Looking to add a smoker

Volsfan846 · 02-12-2014, 10:50 AM

Hello BBQ experts... I am looking to add a smoker this spring and right now I am deciding between a gravity fed cabinet like a Stumps or a XL Ceramic like a Kamado Joe Big Joe.

I have a small ceramic now and a WSM 22 and like both.

Any pro's and con's from anyone who has cooked on both types? I assume the gravity feed will be easier to maintain temps and the Ceramic will be more versatile, but what about the quality of the food, ease of cleaning and those types of issues.

I have a CyberQ WiFi already so temp control shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for any advice you can provide....

Fwismoker · 02-12-2014, 10:59 AM

Get a PBC

peeps · 02-12-2014, 11:08 AM

What do you need more capacity for?

Mainly smoking? Get the gravity feed.

Smoking, grilling, baking, etc? Get the ceramic.

If it were me and I had the 2 cookers you have now, I would go with the XL ceramic (from your options presented) as it would give a great deal of flexibility for grilling/smoking between the 3 cookers.

The gravity feed would only give you more smoking capacity, so unless that is your ONLY need, I would pass on it.

ncstan · 02-12-2014, 11:14 AM

I have a keg and a g/f smoker .I can not tell much difference in the smoke level imparted or the taste .The g/f will give You the ability to do greater amount of meat at one time . The g/f may be a little easier to control temps . the g/f requires a little more effort in cleanup but not much if cleanup is done on a regular basis .

Fwismoker · 02-12-2014, 11:23 AM

On a serious not i would agree with peeps. Go with what will give you the most versatility.

There are other options to give you that versatility but with the choices you listed it would be the Joe. There are so many things you can cook better with a sear after a smoke or just grill ....To be able to do it with one piece of equipment is very nice.

pjtexas1 · 02-12-2014, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peeps

What do you need more capacity for?

Mainly smoking? Get the gravity feed.

Smoking, grilling, baking, etc? Get the ceramic.

If it were me and I had the 2 cookers you have now, I would go with the XL ceramic (from your options presented) as it would give a great deal of flexibility for grilling/smoking between the 3 cookers.

The gravity feed would only give you more smoking capacity, so unless that is your ONLY need, I would pass on it.

Peeps nailed it. The only question I have is do you really need another smoker or are you just wanting another smoker? I just ordered a new smoker but I didn't need one.

I just wanted to try something different. I was dead set on a GF but lots of people scared me off the GF with the grease fire and bridging stories. I ended up with an insulated vertical since I already had an offset and a vertical similar to a UDS or WSM but made out of 1/4" steel. I would eventually like to try every type. Next year I hope to convince the wife I need a ceramic because I love the versatility they bring.

BBQ_MAFIA · 02-12-2014, 11:33 AM

Ceramic cookers are great as you can do so many different things on them.

If you don't need all the space that the GF will offer, I would go with a ceramic.

Smokin Hoggz · 02-12-2014, 12:01 PM

If your looking to add a smoker, you may seriously want to consider buying a Humphrey's!!! Check out this thread http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=180904 These things are built like tanks and super efficient!!!

Volsfan846 · 02-12-2014, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokin Hoggz

If your looking to add a smoker, you may seriously want to consider buying a Humphrey's!!! Check out this thread http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=180904 These things are built like tanks and super efficient!!!

They look a lot like a Backwoods. Similar or is there a big difference?

Volsfan846 · 02-12-2014, 01:57 PM

Thanks for all the replies. You guys are great.

And I don't really need a new smoker, but the two I have now just leave a gap. I love how easy the Ceramic is to cook on and clean up, but it is really small, especially if you want to cook in pans which I do from time to time. That is what had me leaning to something other than a round smoker.

The WSM is great, but it uses a lot of charcoal and is a royal pain to clean since there is no way to get the ashes out of the bottom without taking it a apart and dumping them.

The other option I was looking at was a pellet pooper, but I am concerned about the ability to control the amount of smoke and how to keep the pellets dry.

Good thing I have plenty of time to decide....

dano · 02-12-2014, 02:30 PM

Primo XL is going to be a bit larger than the normal Kamado style ceramic is you wanted to go that way. Guru works amazing on it too.

pjtexas1 · 02-12-2014, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volsfan846

They look a lot like a Backwoods. Similar or is there a big difference?

I believe that Humphrey's uses heavier gauge metal. I have not seen one in person. The only thing I don't like is that they use rivets but everyone that has one loves them. I have seen Backwoods in person and they use screws and what I think is very thin material but again, everyone that has one loves them. I don't know if screws are better or worse than rivets but the Backwoods seem to have smaller racks than Humphrey's. If you can hold on a few more weeks several of us have purchased Abe's Smokers and will be posting some reviews when we finally get them. They are another Backwoods clone that just started a few years ago. These seem more like the Humphrey's in material and they are welded. No rivets or screws.

pvcollie · 02-12-2014, 02:43 PM

The Primo XL ceramic is oval shaped and will hold quite a bit on two levels. I loved the one I had - smoke and grill. Very versatile. Can't bet it.

I have a Backwoods Party which is also a nice cooker. Burns times were an issue until I added an extended charcoal basket.

02-12-2014, 10:50 AM	#1
Volsfan846 Got Wood. Join Date: 09-02-13 Location: Spanish Fort, AL	Looking to add a smoker Hello BBQ experts... I am looking to add a smoker this spring and right now I am deciding between a gravity fed cabinet like a Stumps or a XL Ceramic like a Kamado Joe Big Joe. I have a small ceramic now and a WSM 22 and like both. Any pro's and con's from anyone who has cooked on both types? I assume the gravity feed will be easier to maintain temps and the Ceramic will be more versatile, but what about the quality of the food, ease of cleaning and those types of issues. I have a CyberQ WiFi already so temp control shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for any advice you can provide....

