Hope this 'equipment' question is 'in-bounds' ....

[Q_Egg]

.... I'm a very short time into serious BBQ (and all of it involving the Brethren here) and have the following equipment question(s) as I look to the future. I need to add some brief background.

1) The Charbroil Bandera was my first serious Q product and .. in retrospect .. it was a notable product for the dollars invested ($259.). I also did the recommended mods.

2) Klose offers a product which is like a 'super Bandera' at the high end of my cost range ..... but freight or driving to get it is impractical.

3) Brinkmann SKD seems to be somewhere in between these two extremes.One question is: Where does it fall in the range I described?

I did not include other popular smokers because they did not seem to offer the same grill + cooker + smoker capabilities. I am open-minded about alternatives which I may have overlooked. Is there a 'small capacity', versatile cooker I need to include ... grill + cook + smoke ... ???

I also really need to do a good job cooking artisan breads and pizza.

Finally, it is clear that I am now cooking on a Large Big Green Egg ceramic cooker. It meets most of my needs but its size and shape force some specific discipline and operational issues.

I will appreciate your comments, but certainly want to keep things in a calm and 'chatty' context.

OK ... fire away!

 

[FatDad]

.... I'm a very short time into serious BBQ (and all of it involving the Brethren here) and have the following equipment question(s) as I look to the future. I need to add some brief background.

1) The Charbroil Bandera was my first serious Q product and .. in retrospect .. it was a notable product for the dollars invested ($259.). I also did the recommended mods.

2) Klose offers a product which is like a 'super Bandera' at the high end of my cost range ..... but freight or driving to get it is impractical.

3) Brinkmann SKD seems to be somewhere in between these two extremes.One question is: Where does it fall in the range I described?

I did not include other popular smokers because they did not seem to offer the same grill + cooker + smoker capabilities. I am open-minded about alternatives which I may have overlooked. Is there a 'small capacity', versatile cooker I need to include ... grill + cook + smoke ... ???

I also really need to do a good job cooking artisan breads and pizza.

Finally, it is clear that I am now cooking on a Large Big Green Egg ceramic cooker. It meets most of my needs but its size and shape force some specific discipline and operational issues.

I will appreciate your comments, but certainly want to keep things in a calm and 'chatty' context.

OK ... fire away!

Easy answer....WSM
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/tour.html

 

[Q_Egg]

MayBE ... but do I have the same 'easy' ability to control the DIRECT cook fire when grilling ... say chicken OR ??? Yesterday I overloaded my cooker with lump and some chunk wood for a 'high temp' spatchcocked chicken cook ... trying to emulate a tandoori clay cooker. The fire was too hot, the chicken stuck, turning it over was a mess, almost ruined dinner ... my fault! If I could have pulled out a tray containing the fire source, I could have removed some fo the fuel ... or something ... and brought things back under control. That seems lke one of the advantages of the offset cookers I have seen. Clearly, the problem is mine, but I like the flexibility to recover from my own mistakes!

 

[Neil]

If recolection serves me correct, you already tried a bandera and did not like it. The BSKD is a mirror image of the Bandera, fire box on the left as opposed to it being on the right on the Bandera. The WSM would be my choice.

 

[Ron_L]

Hopefully I am interpretting your needs/wants properly, Tom. It sounds like you want something that is shaped differently than the Egg for things like a brisket and larger cooks. it also sounds like you want more flexibility in cooking methods and fire control. If so, here's a couple of fairly low cost options (besides the Bandera/BSKD & WSM).

Chargriller Super Pro (with the optional side fire box) - Can be used as a grill or an offset. Looks to be fairly well made, but thinner steel (you get what you pay for). The local Menard's HW superstores have there for around $125 - $150 depending on season. I think Big Mista has one of these.

Bar-B-Chef- Sold exclusively by BBQs Galore on line. Do a google search and you'll find lots of reviews. Most people seem to feel that this is a great value cooker.

Going upscale you can look at the Laredo or Longhorn cookers. Leebo started a thread discussing the pros and cons of these. There's also this thread on the Longhorn. There's more, but I'll let you do the search.

There are also many cookers in the $500 - $1000 range like the Horizon Classic line and others. I'm sure folks will chime in with info about others.

BTW, I haven't cooked on any of the cookers I mentioned. I have seen a Chargriller in action in a local rib cookoff and it looked like a decent cooker, but the others are just from info I have gathered here and on the Web.

 

[Q_Egg]

Neil ... your recollection is correct, but the Bandera + Green Egg combo might not be a bad thought for the $$$ .... as long as I have room for both. If the Bandera (new China version) is a "1" and the Klose version is a "10" ... I was wondering where the BSKD would fall on the scale in most Brethren's opinion.
I have looked for a WSM in my small town, but have not seen one. Can the 'firebox' be pulled out while the unit is lit and cooking?

 

[Q_Egg]

Ron L .. thanks for the helpful set of possibilities!

.... actually, the BGE does a fine job with long, slow cooks like brisket or butt. It controls temp very well and uses minimal fuel.

One issue for me is the physical manipulation required for 'direct', high temp cooks which may require very high temp searing/marking, and then a quick move to lower temp finishing. Larger cooking areas can allow quick and easy movement of the ... steak, etc ...

Doing it in the smaller area of the BGE requires pulling the meat, inserting various grids and heat buffers, then replacing the steak to cook it to desired temp. This cannot be done with some of the ceramic components since they might crack with sudden major temp changes. There are certanly solutions, ie. tossiing the steak into a preheated cast iron frying pan, inserting another cooking grate, and placing the pan on top to continue the cook. This may work fine for one or two large steaks ... 4+ large steaks raise different problems.

