in need of a new smoker

juergenssmokehouse

Knows what a fatty is.
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machesney park,il
looking to buy a new smoker but not sure what kind i have three kids so do not have 5,000 $ to spend
this is what i own so far
char-griller outlaw smoker, stok tower charcoal grill and bradley smoker
sure there will be some hatefull comments do go ahead
 
what is your budget? also what type of smoker are you looking for? You dont need a 5K smoker to compete...
 
We don't do "hateful comments" on this forum. It isn't tolerated and it isn't what the Brethren is about.

Probably a little more information about what you do have to spend and what you are looking to get into could be helpful if you are looking for suggestions.
 
You posted in the Competition forum so I assume you want to compete with it, yes? That being said, there are an overwhelming majority of professionals and noobs that do quite well using your basic WSM. Why not start there? Or you can mess around with some fun and build a UDS, which is basically a bigger WSM. I am adding the Stoker attachment to mine even though the UDS can run like clockwork right where it settles. I am a tech geek and employ technology whenever possible.
 
Weber Smokey Mountain. Harry Soo competes and wins all over the country with one single WSM. You don't have to be good at building stuff, have a fab shop do it for you. I had a welder do internal tabs, the charcoal basket, the door, nipples and caps, everything. Total investment for mine is only about $250



Here's my latest build. Granted I added an access door and had the whole thing powdercoated.

vandalgrill.jpg
 
For that price, I am thinking Backwoods or even a Pitmaker Safe. If you want to build one you just hit Craigslist and get a 55 gallon drum, an old Weber you can salvage the lid from, then have a fab shop put in tabs to hold your grates (Weber grates fit right in it), cut in a door if you want, build you a charcoal basket, put on legs and handles, get three two inch double threaded cold rolled steel pipe sections with caps, another with a right angle and a stem and ball valve and you are in business. There are loads of places online and in here that offer directions. I just had it done the way I like it.

I also had the shop use the lid that they cut the lip off of and made a heat deflector that rests on top of the charcoal basket. They used the rim of the lid, flipped it and welded it to the Weber lid and it fits like a charm. I also had two port holes drilled for meat and grill probes. She runs like a champ.
 
Is this for competition? A 36" smoker may be too small. It can be done, but you timing would have to be perfect.

Did you look at Peoria Custom Cookers as I suggested in your other thread? They make some nice cookers and are close to you so you could pick it up and save on shipping.
 
I can do an entire contest on a Rebel 23 Gravity fed charcoal. Cost you about $2500. They are doing well this year.
 
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