Smokers????

[Shoeman]

My old Meco electric is about to take a dump. It has served me well and doesn't owe me a thing.

What's out there that won't break the bank? I smoke the occasional chcken and small turkeys, of course fish and every now and then a hunk of meat.

The output of the Meco was somewhat marginal during colder weather, especially when cooking birds and meat. During the warmer months it wasn't an issue.

I see there's quite a few "box-type" electrics that claim to maintain 250*, although I wouldn't be opposed to a propane heat source much like the one Paul Thompson recently posted. The only issue I might have is when making lox which is cold smoked.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l133/1eyecrooked/smo002.jpg

It really doesn't have to have a huge capacity since I don't feed an entire tribe

Suggestions??? Prices????

[Firemedic]

That Smokey Mountain will do just fine! I have the same one but stainless Steel. It's a great unit for a gasser. I am sure Spanky will be along soon to add his input.

[starky]

How much do those run and where do you get them? I have been thinking about getting one but didn't want to spend a fortune.

[Paul Thompson]

How much do those run and where do you get them? I have been thinking about getting one but didn't want to spend a fortune.

This one can be found at Bass Pro, Gander Mountain and Walmart.
From $99 to $149

[Spanky]

Whats your budget shoeman? There are alot of decent models available.You can also buy a seperate needle valve for the propane smokers to let the temps run quite a bit lower. The bradleys are nice I think 3-4 hundred bucks,magnetic seals on the doors and auto feed(little wooden pucks made of sawdust). The masterbuilt electrics are decent and popular.Spend some time online checking funtions and features. Gander mountain and basspro have a few models( I don't shop at Sam's or Walmart so can't offer info from there) here are some links to smoker manufacturers. Lotsa goot reading, and wishing here!;)

Acme Custom BBQ grills and pits
Friendswood, TX
http://www.acmewelding.com/BBQ.html

Austin National Smoker Company
Noblesville, IN
http://www.austinnationalsmokers.com
Pits made from New steel pipe and plate
Backyard/Competition/Catering
Specializing in rotisserie barbecue pit smokers

BBQ Pits by Klose
Houston, Texas
http://www.bbqpits.com

BBQ Pits and Smokers
Cedar Park, Texas
http://www.bbqpits.biz/index.html

Big Drum Smokers
Rocky Richmond
Naples, NC
http://groups.msn.com/BigDrumSmoker-BDS
New steel drum construction, various sizes

Big Jims Custom BBQ pits
http://www.bigjim.freeservers.com/smokers.html
Propane tank smokers


Cattle King BBQ Pits
Family Owned & Operated
Fred L. Voigt
New Braunfels, Texas
http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/RigWelders/CK.html

Cookers and Grills
Watkinsville, GA
http://www.cookersandgrills.com
Reverse Flow, new propane tank construction
Backyard/Comp/Catering

D Wiley BBQ Pits
Buda, Texas
http://myjobisthepits.com
New propane tanks

Davis Smokers and Grills
Glennville, GA
http://www.davissmokersandgrills.homestead.com

Diamond Plate Products
Ballinger, Texas
http://diamondplateproducts.com
Makes full Custom BBQ pits from new steel tanks
Backyard/Competition/Catering

Detroit Grill King
Detroit, MI
http://www.detroitgrillking.com

Gator Pits of Texas
Houston, Texas
http://gatorpit.net
Makes full custom BBQ pits from steel pipe and plate
Backyard/Competition/Catering
Pit accessories
Excellent customer service

Grillnsmoke bbq smokers
Laredo, Texas
http://www.grillnsmoke.com/Page_1.php
Custom smokers

Holstein Manufacturing
Holstein, Iowa
http://www.holsteinmfg.com
Very large range of grills and smokers

Horizon Smokers
Perry, OK
http://www.hightide.com/horizon2/products.html

Jedmaster Cookers
McCalla, Al
http://www.jedmaster.com

JR Enterprises
Dewitt, Arkansas
http://www.jrenterprises.com

KCK BBQ Smokers
Kansas City, KS
http://www.kck.com

L&R Custom BBQ Pits
Stephenville, TX
http://www.lrbbqpits.com

Lang Smoker Cookers
Nahunta, GA
http://www.pigroast.com
Pits made from new propane tanks
Backyard/Competition/Catering

Lone Star Welding
Richmond, TX
http://www.lswelding.net/index.html
Custom BBQ pits with some interesting art add ons

LONE STAR
Custom Pits & Grills, Inc[b]
Humble, Texas
www.lonestarcustompits.com
Custom BBQ Pits

[b]Long Horn BBQ pits
Uvalde, Texas
Available at Factory Direct BBQ Pits and Smokers Cedar Park, Texas
http://www.bbqpits.biz/index.html

