Question for all the WSM experts...

Texas Turtle · 12-10-2012, 08:09 AM

I just picked up a 22.5 WSM NIB off of CL in Houston. I have had my 18.5 WSM for about a year and I am certainly no expert, but the thing is pretty darned easy to turn out decent que on and I am getting more confident with each cook. My question is, how much difference is there between cooking on the 18 and the 22? Obviously, you can fit a lot more meat on the bigger unit and the ring should hold quite a bit more fuel. Does the extra fuel translate into higher temps or longer burns or does that just depend on operator performance? Planning on putting the big'un together this weekend and doing the first cook with some fatties and a chicken or two to break it in.

Wager · 12-10-2012, 08:19 AM

I've got both as well and other than different vent settings and burning more fuel to maintain temps I haven't noticed any difference at all. the first cook i did on the 22 I set it up just like i did my 18 with the same vent settings and everything. I order to get the temps I wanted I had to adjust the vents little but other than that I may as well had been cooking on the 18.

grantw · 12-10-2012, 08:21 AM

I have an iq and its the same settings on both pits

Cayman1 · 12-10-2012, 08:46 AM

No big difference. HH will be harder on 22 without additional top vent. I just got a new larger fan for my Auber just for chicken to cook at 325.

Texas Turtle · 12-10-2012, 08:50 AM

I have an IQUE but I am planning on doing several cooks without it in order to get comfortable with the 22 (like I did with the 1

. Thanks for the input.

TosaJake · 12-10-2012, 10:59 AM

The only real difference is it's gonna cost you a lot more because it looks so empty only cooking one or two racks, briskets, shoulders at a time so you compulsively buy more meat which attracts more family and "friends".

BobM · 12-10-2012, 11:40 AM

They cook the same. The extra room is great.

gooose53 · 12-10-2012, 12:18 PM

I have both and have used them both in competitions and home use and have found I like the 18 better. Nothing wrong with the 22 and it puts out great food I just have found that the 18 seems to hold temps better.

sparky' · 12-10-2012, 12:21 PM

i've got both of them and use the 18 WSM 95% of the time.

12-10-2012, 08:09 AM	#1
Texas Turtle Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-26-09 Location: Fulshear, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Question for all the WSM experts... I just picked up a 22.5 WSM NIB off of CL in Houston. I have had my 18.5 WSM for about a year and I am certainly no expert, but the thing is pretty darned easy to turn out decent que on and I am getting more confident with each cook. My question is, how much difference is there between cooking on the 18 and the 22? Obviously, you can fit a lot more meat on the bigger unit and the ring should hold quite a bit more fuel. Does the extra fuel translate into higher temps or longer burns or does that just depend on operator performance? Planning on putting the big'un together this weekend and doing the first cook with some fatties and a chicken or two to break it in. __________________ BBQ Apprentice - Old Country Brazos offset, 22.5 WSM, Various gassers, portable grills, etc.

12-10-2012, 08:46 AM	#4
Cayman1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-20-12 Location: Springfield, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	No big difference. HH will be harder on 22 without additional top vent. I just got a new larger fan for my Auber just for chicken to cook at 325. __________________ Smooth Smoke BBQ Team, KCBS CBJ, 2-WSM, wsm 2880, Smokey Joe Mini wsm, Old Country Offset, Red Weber OTG, Blue Weber OTG.

12-10-2012, 08:50 AM	#5
Texas Turtle Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-26-09 Location: Fulshear, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have an IQUE but I am planning on doing several cooks without it in order to get comfortable with the 22 (like I did with the 1. Thanks for the input. __________________ BBQ Apprentice - Old Country Brazos offset, 22.5 WSM, Various gassers, portable grills, etc. Last edited by Texas Turtle; 12-10-2012 at 08:50 AM.. Reason: typo

12-10-2012, 10:59 AM	#6
TosaJake Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 08-13-12 Location: Wauwatosa, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The only real difference is it's gonna cost you a lot more because it looks so empty only cooking one or two racks, briskets, shoulders at a time so you compulsively buy more meat which attracts more family and "friends". __________________ "Keep calm and carry on" - WSM 22.5, WSM 18.5, OTG, and a Guru for when I feel lazy!

12-10-2012, 11:40 AM	#7
BobM is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-16-12 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	They cook the same. The extra room is great. __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin \| Weber 18 1/2" & 22 1/2" WSM, 22 1/2" & 26 3/4" OTG, Genesis S-330 \| \| BBQ Guru CyberQ WiFi \| Maverick ET-732 \|

12-10-2012, 08:19 AM	#2
Wager On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-20-08 Location: Charlotte, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've got both as well and other than different vent settings and burning more fuel to maintain temps I haven't noticed any difference at all. the first cook i did on the 22 I set it up just like i did my 18 with the same vent settings and everything. I order to get the temps I wanted I had to adjust the vents little but other than that I may as well had been cooking on the 18.

12-10-2012, 08:21 AM	#3
grantw Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-13-12 Location: canada Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I have an iq and its the same settings on both pits

12-10-2012, 12:18 PM	#8
gooose53 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-07-08 Location: Goose Creek, SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have both and have used them both in competitions and home use and have found I like the 18 better. Nothing wrong with the 22 and it puts out great food I just have found that the 18 seems to hold temps better. __________________ 2010 South Carolina State BBQ Champion (SCBA)

12-10-2012, 12:21 PM	#9
sparky' Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-30-11 Location: northern california Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i've got both of them and use the 18 WSM 95% of the time. __________________ Green Ghost - '74 weber kettle, Big Nasty - 22.5 WSM, Little Blackie - Mak 1 Star #69