queball
Knows what a fatty is.
Anyone got any experience with any of the Pitts and Spitts products out of Houston? Beautiful rigs but how do they cook?
-
xenforo has sucessfully updated our forum software last night. Howevr, that has returned many templates to stock formats which MAY be missing some previous functionality. It has also fixed some boroken templates Ive taken offline. Reat assured, we are working on getting our templates back to normal, but will take a few days. Im working top down, so best bet is to stick with the default templates as I work thru them.
Pitts and Spitts
- Thread starter queball
- Start date
backyardchef
Babbling Farker
http://www.pittsandspitts.com
I think MilitantSquatter has one, so he may be able to give some specific feedback.
I think MilitantSquatter has one, so he may be able to give some specific feedback.
MilitantSquatter
Moderator
I have a Pitt's & Spitts. 24 x 36 base rack with 12 x 36 top rack. Currently lists for $1800 plus shipping. It's a real nice backyard pit. They make one smaller and two bigger standard models. They also do a lot of custom work, trailer pits, can add verticals, gas & charcoal grills etc. See the website for all of the different types of pits.
It's a great cooker, well designed and is durable. It holds temps well. I did put in fire bricks in the bottom of the cooking chamber recently and it helped maintain temps even better. My only complaint now that I am getting into competitions is that I'd like one with slightly bigger dimensions. A few weeks back, I had nine racks of ribs laid out on the bottom and the top had approx 30 chicken pieces and two fatties. Perfect for backyard stuff but had to pick up two WSM's for brisket and butts for competition.
If and when the time comes, I'd definitely consider a Pitts & Spitts again but slightly bigger and maybe a custom 1/2" firebox. Still, I have a wish list with Klose & Spicewine on it also... Price and possibly desire for a change would be the only reason I'd look elsewhere.
If you have any questions I'll try to answer. I don't post on any other BBQ forums but occasionally view and haven't seen more than a few posts on Pitts & Spitts. Still, I know they are quite popular.
Here's a few pics of my personal pit so you can see more pics than what the website shows.
It's a great cooker, well designed and is durable. It holds temps well. I did put in fire bricks in the bottom of the cooking chamber recently and it helped maintain temps even better. My only complaint now that I am getting into competitions is that I'd like one with slightly bigger dimensions. A few weeks back, I had nine racks of ribs laid out on the bottom and the top had approx 30 chicken pieces and two fatties. Perfect for backyard stuff but had to pick up two WSM's for brisket and butts for competition.
If and when the time comes, I'd definitely consider a Pitts & Spitts again but slightly bigger and maybe a custom 1/2" firebox. Still, I have a wish list with Klose & Spicewine on it also... Price and possibly desire for a change would be the only reason I'd look elsewhere.
If you have any questions I'll try to answer. I don't post on any other BBQ forums but occasionally view and haven't seen more than a few posts on Pitts & Spitts. Still, I know they are quite popular.
Here's a few pics of my personal pit so you can see more pics than what the website shows.
Last edited:
queball
Knows what a fatty is.
Thanks for the info. I am considering the 30x 60 standard model probably trailer mounted. With a 1/2'' box that would be a monster.
Arlin_MacRae
somebody shut me the fark up.
That's a sweet unit, Vinny!
Dakaty
Full Fledged Farker
When I was shopping around, I went by their place and watched how they make them. They are very well made and beautiful. They are competitively priced as compared to the other better pits in the Houston area that I saw (Klose & Gator).
I am personally not a fan of the stainless steel parts because I like the thick heavy black iron.
I am personally not a fan of the stainless steel parts because I like the thick heavy black iron.
Last edited:
MilitantSquatter
Moderator
Dakaty said:
Hey Dakaty,
Care to share a little more on your experience visiting Pitts & Spitts ?
Did you visit Klose & Gator as well as Pitts & Spitts ? Who had the biggest operation ? What did you like or dislike about each ? Which one did you end up with ? Based on price points, who did you feel brought the best overall value for the $$ ? Anything else would be great ?