Lyfe Tyme - BBQ Pits
Uvalde, Texas
http://www.lyfetyme.com
Manufactured pits with some customizing available
Pits made from New steel pipe including uprights
Makes full custom mobile pits

Meadow Creek Welding
New Holland, PA
http://www.meadowcreekbbq.com/Welcome.html

Olalla Smokers $ Grills of Olalla
Chuck Senn
4345 SE Burley-Olalla Rd.
Olalla, WA. 98359
Phone: 253/ 857-4420

Old Country BBQ Pits
Laredo ,Texas
http://www.bbquepits.com
Mass Produced old style BBQ pits

Peoria Custom Cookers
Peoria, Illinois
http://www.peoriacustomcookers.com
Backyard and mobile pits. Rolled plate construction.

Pits by Jambo
Jamie Geer Phone 817-572-7631 home, cell 817-822-1689
Hand made one at a time with incredible attention to detail. These are the pits used with great success by Johnny Trig of the Smoking Triggers, Uncle Earnie and Jamie and his Buckwheat Express team.

Pits by JJ
Houston, Texas
http://www.pitsbyjj.com
Makes full custom BBQ pits from steel pipe and plate
Backyard/Competition/Catering

Pitts and Spitts
Houston, Texas
http://pittsandspitts.com
Pits made from New steel plate and stainless steel
Backyard/Competition/Catering

Quality Grills
Detroit, MI
http://www.qualitygrills.com
Huge custom mobile pits

Real Grill
West Palm Beach, Florida
http://www.realgrill.com
New propane tank smoker/grills

Southern Yankee Bar-B-Q
Anderson, IN
http://www.sybbq.com
Makes full custom BBQ pits from steel pipe and plate
Backyard/Competition/Catering

SWS Superior Welding Service - Southwest Smoker
North Little Rock, AR
http://www.southwestsmoker.com
Pits made from New steel pipe and plate
Backyard/Competition/Catering

Tejas Smokers
Houston, Texas
http://www.tejassmokers.com
Well engineered production backyard smokers and grills
New 1/4" steel plate construction
Great selection of outdoor cooking gear and accessories for your smoker
Great customer service

The Good One- Goodwin Enterprises
Burns, KS
http://www.thegood-one.com

TMP BBQ Pits
Midland, Texas
http://www.gotmp.com/bbqpits.htm

Tucker Cookers
Memphis, Tennessee
http://www.tuckercooker.com
Very nice mobile smoker/grills

Western Rebel BBQ Pits
Chino Hills, California
For more information call 909-994-5826
Out of this World BBQ Products
Distrbutor for Western Rebel BBQ pits
http://www.outofthisworldbbq.com/index.html

Yoder Smokers
Hutchinson, Kansas
For more information call 877-409-6337
COMPETITION GRADE BARBEQUE SMOKERS
Production mgr. Joe Phillips was one of the co-founders of Oklahoma Joe's
http://www.yodersmokers.com

Cabinet style smokers

Backwoods Smokers
http://www.backwoods-smoker.com

Jacks Old South Cookers
Birmingham, AL
http://brittsbarbecue.com/html/jack_s_old_south_cookers.html

Spicewine Iron Works
http://www.spicewineironworks.com
Columbia, MO

Stumps Smokers
Perry, GA
http://www.stumpssmokers.com
_________________

[Shoeman]

:SHOCKED:

I'd be willing to part with 2-4 bills

I would prefer to stay away from wafer type smokers, since I prefer chips or chunks depending on what I'm trying smoke. After doing a little research I found that on some units the water pan is too small. Some require too much heat to fire the chips and in turn overheat the food on the lower rack. (that's probably true for most lower end units)

I'm also leaning toward electric, mainly for the ease of use and unwillingness to fill another pig. Bad enough when I run out on the grill while doing a roast :dizzy:

I guess with electric I need to find one that is well insulated for our climate and has a good heating element in order to obtain good temps on the high end

Thanks for all the links. Now narrow it down for me...LOL!

[phantom cls]

you don't have to use the pucks on a bradley, i buy bulk chunks and just place them on the heated smoking tray, bradleys heat up too 280 degress in the warmer months, this time of yr 260. i have ribs in my dbs as we speak, will be putting the feed bag on later this afternoon, g/l

[double trouble]

I have been using a good old brinkman electric i found at a church rummage sale for $8.it had been used once. I have seen several at salvation army and other thrift stores for under $20.I just smoked a whole turkey last weekend and it does a nice job. plug it in and fire it up. The temp stayed constant even though there was a 15-20 mph wind and the outside temp was about 30.I know you're looking for something fancier ,but you might find one and just use the element in your meco if that is what is wrong with it. Mine gets used about 2-4 times a year . good enough for me.