A look at the list of cookers used by many of the Brethren seems to indicate the need for .. 'the right tool for the right job' instead of 'one size fits all'.

 

[wnkt]

The WSM body lifts off the firebowl at the bottom for easy fire tending.
There is a website all about the WSM here at http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/

I dont use one of these but I use the cheap knockoff Brinkman Smoke'n Grill.
You have to make changes to the Brinkman to make it more like the WSM, but its a LOT cheaper at $30 ( what I paid for mine) compared to a couple hundred for the WSM. But the WSM is a much better cooker and better made.

 

[Kevin]

Tom, Sounds like you've got the low and slow covered for most of what you want to do. I suggest the Chargriller. It is light gauge metal and won't hold temp like your egg, but it has much more grilling capacity. I use mine for chicken and other things that I like to cook a little hotter than I do with the skd. It has cast iron grates which I like. They sell the cooker and fire box seperately so you can get just the cooker first and try it out. Add the side fire box later if you think you'll want it. I've got the side box but rarely use it. If I'm doing low and slow I use the skd. The cooker is big enough to do offset with the fire at one end and the meat at the other.

Of course your mileage may vary.
http://www.chargriller.com/

 

[Q_Egg]

I appreciate your thoughts Kevin .. particularly given the equipment set you are experienced with. Your analysis of my situation at the moment is a good one and perhaps the grilling issue needs to drive the next move. I particularly like the long cooking surface of the Chargriller for the reasons you noted.

The ability to deal with the firebox separately is another plus. I'm not unwilling to go up a couple of notches in cost for a heavier-duty version, but there are just no sources for me within 1000 miles or more.

Regards,

 

[kcquer]

Tommy, the BSKD is just a little better made and has a few features that are a bit nicer than the Bandera (currently available models). Given your 1 to 10 criteria, the BSKD is a 1.5, it is still virtually the same as a Bandera.

A good option that hasn't come up yet is to continue to cook on the gear you have a little longer until you can better define your needs/wants. As time goes on a clearer picture of your ultimate cooker will come into view. Then maybe you can have a local metal shop build exactly what you want that will fit into your needs and budget.

 

[motley que]

go with the chargriller. I swear by it. Lowes will price match - 10% if you print out the price from northerntool.com . I barely use it to grill, its mainly my smoker but i did load it up with burgers and i got at least 15 on at a time.

 

[Q_Egg]

Continuing ideas and sound advice here .....

..... I DO probably need to control my impulsive natue and let a little more time go by.

I did check at Lowes today and will look at the link posted for price match.

I am surprised at 1.5 rating on BSKD versus Bandera and will pass on that basis.

I do appreciate the calming and useful influence from all here and will proceed with caution.

Many thanks,

 

[CTSmokehouse]

I have used a New Braunfels Black Diamond for about 12 years I love the ease of use and quality. Last year I ordered the Char Broil Bandera and have all the mods. I ordered it because of my experience with New Braunfels. I really like it but it pales in quality compared to the Black Diamond which was made in Texas. The Bandera was made in China. I recently purchased the Char Griller Outlaw, which is bigger I believe than the Pro. I am doing a grilling comp in August and I got it for size and the rought iron grates. I got it online at Amazon.com for 149.99, no tax, free delivery. I love it. I use it almost every day. It is now fully seasoned and has an adjustible charcoal bed. I add sticks of hickory to it. It also has the option of adding a side box for use as a smoker. It is very well made and thought out. Nothing out there come close to the quality at that price.The Indy Competition BBQ team has a website and they do a blog on their experience with the Pro. They use it for catering. The WSM is also a very good choice and one that our team uses.

Yours in BBQ,

Cliff

 

[Q_Egg]

Timely post and comment ....

... using the Lang 48 as a 'standard' ... AND ... only having website pics to judge from .... I would not have attached proper weight to the Outlaw. With your comments and price reference, it definitely moves into contention as a strong addition and complement to my BGE.

Thank-you for a most helpful post!

 

[Bigmista]

Ok Hoo...oops I mean Q,

Get the Chargriller. It was the first smoker I got and I still use it. It has two shelves in it and I can cook 5 racks of ribs with no rib rack and without the optional fire box. I can grill in it if I need to. It has 4 cast iron grate but I have only ever used three because I rarely cook directly over my fire. I have cooked an grilled most of the dishes mentioned on the board in it and the only problem I ever had in it was a high heat situation when I was doing a burn to get rid of some of the grease. My fault, not the cookers.

It can be a little leaky but nothing some aluminum foil won't solve. I got it just before I became a brethren and I have been using it ever since. Decision made. Go get one.

 

[racer_81]

You may want to consider building yourself a steel drum pit.

 

[Sawdustguy]

I heartily recommend that you look at one of Jay's Spicewine Smokers. I have a Lang 84 but plan to buy one of Jay's smokers shortly. You won't be dissapointed.

 

[Sledneck]

Get a couple of wsm's. I will gladly trade you my smokemaster for the big green egg

 

[Q_Egg]

Thanks to ALL !!! Happy Father's Day !!

... diversity of comment provides lots of 'food for thought'. I can do lots with the Lg BGE so it takes some careful consideration to pick the 'ideal' partner. Chargriller Outlaw is one that I had missed entirely. A couple others need my attention as well.

Many thanks to all ... and a great Q day for the Dads!