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ZILLA
05-28-2008, 08:08 PM
This site was started for cookers who use the New Braunfels Smoker model "Bandera".

After reading a post by Scolli about refurbing his old Bandera I started to wonder who had one and who still uses it.

ZILLA
05-28-2008, 08:15 PM
I have never owned one. I saw them well after I had a custom smoker.

bbqbull
05-28-2008, 08:15 PM
Did they make the first Bandera that didnt include and upright?
Looked more like an offset grill back in the early 90's?

eagle697
05-28-2008, 08:17 PM
I have two and I love them.

FatDaddy
05-28-2008, 08:56 PM
I've never owned one. I've always thought about getting one if i could find a used one to refurb, but ive got too many good cookers now to neglect em with a new bandera. now i wouldnt mind have Pooh's MOAB.

smokinbadger
05-28-2008, 09:01 PM
The Bandera was my first smoker. After I got my Klose and my WSM, I gave the 'dera to a friend--a displaced Texan living here in Michigan. I learned a lot about fire control with that cooker, and more importantly, a google search for Bandera is what led me to this great forum a couple of years back.

Kevin
05-28-2008, 09:03 PM
Don't forget the Brinkmann Smoke King Deluxe. BSKD. Mirror of the newer dera's. Not as good and heavy as the original Dera's of old, but a very similar cooker. I love mine.

eagle697
05-28-2008, 09:04 PM
If you look around craigslist for smokers you may find them for fairly reasonable. I bought both of mine for MUCH less than you can but any decent offset smoker new. A really good deal when you consider an old dera is way thicker than most newer smokers.

Brauma
05-28-2008, 09:25 PM
My Bandera is my main Smoker. But I use my Weber kettle twice as much as the Dera for backyard cooking.

Rookie'48
05-28-2008, 11:32 PM
Don't forget the BSKD. I love mine.

Same here. I use it for my bigger cooks, like two 18 pound hams:

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg65/Rookie48/100_0552.jpg

CajunSmoker
05-29-2008, 06:16 AM
I still have my BSKD but haven't used it lately since I turned into a drumhead:rolleyes:.

I do have a project that I'm working on to mount the BSKD onto a small utility trailer that I can pull around with my lawn mower. Thinking it may be cool to take to tailgate party's.

Smokin Gator
05-29-2008, 06:41 AM
I had a BSKD but sold it a while back. I just wasn't using it anymore and felt like sharing the love!!!

WannaBeBBQueen
05-29-2008, 06:44 AM
I have one too, but since buying our spicewine we have not used it once.

MoKanMeathead
05-29-2008, 07:59 AM
I have a Bandera that has sat in my barn unused for 4 years.

Arlin_MacRae
05-29-2008, 08:12 AM
I have a Bandera that has sat in my barn unused for 4 years.

Mine's been my main for four years. No barn time. :wink:

Transformer BBQ
05-29-2008, 08:44 AM
I had a BSKD. I bought it in San Fran, I hauled it back to Boston... and I gave it away this past March. My collection of toys was growing, and a friend was interested in starting to learn to cook bbq... he uses it 3 times a week now, so I feel it was a good choice.

NCGrimbo
05-29-2008, 08:50 AM
Same here. I use it for my bigger cooks, like two 18 pound hams:

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg65/Rookie48/100_0552.jpg

Be careful with that smoker. Someone assembled it backwards. :eusa_clap

I'm still using my Bandera as my primary smoker. I've had it for about 3 years. This summer I'm going to sandblast all the rust off it and repaint it before it gets to far gone.

JeffW
05-29-2008, 08:51 AM
My Dera was my first smoker Purchased new for $150 probably 10 years ago. The original NB. Heavy metal and all. Used it off and on for several years but only started smoking on about two years ago. Lotta work to get it tuned and keep temps steady. Made some mods and basket.

This year I bought a WSM and Stoker all hooked up to a wireless network. Now I use that almost every weekend and the Dera just sits there. I will keep it for those times that I need to do a large amount of food, but lets face it the WSM and Stoker sure do make it easy. :-P

slat
05-29-2008, 09:39 AM
Mine is my main. I do comps with it and everything. I bought another one at a garage sale not to long ago.

Solidkick
05-29-2008, 04:57 PM
I was just thinking this week...."I need to fire up the 'dera!"
mine has set idle for a year now.....but I do love that old thing! Lot's of memories, failures, and successes with it......

BBQ Bandit
05-29-2008, 05:01 PM
Still playing with fire on my BSKD.

BBQchef33
05-29-2008, 05:40 PM
The Bandera is my goto.. next to my kettle, its used the most.. and that includes 2 custom kloses and the spicewine.

Since i modified the bandera with the half inch plate, even the kloses haven't been fired up since may/07.

nmayeux
05-29-2008, 07:07 PM
I love my BSKD, and use it on my smaller cooks. I do like my Lang, but there will always be a place in my heart for the BSKD, because she introduced me to real Q!

Also, she is perfect for smoking British bacon!

Bigdog
05-29-2008, 07:42 PM
Be careful with that smoker. Someone assembled it backwards. :eusa_clap



Nope. The smoker is fine, it's Dave that is backwards. :tongue::biggrin: