Offset Pros and Cons

Blutch · 05-01-2007, 08:41 AM

Brethren,

After my first cook with the UDS, I'm wondering why I would keep my big offset. I've been listing pros and cons and have come up with a lot more cons than pros. I'm not a competitor and don't have time to do it even if I were to want to.

Here is the list of cons on using the offset - fuel.. I don't have an easy or inexpensive source of wood. Inneficience - requires constant tending and fiddling.. I know some enjoy this and so do I when I have two days to blow - which is rare.. Uneven grate temp - Even with a heavy baffle and custom charcoal basket I have to constantly rotate the meat due to inconsisten temps at the grat.. I know I could put in tuning plates and move the exhaust chute down to grate level to help with this, but I don't think it will ever be as even as the drum is. Messy... rotating meat and dealing with the fire is very messy on the deck. Cleaning the pit is also a huge job. I have a great charcoal basket/ash pan setup in the drum which makes cleanup easy. Taste - the Q I did in the drum was as good or better than anything I've been able to do in the offset.. I haven't had the offset that long so I know in time I would get better at it, but I'm asking myself why go through all that when the drum is working great.

Pros - space? The drum has almost as much space and I could build another one fairly easily. Cold weather cooking? Offset is thick, drum is thin.. I wonder in cold and wind how the drum will do? No experience there. The offset looks cool on the deck, the drum looks like my name is Billy Joe Bob and I live in the hills. :-)

That's where my thoughts are. Someone talk me out of selling the offset. :-)

B

kickassbbq · 05-01-2007, 09:00 AM

Do you REALLY need the money from the sale of the offset??
If you do not NEED the money, keep both of them and answer all of those questions over a period of time and experimentation.
You may really miss that Stick Burner!!!!!!! And, if you do miss it after selling it, YOU ARE JACKED!!!
Can't have too many different types of smokers.
Fork That Pork!!!!
Smoke On!!!!!!!

Mooner · 05-01-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickassbbq

Do you REALLY need the money from the sale of the offset??
If you do not NEED the money, keep both of them and answer all of those questions over a period of time and experimentation.
You may really miss that Stick Burner!!!!!!! And, if you do miss it after selling it, YOU ARE JACKED!!!
Can't have too many different types of smokers.
Fork That Pork!!!!
Smoke On!!!!!!!

Agree 100%

drbbq · 05-01-2007, 09:25 AM

The offset is excellent if you have a small wiener and need to compensate, but other than that I can't think of any pros. Heat rises so putting the fire below the food is the obvious choice. I sold mine to my neighbor years ago and have never missed it.

Harbormaster · 05-01-2007, 09:25 AM

I agree too. I have a Brinkmann offset that has the same issues, but I am going to convert mine to a reverse flow this spring/summer. I really believe this will help stabilize the grate temps. My offset has sentimental value as it is my first pit, and my dad got it for me for Christmas almost 10 years ago. It's what got me into this sometimes maddening past tiime.
Keep it. Play with it. Make it more better.

Mooner · 05-01-2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbbq

The offset is excellent if you have a small wiener and need to compensate.

Hahaha, that's funny. What you tryin to say Ray BGE's have no lengthening properties??

drbbq · 05-01-2007, 09:32 AM

Right! Eggers are all OK in that department. No need for help.

ultramag · 05-01-2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbbq

The offset is excellent if you have a small wiener and need to compensate, but other than that I can't think of any pros.

Now that there is funny.

WineMaster · 05-01-2007, 10:08 AM

There is nothing wrong with Drum smokers.
There is nothing wrong with Offsets.
With a offset, people at least know what they are though.
A few drums in the yard and all that comes to mind is Fred Sanford.

drbbq · 05-01-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineMaster

There is nothing wrong with Drum smokers.
There is nothing wrong with Offsets.
With a offset, people at least know what they are though.
A few drums in the yard and all that comes to mind is Fred Sanford.

I think we said the same thing. If you're interested in how people think your cooker looks, get the offset. It's a metaphor, your wiener doesn't really get bigger.

swamprb · 05-01-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbbq

The offset is excellent if you have a small wiener and need to compensate, but other than that I can't think of any pros. Heat rises so putting the fire below the food is the obvious choice. I sold mine to my neighbor years ago and have never missed it.

I guess I won't be bringing mine to the class!

I put mine on craigslist after my last rasslin' match, but I had second thoughts, its currently storing my lump and briqs. It'll probably be around awhile as the OL quit bitchin' about all cookers.

Brian

backyardchef · 05-01-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbbq

It's a metaphor, your wiener doesn't really get bigger.

He's right, you need a Lamborghini for that......

