Smokers, Pits and Grills

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Rajun Gardener
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Smokers, Pits and Grills

#1

Post: # 4381Unread post Rajun Gardener
Wed Jan 01, 2020 11:01 am

I received an email this morning about the new smokers from Pit Boss, all I can say is WOW!!!!

I can't believe both are less than $800. Take a look at the video, they look versatile and a 5 year warranty is always nice when an American Company stands behind their products.

https://pitboss-grills.com/platinum-ser ... ign+Launch
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MissS
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#2

Post: # 4397Unread post MissS
Wed Jan 01, 2020 12:50 pm

Thank you for posting that. I started smoking last year and I sure do love it. I have the small Traeger but now that I have mastered that and like it, I am looking to up my game. I noticed that you have several smokers. Which do you prefer more the standard or the upright? Pellet or wood. Just looking for some suggestions. Ease of putting it together would also be good.
~ Patti ~

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Rajun Gardener
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#3

Post: # 4408Unread post Rajun Gardener
Wed Jan 01, 2020 2:20 pm

Picking a smoker is a personal choice, there two things to consider that make all the difference. The first is the smoke flavor you like and the other is the ease of use.

I personally like a stronger smoke flavor than the pellets smokers give but I also love the ease of using a pellet smoker.
I built an UDS(ugly drum smoker) out of a 55 gal barrel and loved the smoke but it's too strong for some people. They're easy to use, almost as easy as a pellet smoker. It burns briquettes or lump charcoal and you can add small wood chunks to get any flavor you like. There's a bunch of wood charts out there telling you what works best for certain meat.

I have an offset smoker and it requires work to keep the fire going constantly, you actually burn a fire in it like a fireplace and keep adding splits(logs) to maintain the heat. It has a stronger smoke flavor than pellets but not as strong as a drum. You can get a stronger smoke flavor if you manage the smoker temp lower so it absorbs more smoke flavor. Mastering an offset is part of the fun and when you finally figure your smoker out it makes cooking easier. It's not as bad as it sounds but you can plan to add splits about every 20-30 minutes depending on the smoker. I seen many people complain and give up on using the offset.

I like my Pit Boss Copperhead 5 series vertical smoker. It's a set it and forget it smoker with plenty of room for meat. It's cheap to run, I get about 4 cooks from a 20lb bag of pellets.

With all that said I think you'll be happy with a Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Drum Smoker, Weber Smoky Mountain or a Pit Barrel Cooker. All three are barrel type smokers that won't break the bank. They're easy to set up and put out awesome food.

If I had to chose one it would be the Bronco, it's not only smokes but you can sear steaks on it too.



And of course there's more models I didn't touch on.
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Rajun Gardener
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#4

Post: # 4413Unread post Rajun Gardener
Wed Jan 01, 2020 2:59 pm

I think you should try to find a BBQ competition close by and sample food from the different style pits. Most comps will have barrel cookers and they usually give out samples. I'd hate for you to buy a smoker and not like the flavor!!
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MissS
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#5

Post: # 4415Unread post MissS
Wed Jan 01, 2020 3:19 pm

I took a look around. I live in the north so not so very many competitions are around. One is solely for the Big Green Egg which I already know that I don't want just because it is far too heavy for a 5' 1" girl like me. I looked at these when I first decided I wanted a smoker and I could not easily bring it in and out during the winter. These events do look like that they would be fun to attend and perhaps even compete in. :) :) :)
Thank you for all of the suggestions. I am really enjoying this new hobby, ah hem, that you have gotten me into. :lol:
~ Patti ~

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worth1
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#6

Post: # 4439Unread post worth1
Wed Jan 01, 2020 5:01 pm

My first hind leg hog ham was smoked in an electric barrel smoker I built myself complete with thermostat control and everything.
That was way back in the early 90's before the internet.
People said it was the best ham they ever had in their lives, took 20 hours to smoke and cook.
I used pure sodium nitrite I bought from a drug store and salt.
It was a brand new hazardous waste barrel I got from friends that worked in a barrel factory.
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Lonejack
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#7

Post: # 4833Unread post Lonejack
Fri Jan 03, 2020 8:40 am

Patti - depending on where you are in Wisconsin it might not be a bad weekend trip to the American Royal World Series of BBQ in Kansas City. It's about 7.5 hour drive from La Crosse. I go just about every year. This year it is September 17-20 but Friday is the best day to attend IMO.

