a UDS" crowd jumps my bones , let me explain. You mentioned that this will be your first smoker. I think for a first timer you are better off with a proven entity. Your experience will be so much better because the smoker will just do it's job. A properly designed and built UDS will, too, but if you mess up something in your design or build your experience can be frustrating since you will be fighting cooker issues that you may not know how to solve without experience.
^^^^ This.

WSM just requires you learning how to balance airflow to get the temp right.

UDS is set and forget if built properly but most of us that built them started somewhere, horizontal 55 gallon drum, Bandera, hell even a Weber Kettle.

Can't go wrong with a WSM as your first smoker because it will always be the cook and not the cooker and in the beginning you need the cooker to be easy to manage.

Good luck in your decision.
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Old 10-05-2011, 05:47 PM   #6
Youngin'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IamMadMan View Post
Get them both, you'll find over time that you started collecting them.. (LOL)
I wish I coul get both but my wife is also buying me a Genesis so my 'Grill'zebo only has an ample amount of space.
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Old 10-05-2011, 07:16 PM   #7
Hoss
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You could go with the Weber Kettle and an EZQ adapter and have both smoker/charcoal grill to start out.I never used an EZQ but they look interesting.Maybe someone that has used one will chime in.I'm just thinkin how to get the most BANG for your $$$.Once you get the hang of it you can always upgrade. Best of luck and congrats on the NEW digs.
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Old 10-05-2011, 07:21 PM   #8
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If your talking 18.5 WSM or UDS, I would take the UDS for the cooking area. Like they said, it is fun to build.
I always have an eye open for a 22.5 WSM on CL. Maybe someday it will show up.
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Old 10-05-2011, 07:27 PM   #9
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I started with a Weber kettle and got hooked. I now do my smoking on a WSM with an iQue 110, but still use all three of my kettles for other cooking.

If you want to go smoking in a hurry, it is hard to beat a WSM. It really is an easy smoker to use. Whrn you outgrow that, you shoud have the knowedge to use just about anything.

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Old 10-05-2011, 08:47 PM   #10
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What Ron L said, plus a WSM will about last forever if taken care of. And if later on you decided you wanted to sell it you wouldn't have any trouble finding a buyer for it.
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Old 10-05-2011, 08:49 PM   #11
sandiegobbq
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Funny but I actually find the UDS to be easier to cook on than the WSM.

The temperatures stay more consistent for me.

I never used the side door on the wsm which would always leak anyway.

My UDS is super simple with no valves just holes and magnets.

They are not complicated to build properly at all and they work really well.

Also less money if that is an issue.

That being said I would get at least one grill and one smoker.
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Old 10-06-2011, 01:15 AM   #12
LT72884
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A UDS is a very very usefull smoker. It is cheaper in price as well. A 22.5 inch UDS with 3 cooking grates cost me 130$ with a new barrel. A new 22.5 WSM, 350$

Uds's are very simple to make

1. 4 evenly spaced 1 inch holes, 3 inches from base, all the way around
2. 18inch charcoal grate with expanded metal wrapped around it to create charcoal basket
3. 4 inch bolts attached to charcoal grate
4. place first cooking grate 24 inches above the charcoal basket
5. drills 8 3/4 inch holes evenly spaced around lid and attach handle of some sort
6. add turkey fryer thermo into one of the lid holes.
7. cook

thats about it. for a basic one.

have fun
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Old 10-06-2011, 01:55 AM   #13
tmehlhorn
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I would just buy a weber performer, great grill and works well for smoking too. Slightly tempermental with smoking but not bad, once you figure it out get the hang of smoking and get a new one that will be a breeze.
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Old 10-06-2011, 02:23 AM   #14
TIMMAY
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The kettle is fairly easy to smoke on and you have the ability to grill burgers when you want. not all that expensive either.
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Old 10-06-2011, 07:09 AM   #15
captndan
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You did say 'smoker'. What the hell go big!
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