I agree, all black iron is classic. A sharp paint job like Spicewine gives to his units (like Jeff in KC's new unit ) are amazing too.
The stainless steel front lid has grown on me over time. When I clean it up and shine it real nice with a SS cleaner and the rest of the unit has a new coat of paint, it is a great combination... The SS is easy to clean too. I don't shy away from SS, it's not plastic..
queball
Knows what a fatty is.
Down here the humidity and proximity to the Gulf is hard on black iron which is my preference. It just looks right. However, most serious cooks down here eventually go stainless for maintenance reasons. FYI, a P&S 30x60 completely in stainless (including the firebox, grills, stack, etc.) will set you back about 5K and some change. I cant say that I have ever seen a stainless firebox on a pit. Must be one beautiful rig. I think that I am gonna stick with a Cajun Grill because of price and the versitility of the coal tray inside the pit. If its good enough for Bad Byron and the boys at Butt Rub its got to be good enough for me.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2004
- Messages
- 42,550
- Reaction score
- 3...
- Location
- Wanderin...
- Name or Nickame
- Captain Ron
Arlin_MacRae said:
Arlin likes Vinny's unit...
Pass it on...
(Not that there's anything wrong with that...)
:-D :-D :-D
(MODERATED - this is Q Talk, Mister!) :twisted:
Vinny's cooker is pretty nice, too...
Last edited by a moderator:
nmayeux
Babbling Farker
Vinny,
Your complaint about space is one of the ironic things about buying a serious pit. You think that this will be more space than you would ever need, then people find out about your cooking. Your wife will never understand!
Your complaint about space is one of the ironic things about buying a serious pit. You think that this will be more space than you would ever need, then people find out about your cooking. Your wife will never understand!
Dakaty
Full Fledged Farker
MS
I would say that S&P probably had the biggest (and neatest) facility, followed by Klose then Gator. To my untrained and inexperienced eye, I couldn't really distinguish one from the other as far as quality and beauty. I believe Klose may have a more well known reputation in the BBQ world. (I think he and/or one of his pits is going to be on the Food Channel Rose Bowl cook off show tonight 7 Eastern/9 Pacific)
As best I could tell all of their prices were very competitive and firm, although I did not pull out $2000 in cash and negotiate.
I ended up not getting one of the oh la la pits and got an ugly one at Lone Star Pits (also made here locally in the Houston area) for almost half the cost. Mine ain't as purty as them othern, but she'll cook as good as I tell her too.
http://www.lswelding.net/
PS: This web site has not been updated in a while. Some products have changed and prices have increased.
I would say that S&P probably had the biggest (and neatest) facility, followed by Klose then Gator. To my untrained and inexperienced eye, I couldn't really distinguish one from the other as far as quality and beauty. I believe Klose may have a more well known reputation in the BBQ world. (I think he and/or one of his pits is going to be on the Food Channel Rose Bowl cook off show tonight 7 Eastern/9 Pacific)
As best I could tell all of their prices were very competitive and firm, although I did not pull out $2000 in cash and negotiate.
I ended up not getting one of the oh la la pits and got an ugly one at Lone Star Pits (also made here locally in the Houston area) for almost half the cost. Mine ain't as purty as them othern, but she'll cook as good as I tell her too.
http://www.lswelding.net/
PS: This web site has not been updated in a while. Some products have changed and prices have increased.
queball
Knows what a fatty is.
In terms of performance characteristics (heat retention,etc.)is either stainless or black iron considered better than the other?
Kevin
Quintessential Chatty Farker
queball said:
Don't think you'll find stainless in as heavy gauge (thickness) as black iron. I do know that stainless conducts heat as well as copper. Burned my hand on a pipe I was welding when I touched it 2 feet away from the weld.
djmarko
Full Fledged Farker
Vinny, just out of curiosity, did you consider anything from Klose or Gator in the decision making process? I ordered a Klose 20"x48" about 3 weeks ago. I had considered all 3 at one time or another before I decided on the Klose.
