My first smoker?

Youngin' · 10-05-2011, 03:49 PM

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.

bluetang · 10-05-2011, 04:24 PM

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.

IamMadMan · 10-05-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngin'

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)

Ron_L · 10-05-2011, 05:33 PM

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.

RangerJ · 10-05-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

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.

Youngin' · 10-05-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamMadMan

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.

Hoss · 10-05-2011, 07:16 PM

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.

Pappy · 10-05-2011, 07:21 PM

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.

caseydog · 10-05-2011, 07:27 PM

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.

CD

J'ville Grill · 10-05-2011, 08:47 PM

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.

sandiegobbq · 10-05-2011, 08:49 PM

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.

LT72884 · 10-06-2011, 01:15 AM

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

tmehlhorn · 10-06-2011, 01:55 AM

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.

TIMMAY · 10-06-2011, 02:23 AM

The kettle is fairly easy to smoke on and you have the ability to grill burgers when you want. not all that expensive either.

captndan · 10-06-2011, 07:09 AM

You did say 'smoker'. What the hell go big!

10-05-2011, 03:49 PM	#1
Youngin' On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-09-11 Location: Miami, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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.

10-05-2011, 04:24 PM	#2
bluetang Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-06-10 Location: Stuart, Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Homegrown 120 Gallon Reverse Flow, Homey, the Homegrown Kettle, 3 UDS's, 3 Stack Pro Q Excel 20, 18.5" Elderly(but not retired) WSM, 150lb Capacity Homegrown Electric and a CA gasserrrr Bicycle Fast Polder Thermo, Indisputably Fastest Purple Thermapen, SAI Satay Grill Thanks landarc for the avatar!

10-05-2011, 05:33 PM	#4
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Weber Gasser/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

10-05-2011, 07:21 PM	#8
Pappy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-09-11 Location: Granite City, Illinois (Near St. Louis "GO CARDS") Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Performer, UDS, 1983 WSM, Frank-in-Weber, 120 Gallon Offset, IQ-110, ET-732

10-05-2011, 07:27 PM	#9
caseydog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-08-10 Location: Dallas, TX Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	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. CD __________________ 1995 Red Weber 22.5 Master's Touch with Cajun Bandit Rotisserie mod, 18.5 WSM with iQue 110, 18.5 OTG, Copper Smokey Joe Gold with Mini-WSM mod, Black Smokey Joe Platinum (Jumbo Joe) IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller. From hero to ZERO in just one week! Are you ready for a THROWDOWN?

10-05-2011, 07:16 PM	#7
Hoss is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-31-09 Location: Hernando,MS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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.

10-05-2011, 08:47 PM	#10
J'ville Grill is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-18-10 Location: Jacksonville, Fl. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Rick 18.5" Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5" Weber OTG with Cajun Bandit Conversion Kit Char-Griller Akorn with side cart 1999 Weber Master-Touch - bent but not broken 14.5" Weber Smokey Joe Silver

10-05-2011, 08:49 PM	#11
sandiegobbq is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-22-11 Location: chula vista, ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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.

10-06-2011, 01:15 AM	#12
LT72884 Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-07-09 Location: Draper Utah Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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 __________________ http://grillofmydreams.blogspot.com http://thebreadjournal.blogspot.com

10-06-2011, 01:55 AM	#13
tmehlhorn Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-20-11 Location: pratt, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Weber performer, Smokey joe, Weber go anywhere. Mini-wsm, WSM-Soon

10-06-2011, 02:23 AM	#14
TIMMAY is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-10-11 Location: Columbia SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The kettle is fairly easy to smoke on and you have the ability to grill burgers when you want. not all that expensive either.

10-06-2011, 07:09 AM	#15
captndan is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-29-11 Location: Greeneville TN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You did say 'smoker'. What the hell go big!

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