Help a Newb out with buying first Backyard smoker

POS96GT · 03-03-2012, 07:25 PM

Been reading the forum for about a month now and decided I want to buy a smoker. I don't need anything to Fancy. Just something that will get the job done. Something big enough for 2 briskets. Not sure if I want to use wood, lump or charcoal. Since I am a total Newb a smoker that is easy to figure out and easy to smoke on would be a plus. $400 is about the limit I am willing to spend. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Chef Jim · 03-03-2012, 07:27 PM

This is a no brainer. A WSM. Room for lots of meat, easy to learn, lump or bricks. Buy one any you will love it.

BluegrassSmoke · 03-03-2012, 07:27 PM

Build one? UDS....

txschutte · 03-03-2012, 07:32 PM

If you're gonna buy, go Weber Smokey Mountain (22.5"). You can build a UDS for about 1/8th the price, but the flavor is much different.

AMROCKS · 03-03-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef Jim

This is a no brainer. A WSM. Room for lots of meat, easy to learn, lump or bricks. Buy one any you will love it.

+1... If you were willing to spend more like 800 I would say go for a Big Green Egg just for the flexibility. But for the price you can't go wrong with the Weber Smoky Mountain for sure.

jestridge · 03-03-2012, 07:36 PM

i buy something cheap make sure you going to like it. Lot of people will start a new hobby and buy a bunch of expensive stuff then nver use it again

txschutte · 03-03-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jestridge

i buy sometime cheap make sure you going to like it. Lot of people will start a new hobby and buy a bunch of expensive stuff then nver use it again

However, with a WSM 22.5, he could recover about 75% of his costs if he listed it on EBay.

JMSetzler · 03-03-2012, 07:41 PM

Just in case someone hasn't said it already, the 22.5 Weber Smokey Mountain or a two-rack ugly drum smoker is where you want to be. Two briskets is a lot of meat and you need a larger pit to do that much at one time.

Bbq Bubba · 03-03-2012, 07:50 PM

You haven't built a drum yet?

POS96GT · 03-03-2012, 07:54 PM

I was actually thinking about the WSM....what are the thougts on a Char-Griller Smokin Pro? Also was pondering the idea of smoking with wood down the road. Is there a smoker in the same price range that would be a good wood burner as well? I'm assuming that the WSM isn't designed for wood but could be totally wrong.

BillywannaQ · 03-03-2012, 08:07 PM

If you go with the Chargriller you'll need to modify it to cook with any type of consistancy. They're thin, leak like sieves, and difficult to maintain a steady temp IMHO. Academy sells some better quality stick burners in that price range. I would start there.

LMAJ · 03-03-2012, 08:40 PM

WSM or if you are handy a UDS.
Get your feet wet and save your pennies cause you will want another/different cooker. You wouldn't be able to help ourself.

kenthanson · 03-03-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS96GT

I was actually thinking about the WSM....what are the thougts on a Char-Griller Smokin Pro? Also was pondering the idea of smoking with wood down the road. Is there a smoker in the same price range that would be a good wood burner as well? I'm assuming that the WSM isn't designed for wood but could be totally wrong.

Pass on the char griller. Got one last spring and what it cost for it and shipping I would have been better buying a wsm from the weber store down the street. I use my char griller weekly and produce some great Q on it, it needs a lot of mods and A LOT of attention when you are cooking.

va_connoisseur · 03-03-2012, 09:07 PM

WSM it's so easy it's like cheating. If you have access to the supplies, go with the UDS.

bbqwilly · 03-03-2012, 09:17 PM

You have plenty of good recommendations. I would be sure to buy something that youre not going to out grow in a year. When I first started I bought the little Brinkman from lowes and 3 months later I was wishing I had more room.
Im not telling you to buy a Lang 84. Just be sure that you get something big enough to fill your needs.

03-03-2012, 07:25 PM	#1
POS96GT Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 01-25-12 Location: Waco, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Help a Newb out with buying first Backyard smoker Been reading the forum for about a month now and decided I want to buy a smoker. I don't need anything to Fancy. Just something that will get the job done. Something big enough for 2 briskets. Not sure if I want to use wood, lump or charcoal. Since I am a total Newb a smoker that is easy to figure out and easy to smoke on would be a plus. $400 is about the limit I am willing to spend. Any help is greatly appreciated.

