Beginner Smoker for Grandfather - Suggestions?

SweetBlue · 04-05-2013, 12:05 PM

Hey All,

I was visiting my grandparents for Easter when my grandpa said he had been thinking about trying his hand at smoking. He has some free time on his hands and he's always wanted to try it.

As you can imagine I was pretty elated. He wants a to start out with a cheaper unit then move to something nicer if he ends up liking the hobby.

I'd love to surprise him with a smoker. Can you guys offer some suggestions on a relatively inexpensive smoker that would be great for a beginner? Thanks to my father in-law I started out on a BGE so I don't have much experience with other types of smokers.

Thanks!
-Matt

silver8ack · 04-05-2013, 12:07 PM

Define 'inexpensive'. It's a relative term. :)

A UDS, WSM, or the small Traeger are probably the cheapest options... probably in that order too.

K80Shooter · 04-05-2013, 12:08 PM

I think for someone just starting out a Akorn would be great. Very similar to the egg but a lot cheaper. If not that then a wsm (weber smokey mountiam) would be great.

Jaskew82 · 04-05-2013, 12:16 PM

I would consider a simple Weber One Touch gold. You can smoke on it and its pretty cheap and convenient. If you want to step it up, get a WSM. They are around $300 and very easy to cook on. I actually find the BGE and other Kamado type cookers have a slightly harder learning curve than the WSM or kettle's.

Neonnblack · 04-05-2013, 12:22 PM

My first smoker was a UDS, couldnt be happier.

sparky' · 04-05-2013, 12:28 PM

WSM are easy to use and produce great results. 18 = $300, 22 = $400.

Teamfour · 04-05-2013, 12:36 PM

UDS - and to make the experience better, build it together.

fantomlord · 04-05-2013, 12:39 PM

presumably he's not going to be cooking for large crowds (at least not at first)?

I'd consider building him a mini WSM

joshcary · 04-05-2013, 12:47 PM

18.5" WSM would be my suggestion. Many a wonderful meal has been made on WSM's and at $299, it's hard to beat!

16Adams · 04-05-2013, 12:49 PM

Pit Barrel Cooker is having a sale. Free shipping. Akorn amazing quality at a low price. WSM as set and forget as you can get for smoking but honestly I prefer the higher temps in the PBC.
The Mini WSM gets used a lot for 4 hour cooks around here. You have lots of options, best part is whatever you choose, you are right.
Where there's smoke, there's smiles.

checkrd past · 04-05-2013, 01:00 PM

Make it easy and get an entry level pellet smoker ,Treager ,Green Mountain Grill etc

El Ropo · 04-05-2013, 01:15 PM

Define smoking? does he want to cold smoke cheese and meat, or does he want to actually BBQ smoke? Don't want to p off the old man and get him the wrong setup.

^that is my pet peeve, people call 'em smokers, I call 'em BBQs, unless they are strictly cold smokers.

samfsu · 04-05-2013, 01:38 PM

18.5" WSM or a WSM Mini.

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 04-05-2013, 01:43 PM

Speaking as a grandfather I would love it if a grandson wanted to build a smoker for me with me. I vote for a WSM that you both plan and build together.

N8man · 04-05-2013, 01:50 PM

A Weber Charcoal Grill would be my suggestion for the beginner...

04-05-2013, 12:05 PM	#1
SweetBlue Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 03-09-13 Location: Springfield, MO	Beginner Smoker for Grandfather - Suggestions? Hey All, I was visiting my grandparents for Easter when my grandpa said he had been thinking about trying his hand at smoking. He has some free time on his hands and he's always wanted to try it. As you can imagine I was pretty elated. He wants a to start out with a cheaper unit then move to something nicer if he ends up liking the hobby. I'd love to surprise him with a smoker. Can you guys offer some suggestions on a relatively inexpensive smoker that would be great for a beginner? Thanks to my father in-law I started out on a BGE so I don't have much experience with other types of smokers. Thanks! -Matt

04-05-2013, 12:08 PM	#3
K80Shooter Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-20-12 Location: Hartwell, GA	I think for someone just starting out a Akorn would be great. Very similar to the egg but a lot cheaper. If not that then a wsm (weber smokey mountiam) would be great. __________________ X-Large Big Green Egg-Hatched 12-15-2011, Custom Assassin 28 In Cayenne Red Pearl 9-12-2015

