WSM options

mcgrathc20 · 02-25-2013, 02:11 PM

I have a Brinkman ECB which I don't really have positive results with. But I have a Weber OTG with the smokenator and have great results with that.

I want to move up to the WSM but not sure if I should go with the 18.5 or 22.5, thoughts?

caseydog · 02-25-2013, 02:15 PM

The 22.5 has more capacity, but also uses more fuel. You have to match cooker size to your cook size.

Since I rarely do large cooks, I went with an 18.5, and if I need extra capacity, I can use one of my OTGs or mini-WSM. I think I've only had to do that once in about two years.

CD

tnjimbob · 02-25-2013, 02:16 PM

Spend the extra $100 on the 22". They can be fuel hogs, but you could purchase a charcoal ring for an 18" that would still give good results but would be more fuel efficient than the one that comes with the 22".

Carbon · 02-25-2013, 02:21 PM

If you're handy you can modify your ECB and turn it into a good smoker. Then you have no excuse but to get the bigger WSM. And then there's always the UDS option if you don't want to spend that kind of money.

PaPaQ · 02-25-2013, 02:21 PM

^^^ That's what i did. Bought the 22" and the charcoal ring for an 18" for the smaller cooks. The 22" has a lot more room for ribs.

flyingbassman5 · 02-25-2013, 02:29 PM

Go with the 18.5" if you aren't planning on doing big cooks. If you do end up or think you will end up doing big cooks for family parties then go with the 22.5".

Or get the 18.5" and then use the rest of the money in you budget for the 22.5" and invest it in building a 55 gal UDS. Then you can use the WSM for smaller cooks and when the in-laws come over you can roll out the UDS and cook for a party.

Cayman1 · 02-25-2013, 04:13 PM

The 22 is not just for big cooks, but cooking big pieces of meat. A slab of ribs, without shortening will not fit on an 18 and neither will a big packer without draping over something like a rib rack.

Go for the 22, you won't be disappointed for an extra $100.

305Q · 02-25-2013, 04:43 PM

I kow someone who is selling a slightly used 22.5 WSM **wink wink**

BobM · 02-25-2013, 04:59 PM

I have both sized WSMs, and I use them both.
If I had to have one, I'd get the 22 1/2" model.

superlazy · 02-25-2013, 05:22 PM

I struggled with the same decision last yr and ended up with the 18.5 and am quite happy.
I was helping my sister move this weekend and some how got talked into bringing my wsm down for Easter and cooking this yr.. At first I thought ok no prob. until last night the wife told me I should do 3 or 4 butts and 2 hams

I got thinking about it today and it will be fine. I should be able to do 4 butts at once and they can rest while the hams are on. Heck i may even toss on a few rack of ribs while the hams are going to nibble on later in the evening

benniesdad · 02-25-2013, 05:28 PM

I have had an 18.5 WSM for years and it has been plenty big enough to do ribs, full packer briskets and a pile of pork butts. Or should I say it was big enough to do all those things until the 22.5 came out. Now my smoker is too small and I have a bad case of WSM smoker envy. I am just having a hard time convincing the Mrs. that I need a new smoker.

If I had the option, I would definitely go with the 22.5. There have been lots of times when I really could have used the extra room.

Rover24 · 02-25-2013, 05:32 PM

Get the 22.5 incher...if you have the 22.5 and you want to use less fuel, you have options.

Freddy j · 02-25-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobM

I have both sized WSMs, and I use them both.
If I had to have one, I'd get the 22 1/2" model.

Me too, love my 22

jazzybadger · 02-25-2013, 06:11 PM

I went with the 22" and rarely do I ever use the smaller ring to go along with it, but it's nice to have it in case I need it. I have used it a couple of times, but generally it's during chicken cooks.

Harbormaster · 02-25-2013, 06:26 PM

I started with an 18.5" and when I needed more room, I just bought more WSMs.

I have cooked 6 butts on one 18.5" WSM and I can do 12 racks of St. Louis trimmed spares on a WSM (if they're not comp ribs).

Never really felt the need to go with a 22.5".

Regardless of size, you will not go wrong with a WSM.

02-25-2013, 02:11 PM	#1
mcgrathc20 Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 04-05-12 Location: Staten island, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	WSM options I have a Brinkman ECB which I don't really have positive results with. But I have a Weber OTG with the smokenator and have great results with that. I want to move up to the WSM but not sure if I should go with the 18.5 or 22.5, thoughts?

02-25-2013, 02:15 PM	#2
caseydog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-08-10 Location: Dallas, TX Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The 22.5 has more capacity, but also uses more fuel. You have to match cooker size to your cook size. Since I rarely do large cooks, I went with an 18.5, and if I need extra capacity, I can use one of my OTGs or mini-WSM. I think I've only had to do that once in about two years. 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?

02-25-2013, 02:16 PM	#3
tnjimbob Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-02-12 Location: Nashville, Tn Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Spend the extra $100 on the 22". They can be fuel hogs, but you could purchase a charcoal ring for an 18" that would still give good results but would be more fuel efficient than the one that comes with the 22". __________________ Traeger Lil' Tex Elite, WSM, Green SS Performer, 22" OTG, hyperfast orange Thermapen. CBJ.

