I've got no dog in the fight as I own none of the cookers being compared but I have had the opportunity to see them in person.
By reading your post I find it somewhat hard to believe, If you had no dog in the fight you would have responded to all of the points, not just the ones you thought you had answers for.
As previously mentioned by another poster one is a straight flow much like a WSM but larger. One is a reverse flow (much more work to build) labor and material wise. My conclusion would be if you wanted a straight flow with large capacity why not save yourself some dough and get a couple of WSM's?
You mean Chris, and Chad or me? Also please explain each builders process, and material list so we can judge which is more labor intense, and has more material cost.
So we should buy 4 WSM's, and guru setups to do what one cooker will do? That sounds like a wonderful conclusion. You do understand how much more that would cost, and how much more work it would be using 4 vs 1 correct? You may also want to realize one is built just a tad bit better as well.
Why would one go through such a labor intensive process building a RF to produce the same to or lesser results vs SF. Everyone knows with a little research GF have hot spots on the bottom, and RF have them on the top. Can you tell me where they are for straight flow? I also asked each builder to explain why theirs is better than the other, and LSG won that debate.
You have an interesting take on this and I couldn't disagree with you more.
Where durability is a concern most major manufacturers of motorcycle frames, car parts, outdoor furniture, wheel manufacturers etc. will use powder coat vs. high heat paint. I'm certain if high heat paint were a better process Harley Davidson would be using it on their frames and saving tons of money as powder coating is a much more expensive process.
If the exterior of LSG's BBQ's get hot perhaps that the reason for the high heat paint? Humphreys exterior is cool to touch and that enables them to use a more expensive durable powder coat finish on their exteriors.
Great, so a smoker is like a Harley, car parts, wheels, and lawn chairs etc? You just answered part of why HHP is better. Cost is one aspect for the buyer clean up over time is another, and cost to replace not only powder, but other supplies as well.. Also Hot Rod Black is bad to the bone with SS.
Might want to ask how many issues LSG has had with HHP vs Humphrey's and their Powder coat. We have threads here on one that has. We also seen how it was handled. Can you explain why there is no warranty on the powder coat if its superior? Shouldn't be an issue since it will hold up so well. Right? I can buy HHE paint any place at any time.
You say cool to the touch for Humphrey's. LSG can upgrade to automotive paint that is cool to the touch.
This is another interesting take, Humphrey's rivets their decorative(not structural) exterior panels on so they can be powder coated without hauling the whole smoker to the powder coating facility. You give the advantage to LSG, I call it a moot issue.
Interesting.. As in your takes or mine?
When powder coat goes bad in a few years or five you have to drill out rivets take the outer skin to a body shop get charged a few hundred bucks, and still not have a completed powder coat job? Not to mention go a size bigger on the rivet so it holds when you put it all back together. Do most people have multiple industrial rivet tools to replace rivets? I hope they use something a bit better than a wal-mart tool. How is the exhaust stack secured sealed on top? If you take the skin off how, and what needs to be done with the stack, ball vale inlets, add on shelf, grab bars, tie down rings? How about the bottom or top that needs re-coated do you have to take the entire smoker in for that? What about around the door seal? Speaking of door seal which is better? Did you just say the decorative non structural part? So it makes them a single walled insulated cooker?
Remember above about advantage of HHP vs Powder coat. Well this ties into why HHP is better than powder coat. I can paint it with cans of spray paint I can get local at any store, and do it myself for under $30.00 That is an advantage.
Doesn't sound like you have enough information to make a fair and accurate assessment of either model here?
Why, because of square tubbing? I know what LSG has. Since you know so much about Humphrey's tell us all what they make theirs from. Its right on LSG web page. All welded double walled 11 GA steel. Asked Humphreys, and got one thicker cs inside, and a thinner cs outside. That tells the consumer a ton.
I'm pretty sure Humphreys rivets the slide so you can use the top of the slide for another slide space, giving you an additional slide space. It certainly would be much easier to weld it rather than drilling holes and popping rivets? I'm not seeing a clear advantage other than the addition slot for a rack. Do you know what the tensile strength of the rivet used and what it would take to pull them out? I don't, but I got money that says you're not pulling them out by hand.
How are you pretty sure? What good is a slide space if you can't use many of them? They have to be usable to matter. What can you cook in a 1.5". So a less than .750 gain gets you what?
So its easier to make full weld vs rivet? Talk about Interesting take. Do you have the tools to replace the rivets once the heat loosens them? There is a reason all welded boats are higher priced then riveted ones. Does Harley rivet their frames or weld them. just thought I'd ask since they powder coat them.
Whatever cooker you choose I'm sure it will be great, but you should make sure you've made fair and accurate assessments of both cookers rather than jumping to conclusions to insure that you get the cooker that will facilitate your needs.
Likewise
I also just found this. What do they say a pictures worth a thousand words?
http://jackson.craigslist.org/for/5656871222.html