02-12-2014, 10:59 AM	#2
Fwismoker somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-22-13 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana	Get a PBC __________________ Change the way you rotisserie for the BETTER![COLOR="Red"][B]Cajun Bandit Kits for your WSM or Weber Kettle Now Available![/B][/COLOR] Visit [COLOR="Red"]OctoForks[/COLOR] in Sales & Ventures Website & Blog: [url]www.octoforks.com[/url]

02-12-2014, 11:08 AM	#3
peeps somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-09-13 Location: Round Rock, TX	What do you need more capacity for? Mainly smoking? Get the gravity feed. Smoking, grilling, baking, etc? Get the ceramic. If it were me and I had the 2 cookers you have now, I would go with the XL ceramic (from your options presented) as it would give a great deal of flexibility for grilling/smoking between the 3 cookers. The gravity feed would only give you more smoking capacity, so unless that is your ONLY need, I would pass on it. __________________ - [B][COLOR="darkorange"]Earl [/COLOR][/B]- My Custom Vertical Offset Smoker by AJ's Custom Cookers ([URL="http://bit.ly/1gelc9M"]build link[/URL]) - [B][COLOR="darkorange"]Colt[/COLOR][/B] - Superior SS-2 w/ DigiQ DXII- Courtesy of Gainesville Jaycees and Superior Smokers - [B]Weber Kettle 22.5 OTG[/B] w/ Craycort Cast Iron Grates - [B][COLOR="darkorange"]Major[/COLOR][/B] - Mini WSM (from SJS) [B][COLOR="Blue"]Certified IMBAS MOINK Baller![/COLOR][/B] ([URL="http://bit.ly/1lr5cKx"]Certificate of Authenticity[/URL]) / [B][COLOR="Blue"]Join the fun in the [URL="http://bit.ly/1ew3H57"]Throwdowns[/URL]![/COLOR][/B]

02-12-2014, 11:14 AM	#4
ncstan On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-21-11 Location: pink hill n.c.	I have a keg and a g/f smoker .I can not tell much difference in the smoke level imparted or the taste .The g/f will give You the ability to do greater amount of meat at one time . The g/f may be a little easier to control temps . the g/f requires a little more effort in cleanup but not much if cleanup is done on a regular basis . __________________ Bubba Keg ,Bq Grills gravity fed smoker ,Weber grills

02-12-2014, 11:23 AM	#5
Fwismoker somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-22-13 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana	On a serious not i would agree with peeps. Go with what will give you the most versatility. There are other options to give you that versatility but with the choices you listed it would be the Joe. There are so many things you can cook better with a sear after a smoke or just grill ....To be able to do it with one piece of equipment is very nice. __________________ Change the way you rotisserie for the BETTER![COLOR="Red"][B]Cajun Bandit Kits for your WSM or Weber Kettle Now Available![/B][/COLOR] Visit [COLOR="Red"]OctoForks[/COLOR] in Sales & Ventures Website & Blog: [url]www.octoforks.com[/url]

02-12-2014, 11:33 AM	#7
BBQ_MAFIA somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-10-05 Location: NORTH BERGEN, NEW JERSEY	Ceramic cookers are great as you can do so many different things on them. If you don't need all the space that the GF will offer, I would go with a ceramic. __________________ Guido Lang 60 Lang 84 Deluxe Warmer with Chargrill Large Spicewine Large BGE XL - BGE Med. BGE ( Bought it for my son Vincenzo) Brinkman Snp Brinkman ECB GOSM Weber Kettle Kenmore Elite Gasser Camp Chef Outdoor Stove Blackstone Pizza Oven Blackstone 36" Griddle 1-Banjo

02-12-2014, 12:01 PM	#8
Smokin Hoggz Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-26-07 Location: Abington, ma Name/Nickname : Bill	If your looking to add a smoker, you may seriously want to consider buying a Humphrey's!!! Check out this thread http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=180904 These things are built like tanks and super efficient!!! __________________ Bill Gillespie - Head Cook - Humphrey Nation - Smokinhoggz.com

02-12-2014, 01:57 PM	#10
Volsfan846 Got Wood. Join Date: 09-02-13 Location: Spanish Fort, AL	Thanks for all the replies. You guys are great. And I don't really need a new smoker, but the two I have now just leave a gap. I love how easy the Ceramic is to cook on and clean up, but it is really small, especially if you want to cook in pans which I do from time to time. That is what had me leaning to something other than a round smoker. The WSM is great, but it uses a lot of charcoal and is a royal pain to clean since there is no way to get the ashes out of the bottom without taking it a apart and dumping them. The other option I was looking at was a pellet pooper, but I am concerned about the ability to control the amount of smoke and how to keep the pellets dry. Good thing I have plenty of time to decide....

02-12-2014, 02:30 PM	#11
dano is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-09-11 Location: Audubon, PA	Primo XL is going to be a bit larger than the normal Kamado style ceramic is you wanted to go that way. Guru works amazing on it too.

02-12-2014, 02:43 PM	#13
pvcollie On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-12-05 Location: FL	The Primo XL ceramic is oval shaped and will hold quite a bit on two levels. I loved the one I had - smoke and grill. Very versatile. Can't bet it. I have a Backwoods Party which is also a nice cooker. Burns times were an issue until I added an extended charcoal basket.