I'm looking at the OK Joe's drum smokers to replace my electric smoker. The original Oklahoma Joes BBQ restaurant here in KC was actually renamed to Joe's KC BBQ a few years ago. I vote for their ribs as the best in KC.
Kansas City, zone 6a

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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#8

Post: # 5597Unread post Lonejack
Tue Jan 07, 2020 6:52 am

I stopped by Lowes to look at the Joe's drum smoker in person. They seem to be well made and get really good reviews from what I've seen. I think I'll pull the trigger on one in the near future.
Kansas City, zone 6a

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rdback
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#9

Post: # 5605Unread post rdback
Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:57 am

Lonejack wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2020 6:52 am I stopped by Lowes to look at the Joe's drum smoker in person. They seem to be well made and get really good reviews from what I've seen. I think I'll pull the trigger on one in the near future.
Tractor Supply has them on sale for $250 right now. Is that trigger finger itchy now? :lol:

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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#10

Post: # 5632Unread post Lonejack
Tue Jan 07, 2020 12:59 pm

rdback wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:57 am
Lonejack wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2020 6:52 am I stopped by Lowes to look at the Joe's drum smoker in person. They seem to be well made and get really good reviews from what I've seen. I think I'll pull the trigger on one in the near future.
Tractor Supply has them on sale for $250 right now. Is that trigger finger itchy now? :lol:
Thanks for that information! I didn't even know they carried them. There is actually a TSC right on my way home. I can feel my credit card burning a hole in my wallet.
Kansas City, zone 6a

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worth1
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#11

Post: # 5891Unread post worth1
Thu Jan 09, 2020 5:49 am

I need an automatic feed smoke generator that doesn't break the bank.
The smoker would be made from wood.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Rajun Gardener
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#12

Post: # 5902Unread post Rajun Gardener
Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:42 am

You probably have the materials laying around. I'd use an aquarium air pump and a bigger can.
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worth1
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#13

Post: # 5904Unread post worth1
Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:49 am

Not quite the direction I was heading.
Needed something that can run for 24 hours or so and no air compressor.
Worth
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You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Rajun Gardener
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#14

Post: # 5907Unread post Rajun Gardener
Thu Jan 09, 2020 9:07 am

Use an air pump, $15 in the pet department and make a bigger can. I'm sure you can adapt the idea to something.

Use the cooking chamber in the offset, make a long snake(minion method) with two briquettes wide topped with wood chips and light one end. You should be able to make a 6' long snake and It will burn at least 12 hours maybe longer, do a test run to see how long it last.

Something like this.
ndFl7m.jpg

Also, there's MissS's new smoker. The Weber Kettles have been around forever and can be used for everything. Get a "Slow-n-Sear" or charcoal baskets and you're all set to learn to play with fire!!!!
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#15

Post: # 5910Unread post worth1
Thu Jan 09, 2020 9:28 am

I discovered the HEB brand BBQ bricks with the tiny mesquite wood chips in them work great in my offset smoker.
Not much smoke at all and last a really long time.
I just tossed a few on top every now and then.
If I wanted smoke I would put a chunk of wood to the side.
This kept the temperature down to around 140F.
Could have went cooler or hotter.
Going to use the scrap from my wok ring for a BBQ brick container.
New bricks on top ashes fall out the bottom.
Dash of wood ever so often.
Worth
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#16

Post: # 5962Unread post worth1
Thu Jan 09, 2020 4:40 pm

Exactly one hour in and the gauges show what the steady temperature is.
Very little smoke if any unless I want it.
Tossed in seven more bricks to see what it will do.
The pipe was filled to the top.
No meat involved just an experiment.
By adding the bricks a wee bit more smoke but not a lot of temperature change.
So far the results are as expected and happy with them.
That was with the intake vent wide open and the exhaust half open
20200109_162727.jpg
20200109_162822.jpg
20200109_162827.jpg
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Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#17

Post: # 5969Unread post worth1
Thu Jan 09, 2020 5:43 pm

Two hours in and added a small chunk of wood for smoke effect.
Closed both dampers to 1/4 open.
Got smoke not flame and no real temperature change.
Happy with results.
The experiment was for smoking some cured sausage to be done later on.
Better to waste wood now than meat.
Now I will just let the fire die down another hour set on the timer nothing added.
20200109_173027.jpg
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Worth
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You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#18

Post: # 5970Unread post wildcat62
Thu Jan 09, 2020 5:59 pm

dialed in

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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#19

Post: # 6012Unread post worth1
Fri Jan 10, 2020 5:54 am

Here is the fire after an hour from the last picture.
This morning there was nothing but ash no stray unburned chunks.
Resized_20200109_182806.jpg
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Re: Smokers, Pits and Grills

#20

Post: # 6016Unread post worth1
Fri Jan 10, 2020 6:08 am

The offset smoker is the Oklahoma Joes Highland smoker at about the same price as the barrel smoker.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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