WineMaster · 05-01-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbbq

I think we said the same thing. If you're interested in how people think your cooker looks, get the offset. It's a metaphor, your wiener doesn't really get bigger.

I know that, I thought you just liked talking about your wiener.
Oh and Eggs & Drums share no visual resemblance.

ique · 05-01-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbbq

The offset is excellent if you have a small wiener and need to compensate, but other than that I can't think of any pros. Heat rises so putting the fire below the food is the obvious choice. I sold mine to my neighbor years ago and have never missed it.

I would tend to agree, except there must be some pros when about 1/2 of the top 10 of KCBS are using offsets.

drbbq · 05-01-2007, 10:54 AM

Yeah but they ain't using OK Joes Longhorns or little Brinkmans..

05-01-2007, 08:41 AM	#1
Blutch Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-22-06 Location: Oklahoma City Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Offset Pros and Cons Brethren, After my first cook with the UDS, I'm wondering why I would keep my big offset. I've been listing pros and cons and have come up with a lot more cons than pros. I'm not a competitor and don't have time to do it even if I were to want to. Here is the list of cons on using the offset - fuel.. I don't have an easy or inexpensive source of wood. Inneficience - requires constant tending and fiddling.. I know some enjoy this and so do I when I have two days to blow - which is rare.. Uneven grate temp - Even with a heavy baffle and custom charcoal basket I have to constantly rotate the meat due to inconsisten temps at the grat.. I know I could put in tuning plates and move the exhaust chute down to grate level to help with this, but I don't think it will ever be as even as the drum is. Messy... rotating meat and dealing with the fire is very messy on the deck. Cleaning the pit is also a huge job. I have a great charcoal basket/ash pan setup in the drum which makes cleanup easy. Taste - the Q I did in the drum was as good or better than anything I've been able to do in the offset.. I haven't had the offset that long so I know in time I would get better at it, but I'm asking myself why go through all that when the drum is working great. Pros - space? The drum has almost as much space and I could build another one fairly easily. Cold weather cooking? Offset is thick, drum is thin.. I wonder in cold and wind how the drum will do? No experience there. The offset looks cool on the deck, the drum looks like my name is Billy Joe Bob and I live in the hills. :-) That's where my thoughts are. Someone talk me out of selling the offset. :-) B __________________ >>>>>>>>>> GOSM Regular GOSM Wide Body UDS and another on the way

05-01-2007, 09:00 AM	#2
kickassbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-20-05 Location: mn Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Do you REALLY need the money from the sale of the offset?? If you do not NEED the money, keep both of them and answer all of those questions over a period of time and experimentation. You may really miss that Stick Burner!!!!!!! And, if you do miss it after selling it, YOU ARE JACKED!!! Can't have too many different types of smokers. Fork That Pork!!!! Smoke On!!!!!!! __________________ Smoke On!!!!!! www.kickassbbq.com

05-01-2007, 09:25 AM	#4
drbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-26-04 Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The offset is excellent if you have a small wiener and need to compensate, but other than that I can't think of any pros. Heat rises so putting the fire below the food is the obvious choice. I sold mine to my neighbor years ago and have never missed it. __________________ Ray Lampe Dr. BBQ The Honey Badger of BBQ. I just don't give a sh!t.

05-01-2007, 09:25 AM	#5
Harbormaster Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree too. I have a Brinkmann offset that has the same issues, but I am going to convert mine to a reverse flow this spring/summer. I really believe this will help stabilize the grate temps. My offset has sentimental value as it is my first pit, and my dad got it for me for Christmas almost 10 years ago. It's what got me into this sometimes maddening past tiime. Keep it. Play with it. Make it more better. __________________ 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"

05-01-2007, 09:32 AM	#7
drbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-26-04 Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Right! Eggers are all OK in that department. No need for help. __________________ Ray Lampe Dr. BBQ The Honey Badger of BBQ. I just don't give a sh!t.

05-01-2007, 10:08 AM	#9
WineMaster Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-16-07 Location: Southern MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	There is nothing wrong with Drum smokers. There is nothing wrong with Offsets. With a offset, people at least know what they are though. A few drums in the yard and all that comes to mind is Fred Sanford. __________________ Dan MJH From Backyard Bomber BBQ ---- X 2 Junior & Stretch 22.5 Weber Kettle Blue Thermopen Comp Team Wine & Swine This is funner than chuckin rocks at a sign. John Godwin (Duck Dynasty)

05-01-2007, 10:54 AM	#15
drbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-26-04 Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah but they ain't using OK Joes Longhorns or little Brinkmans.. __________________ Ray Lampe Dr. BBQ The Honey Badger of BBQ. I just don't give a sh!t.

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