02-25-2013, 02:21 PM	#4
Carbon is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-24-08 Location: Los Angeles Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you're handy you can modify your ECB and turn it into a good smoker. Then you have no excuse but to get the bigger WSM. And then there's always the UDS option if you don't want to spend that kind of money. __________________ UDS / Mini-WSM / Weber 22.5 OTG / Modified ECB / Lodge hibachi / 34" WFO.

02-25-2013, 02:21 PM	#5
PaPaQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-07-07 Location: Midland, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	^^^ That's what i did. Bought the 22" and the charcoal ring for an 18" for the smaller cooks. The 22" has a lot more room for ribs. __________________ CTO SS-2 WSM 22.5" OTG / Cajun Bandit

02-25-2013, 02:29 PM	#6
flyingbassman5 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-26-12 Location: Saint Louis MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Go with the 18.5" if you aren't planning on doing big cooks. If you do end up or think you will end up doing big cooks for family parties then go with the 22.5". Or get the 18.5" and then use the rest of the money in you budget for the 22.5" and invest it in building a 55 gal UDS. Then you can use the WSM for smaller cooks and when the in-laws come over you can roll out the UDS and cook for a party. __________________ 18.5" OTS, 22.5" OTG, CB Silver(Rip), Vintage Coleman Bullet, Pit Barrel, UDS

02-25-2013, 04:13 PM	#7
Cayman1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-20-12 Location: Springfield, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The 22 is not just for big cooks, but cooking big pieces of meat. A slab of ribs, without shortening will not fit on an 18 and neither will a big packer without draping over something like a rib rack. Go for the 22, you won't be disappointed for an extra $100. __________________ Smooth Smoke BBQ Team, KCBS CBJ, 2-WSM, wsm 2880, Smokey Joe Mini wsm, Old Country Offset, Red Weber OTG, Blue Weber OTG.

02-25-2013, 04:43 PM	#8
305Q Got Wood. Join Date: 12-28-12 Location: Miami, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I kow someone who is selling a slightly used 22.5 WSM wink wink

02-25-2013, 04:59 PM	#9
BobM is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-16-12 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have both sized WSMs, and I use them both. If I had to have one, I'd get the 22 1/2" model. __________________ "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 \|

02-25-2013, 05:22 PM	#10
superlazy is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-16-12 Location: kenosha,wi Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I struggled with the same decision last yr and ended up with the 18.5 and am quite happy. I was helping my sister move this weekend and some how got talked into bringing my wsm down for Easter and cooking this yr.. At first I thought ok no prob. until last night the wife told me I should do 3 or 4 butts and 2 hams I got thinking about it today and it will be fine. I should be able to do 4 butts at once and they can rest while the hams are on. Heck i may even toss on a few rack of ribs while the hams are going to nibble on later in the evening __________________ 18.5 WSM, Weber genesis,little pig grill,crappy smokin pit pro

02-25-2013, 05:28 PM	#11
benniesdad On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-26-12 Location: Locust Grove, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have had an 18.5 WSM for years and it has been plenty big enough to do ribs, full packer briskets and a pile of pork butts. Or should I say it was big enough to do all those things until the 22.5 came out. Now my smoker is too small and I have a bad case of WSM smoker envy. I am just having a hard time convincing the Mrs. that I need a new smoker. If I had the option, I would definitely go with the 22.5. There have been lots of times when I really could have used the extra room. __________________ WSM, Performer, 22.5 & 18.5 OTG, SJG, mini WSM, Summit 420, Q100, C-G Akorn, and Schwenkgrill

02-25-2013, 05:32 PM	#12
Rover24 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-29-09 Location: Sacramento, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Get the 22.5 incher...if you have the 22.5 and you want to use less fuel, you have options. __________________ 22" WSM, Brinkman Smoke N' Pit "He Hate Me" & Various UDS Parts

02-25-2013, 06:11 PM	#14
jazzybadger Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-12-10 Location: Jazzy Gerbil Land. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I went with the 22" and rarely do I ever use the smaller ring to go along with it, but it's nice to have it in case I need it. I have used it a couple of times, but generally it's during chicken cooks. __________________ The Life of the Knife is Ended By! The Wife.

02-25-2013, 06:26 PM	#15
Harbormaster Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I started with an 18.5" and when I needed more room, I just bought more WSMs. I have cooked 6 butts on one 18.5" WSM and I can do 12 racks of St. Louis trimmed spares on a WSM (if they're not comp ribs). Never really felt the need to go with a 22.5". Regardless of size, you will not go wrong with a WSM. __________________ Clark My Boys: Joseph (EI); Andrew (EE); Daniel (EE) My Toys: 10 WSMs (B, C, DH, DA, EZ, DZ, EO, DU, DR, EE/DU mutt); Brinkman Cimmaron; Chuckwagon Cooker; 22.5" OTG (DT); Two 22.5" Bar-B-Kettles; One 18.5" Bar-B-Kettle; Smokey Joes (A, K); Genesis Silver C (DU); 3 WGAs (EZ, DE, N); 3 SJPs (DT, DU, DR). "For when democracy becomes tyranny, those of us with rifles still get to vote"