Kevin said:
You hit the nail on the head. Stainless steel conducts heat very well, which is great in some applications, but in pits you want retention, not conduction. My Klose pits, you can lay your hand on the steel when they are running at 250. I dont think you can do that with the stainless ones. A very reliable source :mrgreen: says he will build them for someone who wants the look, but they're warned that they dont perform as well as the pipe or steel pits.
Pitts & spitts is only Stainless steel on the door right?? the rest is rolled pipe?
My buddy had a Pitts/Spitts mobile. Nice pit, cooked very very well. Only complaint I had was his had the hinge pin on the left side of the hood. There was only one pin that slides in, and is held w/a little hairpin type clip. The clip kept popping out. We didnt know it. After repeated opening/closings of the lid. the pin moved inward far enough, It wasnt supporting the stainless cover. We had a hell of a time opening the cover. Finally got the cover open,reinserted pin. I tried to shove in a piece of wire into the hold drilled in the pin until we could get another hairpin. My buddys pit had an upright and everytime I tried to place the wire into the pin I couldnt. I burnt my forearm. So. we couldnt fix it until we were done cooking, and rig cooled down. Pin kept wiggling inward and lid wouldnt open again. Guess Id call it an engineering problem. I have 2 Klose pits and it has mongo type hinges on them.
Otherwise the Pitts/Spitts pit cooks just fine. Yrs ago on another forum I read where the P/Spitts had the stainless door crack and they wouldnt warranty it. My buddy never had that problem w/his though. Im definately not here badmouthing P/Spitts by any means. Just passing along what I know and what I;d read in the past.
Mike
Otherwise the Pitts/Spitts pit cooks just fine. Yrs ago on another forum I read where the P/Spitts had the stainless door crack and they wouldnt warranty it. My buddy never had that problem w/his though. Im definately not here badmouthing P/Spitts by any means. Just passing along what I know and what I;d read in the past.
Mike
nmayeux
Babbling Farker
Phil,
I'm pretty bad about bare handing my smoker when I'm cooking, and aside from the top of the fire box, you can pretty much touch any part and not have skin come away. Also, it helps keep pit temps regular, as the metal will continue to radiate as the fire burns down. Lastly, I have two little ones, and my worst fear is one of them getting too close while cooking. We rope off the firebox, and the worst injury so far has been a goose egg on the baby's head. Tough little booger though, he won't cry if you give him a rib!
I'm pretty bad about bare handing my smoker when I'm cooking, and aside from the top of the fire box, you can pretty much touch any part and not have skin come away. Also, it helps keep pit temps regular, as the metal will continue to radiate as the fire burns down. Lastly, I have two little ones, and my worst fear is one of them getting too close while cooking. We rope off the firebox, and the worst injury so far has been a goose egg on the baby's head. Tough little booger though, he won't cry if you give him a rib!
MilitantSquatter
Moderator
Rich - I only began the initial stages of figuring out what I wanted. Klose was where I was headed initially. But by sheer luck through a conversation with a guy I know in NJ, landed me the Pitts & Spitts for free due to a divorce. The pit was used less than 5 times and was sitting in his ex-wifes yard (she got the house).. She wanted it out of there as it was an eyesore that was too heavy for her to move. So, a Uhaul rental and a tank of gas and 100 mile drive later.. It was mine for free.
Phil - Yes. Only the front hood is stainless. I never gave much thought to the retention/conduction thing. I don't think I've ever put my hand on it to know if it's too hot to the touch.
BBQBull - yes. I know the hinge pin you talk about. Luckily, I've not had a problem with mine.
Again, I do like the Pitts & Spitts, but when extra cash is in my wallet, I think I'll go Klose or Spicewine for a change.
Phil - Yes. Only the front hood is stainless. I never gave much thought to the retention/conduction thing. I don't think I've ever put my hand on it to know if it's too hot to the touch.
BBQBull - yes. I know the hinge pin you talk about. Luckily, I've not had a problem with mine.
Again, I do like the Pitts & Spitts, but when extra cash is in my wallet, I think I'll go Klose or Spicewine for a change.
