Start on the cheaper end or buy the expensive smoker I really want?

[rm41400]

Splurge. A quality stick burner will make things so much more enjoyable.

I think a cheap stickburner makes life a lot more difficult. Yes it can be done but it seems most people have more problems with them.

I spent about $1200 on my first stickburner and it was a backyard job/copy of a smaller Lang. I wanted to make sure I would actually really enjoy a stick burner. Loved it and snagged a Shirley and offloaded the Lang copy.

The only reason I would go cheaper is if your not really sure about smoking/cooking or just struggling to swing a higher end smoker.

[KB BBQ]

Get the one you actually want, you'll end up buying it later anyway. (Ask me how I know)

[smoke ninja]

If your sure about stick burning and the attention it takes get what you want as long as your comfortable spending the money.

I've never spent more than $300 on a cooker... heck, maybe $250. It was for an ok Joe longhorn and I loved the thing but life got complicated and stick burning was out of the question. I'd love to return to it and was ready to jump on what I consider the perfect smoker for me but every time I save up the $2500 for it I cant pull the trigger. I'm literally flush with stimulus $ I didn't even expect and I still cant do it

[Burn]

And there’s always the Ironside pellet charcoal all wood option.

[Killa J]

Originally Posted by Burn

Seeing you’re in La maybe source a pit from that area. There’s that one dude on YouTube that makes cool cookers. I can’t remember his name but there was a thread a few weeks back.

The one with the cool videos is probably Country Built Smokers (Allen’s Welding on YouTube). Funny enough, he’s building me a Santa Maria grill. However, he’s far enough away from me that shipping is still a bit expensive. And it was supposed to be finished last December.

There is a guy about 15 minutes from me that builds what looks like high quality stuff called Boathouse Smokers. He only has a Facebook page. Almost all of what he builds are cabinet style or cabinet-ish reverse flows. I had actually kind of forgotten about him because my BBQ buddy had talked me out of getting a vertical smoker. Maybe I should give Boathouse another look.

[Burn]

Damn. Didn’t know he was so behind! I’ve head about boathouse but don’t know much. I just think going local if they can build a top notch pit saves you shipping charges.

[Killa J]

Originally Posted by Burn

Damn. Didn’t know he was so behind! I’ve head about boathouse but don’t know much. I just think going local if they can build a top notch pit saves you shipping charges.

Maybe I should ask him to switch my build to a smoker if he hasn’t started. A Santa Maria seems fun, but I’ll use a smoker way more often.

[gtsum]

Originally Posted by Killa J

How many briskets can you reasonably fit on your 1975? I’m pretty much a complete newbie with offsets, but I know you can’t just cram the entire cooking grate full with good results.

I’m worried that Workhorse’s prices might go up if I wait.

Four on the bottom and maybe a couple on top (if thinner without a huge point). Maybe 5 on bottom shelf, depending on size. I’m guessing as I have not done that many yet. if running a lazy fire and the main grate is 250, the top will be 275…if running a hotter fire and 275 is main, the upper grate is 25-50 hotter. It’s very, very even side to side

Edit - not my pic…someone else’s 1975 with four





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[Burn]

Originally Posted by Killa J

Maybe I should ask him to switch my build to a smoker if he hasn’t started. A Santa Maria seems fun, but I’ll use a smoker way more often.

Definitely a great idea!

[WeberWho]

My very first stick burner was 24x65 from Shirley Fabrication. I never ran an offset smoker prior. One came up for sale here in MN and figured it was my one and only shot of picking up a Shirley Fabrication smoker. So I jumped on it. I have zero regrets. What an awesome learning experience! Go for it!

[16Adams]

Caddo Mills T

https://bigphilssmokers.com/lil-phranklin/

[Jrogers84]

I wouldn’t be dropping big coin on anything right now. Raw material prices are through the roof and we have an extremely uncertain economy right now. Personally I’d be playing it safe for a bit.


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[Killa J]

Originally Posted by 16Adams

Caddo Mills T

https://bigphilssmokers.com/lil-phranklin/

Damn, they even call it a Phranklin. At least Workhorse had theirs out before Franklin did, even if they look alike.

Their prices on really big smokers are the best I’ve seen.

[Killa J]

Originally Posted by Jrogers84

I wouldn’t be dropping big coin on anything right now. Raw material prices are through the roof and we have an extremely uncertain economy right now. Personally I’d be playing it safe for a bit.


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Probably the most sensible answer. Maybe I’ll just work on my fire management in the Good One and see if I can get that working better for me. We do plan on moving to a bigger place in a few years, maybe I’ll hold off until I have a place to fit a 250 gallon smoker. Gotta think big

[rm41400]

Originally Posted by Killa J

Probably the most sensible answer. Maybe I’ll just work on my fire management in the Good One and see if I can get that working better for me. We do plan on moving to a bigger place in a few years, maybe I’ll hold off until I have a place to fit a 250 gallon smoker. Gotta think big

I hope you didn’t come here for a sensible answer… :)

cooking at home can be quite sensible and save on your eating out. Plus cooking with wood fire has gotta be good for your soul!