03-03-2012, 07:27 PM	#2
Chef Jim Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-07-10 Location: Tequesta, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	This is a no brainer. A WSM. Room for lots of meat, easy to learn, lump or bricks. Buy one any you will love it. __________________ Judge Jim, Given to me by Terry @ Git R Smoked. Chef Jim, Gym, Jim, or CJ. I'm not a Chef, but I play one on the internet. http://www.chef-jim.com A veteran is Someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are far too many people in this country who no longer understand it. Author unknown.

03-03-2012, 07:32 PM	#4
txschutte Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Cozad, NE USA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you're gonna buy, go Weber Smokey Mountain (22.5"). You can build a UDS for about 1/8th the price, but the flavor is much different. __________________ "Bring it on, you bananna thong wearing killer of brisket!"-Chambers If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it. I'm such a ZERO. Team Whosoever Q If a man looks lustfully at eggs and bacon, he has already committed breakfast in his heart.

03-03-2012, 07:41 PM	#8
JMSetzler Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-25-11 Location: Valdese, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Just in case someone hasn't said it already, the 22.5 Weber Smokey Mountain or a two-rack ugly drum smoker is where you want to be. Two briskets is a lot of meat and you need a larger pit to do that much at one time. __________________ Visit Man Cave Meals on Facebook and YouTube! Kamado Joe Classic * Kamado Joe Big Joe Ugly Drum Smoker * Weber Performer * Weber Go-Anywhere * Mini WSM Man Cave Meals Video Index

03-03-2012, 07:50 PM	#9
Bbq Bubba somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-07 Location: New Baltimore, Mi. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You haven't built a drum yet? __________________ Pitmaster @ Lockharts BBQ Beer Snob I cook the best brisket north of Dallas. Get over it. Northern midwest director for OBR www.operationbbqrelief.com

03-03-2012, 07:27 PM	#3
BluegrassSmoke On the road to being a farker Join Date: 03-01-12 Location: Radcliff, KY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Build one? UDS....

03-03-2012, 07:36 PM	#6
jestridge somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 12-28-07 Location: annville ky Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i buy something cheap make sure you going to like it. Lot of people will start a new hobby and buy a bunch of expensive stuff then nver use it again

03-03-2012, 07:54 PM	#10
POS96GT Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 01-25-12 Location: Waco, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I was actually thinking about the WSM....what are the thougts on a Char-Griller Smokin Pro? Also was pondering the idea of smoking with wood down the road. Is there a smoker in the same price range that would be a good wood burner as well? I'm assuming that the WSM isn't designed for wood but could be totally wrong.

03-03-2012, 08:07 PM	#11
BillywannaQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-08-08 Location: El Paso, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you go with the Chargriller you'll need to modify it to cook with any type of consistancy. They're thin, leak like sieves, and difficult to maintain a steady temp IMHO. Academy sells some better quality stick burners in that price range. I would start there.

03-03-2012, 08:40 PM	#12
LMAJ Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-01-07 Location: Southeastern Pa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	WSM or if you are handy a UDS. Get your feet wet and save your pennies cause you will want another/different cooker. You wouldn't be able to help ourself. __________________ L-M Official Pennsylvania MOINK Ball maker 1 Large BGE - 7/5/08 1 Large BGE and table - 8/29/12 1 18.5 new to me WSM Super Fast BLUE and RED Thermapen 1 - The Great Outdoors Smoker Sea Bug cooker 1 - Fantastic hubby - the original Big Al _______________________________________ Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault

03-03-2012, 09:07 PM	#14
va_connoisseur On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-11-08 Location: DC Metro Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	WSM it's so easy it's like cheating. If you have access to the supplies, go with the UDS.

03-03-2012, 09:17 PM	#15
bbqwilly Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-03-12 Location: Chickamauga, Ga Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You have plenty of good recommendations. I would be sure to buy something that youre not going to out grow in a year. When I first started I bought the little Brinkman from lowes and 3 months later I was wishing I had more room. Im not telling you to buy a Lang 84. Just be sure that you get something big enough to fill your needs.