04-05-2013, 12:16 PM	#4
Jaskew82 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-20-11 Location: Mooresville, NC	I would consider a simple Weber One Touch gold. You can smoke on it and its pretty cheap and convenient. If you want to step it up, get a WSM. They are around $300 and very easy to cook on. I actually find the BGE and other Kamado type cookers have a slightly harder learning curve than the WSM or kettle's. __________________ Hillside BBQ 2013 Stumps Classic - Delivered 4/15/13 Large BGE - Rescued 2012 2010 WSM 22.5" 2010 Weber genesis gas grill Rescued 22.5 Weber One-touch gold Yellow Thermopen BBQ Guru CyberQ 2011 Built UDS - Retired

04-05-2013, 12:28 PM	#6
sparky' Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-30-11 Location: northern california	WSM are easy to use and produce great results. 18 = $300, 22 = $400. __________________ PBC, Cobb grill, Weber Mastertouch, Gosun solar cooker.

04-05-2013, 12:36 PM	#7
Teamfour is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-13-12 Location: Sterling, VA	UDS - and to make the experience better, build it together. __________________ BWS Party \|UDS\|Maverick ET-73 \|Maverick ET-732 \|Super Fast [COLOR=DarkOrange]Orange[/COLOR] Thermapen \| BBQ Guru DigiQ \|Two 100 QT crawfish boiling rigs \| LEM Meat Grinder \| Grizzly Sausage Stuffer Smokin-n-Style BBQ Team - Pitmaster Lagniappe Chili Team - Head Cook KCBS CBJ
	1 members found this post helpful.

04-05-2013, 12:07 PM	#2
silver8ack Found some matches. Join Date: 03-13-13 Location: South Jersey	Define 'inexpensive'. It's a relative term. :) A UDS, WSM, or the small Traeger are probably the cheapest options... probably in that order too.

04-05-2013, 12:22 PM	#5
Neonnblack Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-15-13 Location: Reno, NV	My first smoker was a UDS, couldnt be happier.

04-05-2013, 12:39 PM	#8
fantomlord is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-24-12 Location: Sauk City, WI	presumably he's not going to be cooking for large crowds (at least not at first)? I'd consider building him a mini WSM __________________ Matt...Sauk City, WI

04-05-2013, 12:47 PM	#9
joshcary Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-05-13 Location: Wichita, KS	18.5" WSM would be my suggestion. Many a wonderful meal has been made on WSM's and at $299, it's hard to beat!

04-05-2013, 12:49 PM	#10
16Adams somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-16-13 Location: USA	Pit Barrel Cooker is having a sale. Free shipping. Akorn amazing quality at a low price. WSM as set and forget as you can get for smoking but honestly I prefer the higher temps in the PBC. The Mini WSM gets used a lot for 4 hour cooks around here. You have lots of options, best part is whatever you choose, you are right. Where there's smoke, there's smiles. __________________ Tiernan SOB34, Primo Oval XL, Oklahoma Joe's Bronco, Oklahoma Joe's Highland, Pit Boss Austin XL, Pit Boss Table Top

04-05-2013, 01:00 PM	#11
checkrd past Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-23-13 Location: Anaheim Hills, ca	Make it easy and get an entry level pellet smoker ,Treager ,Green Mountain Grill etc

04-05-2013, 01:15 PM	#12
El Ropo Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-06-10 Location: Austin, TX Name/Nickname : Roger	Define smoking? does he want to cold smoke cheese and meat, or does he want to actually BBQ smoke? Don't want to p off the old man and get him the wrong setup. ^that is my pet peeve, people call 'em smokers, I call 'em BBQs, unless they are strictly cold smokers. __________________ 22.5" WSM nicknamed Fuel Hog! Rescued 22.5" OTS. 18.5" OTS. SJS Mini-WSM. Building UDS ver 2.0. HEB briqs (rebranded Royal Oak). Pecan/Hickory/Cherry/Apple/Peach woods. 2016 Fuji Absolute 2.0 LE (for burning off all the great BBQ)

04-05-2013, 01:38 PM	#13
samfsu is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-18-10 Location: New Market, MD	18.5" WSM or a WSM Mini. __________________ Humphrey's Battle Box, Weber Genesis Silver B, Weber Performer

04-05-2013, 01:43 PM	#14
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont	Speaking as a grandfather I would love it if a grandson wanted to build a smoker for me with me. I vote for a WSM that you both plan and build together. __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-732, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

04-05-2013, 01:50 PM	#15
N8man Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-09-07 Location: God's Country Ossipee-Osceola NC	A Weber Charcoal Grill would be my suggestion for the beginner... __________________ N8man Average Joe Backyard Enthusiast How I Fire Up That Ugly DrumPit Smoker!!!!