markdtn
is one Smokin' Farker
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2010
- Location
- Chattanooga, TN
I have found an older Klose pit that needs some work in another state. It is a Backyard Chef, kind of in-between current sizes. It is 33 long, 20" diameter vertical main chamber and 20x20 upright with 3 shelves. It has had the firebox removed due to rust in the firebox, but the rest has been sandblasted. All the rest of the metal looks good. By the time I call in all of my favors and ship it and buy metal and weld it up and paint it I will probably have $1500 in it. I can work out the logistics and fabricate a firebox if it is the right thing to do. I am just trying to figure out if this is big enough for me. I currently have a Bandera with 5 shelves (16x 17) so 1360 square inches of cooking space. This is 33" long in the main chamber so I would have (33 x 18 ) + (33 x 9) + 3(20 x 20)=2091 square inches. I am a weekend kind of cooker, do not intend to do any competitions, I just like to cook for family and small groups.
Here is the question. Is this "big enough" at the price or do I just save another $1500 to go with it and get a brand new 40" (or bigger) Backyard Chef? Any weekend cookers that have moved up from a Bandera, what did you get? I am just on the fence with this. I want a bigger better smoker, but how big is big enough? Not sure I want to go through all the hassle if this is not a keeper, but the lure of a Klose at 1/2 price of new is making me look hard at it. Thoughts?
Here is the question. Is this "big enough" at the price or do I just save another $1500 to go with it and get a brand new 40" (or bigger) Backyard Chef? Any weekend cookers that have moved up from a Bandera, what did you get? I am just on the fence with this. I want a bigger better smoker, but how big is big enough? Not sure I want to go through all the hassle if this is not a keeper, but the lure of a Klose at 1/2 price of new is making me look hard at it. Thoughts?