[Shoeman]

you don't have to use the pucks on a bradley, i buy bulk chunks and just place them on the heated smoking tray, bradleys heat up too 280 degress in the warmer months, this time of yr 260. i have ribs in my dbs as we speak, will be putting the feed bag on later this afternoon, g/l

Well that's good to know. Are you using the Bradley outside (in the wind) or sheltered?

[phantom cls]

mine is on my front porch, its not enclosed. so yes its in the elements of winter

[phantom cls]

and too add to my last post, right now i have the temp set at 210 and inside temp is 202, hope this helps. for me the bradley has made food taste way too good, luckily my waisteline has not expanded

[Shoeman]

Thanks for the quick reply

When using chips/chunks where do they go? Is there a door on the feeder? Hard to tell by the pictures

[J-Lee]

Hey Shoe,
Cabelas has the Bradley in its Hot Buys at 249.00, a 20.00 off coupon on its site, free shipping.
I just bought a Masterbuilt a month ago, it does a pretty nice job. I have only done a couple of batches of salmon and a brisket with it so far.

[Spanky]

I know a few folks who have the masterbuilt electric cabinet models, 40 inch and stainless. They are nice and go for about 3-4 bills.Lotsa room and good racks.
]
Phantom, if you are smoking ribs at 202, thats too low for good ribs, I wouldn't go any lower than 225, I do mine at 235-250 ;)

[DangerDan]

Not quite as sporty as a store bought model but I have to say, this will smoke rings around a store bought, has a massive cooking surface and cost less than you'll spend on a new smoker. It does take about a week to build one but to be honest, I think it was worth it.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/DangerDanphoto/Fringe%20Smoker/100_0633.jpg

It also comes in different colors and fuel sources charcoal, propane or electric.

Wanna by a second hand store bought smoker? :p

It'll do this,

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/DangerDanphoto/BBQ/100_0476.jpg

But it can't do this,

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/DangerDanphoto/BBQ/100_0754.jpg

[phantom cls]

the feeder is on the side of smoker and is part of your temp and time and smoke setting, when using the pucks, there is a pal of water that they go into to put out any chance of fire, thanks spanky, next time i;ll bump of my temp and see how it goes.

[Shoeman]

Ended up with the Masterbuilt

Stayed away from the Bradley's. Many of the reviews were not favorable with wafer consumption and dropping the skeletons in the water bowl.

Amazing how those sealed units maintain heat. :) Maxed it out to burn the oils and seasoned it for another hour. Even with a brisk wind and temps below 20 it stayed at 275. Nice not having to open the door to feed it.

So far, 2 fatties, a slab of ribz, a load of jerky, some chops and a chicken stuffed with apples...LOL

Thanks for all the help!

[Firemedic]

Show us some pics!

[NEMichsportsman]

So far, 2 fatties, a slab of ribz, a load of jerky, some chops and a chicken stuffed with apples...LOL




Holy smoke Ralf!!!

You went from not knowing what kind of smoker to buy-to seasoning the new one- and ended up smoking a ton of stuff..... all in a few days!!

Way to break it in!!

[Spanky]

Show us some pics!

Yeah, what he said!

You'll be happy with it. Did ya pick the cabinet model or the R2D2 lookin thing? Sounds like ya picked the cabinet.
Don't trust the digital readout on top, get a remote therm, those digital units on the top have been known to be off 10-20 degrees.

Glad ya gt one that you will use and love ralph!;)

[phantom cls]

congrats on your purchase, i agree on the bradley, i buy all bulk wood from jay's in clare. they have a nice selection, and the bowl, hmmm, not sure were i stashed that away.

[Shoeman]

I have one I bought a while back (Taylor Brand, I think) and hate it. It's one of those "target temp, timer" ones. It only displays current temp when it's at target, close or losing temp. I prefer to see where my food is at and make my own decisions :rant:

Is there anyone that makes a gang of displays with several probes for a full load of mixed meats?

Phantom, keep that bowl handy! I always use mine for fish and poultry. For fish I use water and for fowl like large chickens, turkeys and ducks I add the marinade in the bowl. One of my favorites is a actually a duck recipe, but it works equally well on any bird

Soy, orange juice, onions (quartered), some celery stalks, salt, celery seeds, maple syrup or honey and water. After a good soaking (24 hours on smaller birds, 2-3 days for turkeys) strain the brine, stuff the veggies in the cavity and use the brine in the water bowl. Just make sure it doesn't fully evaporate and burn. Keep adding water if needed

I've been using this recipe for over 15 years and the result is almost a ham-like flavor, but in a bird. Perfect for Thanksgiving when guest look for a slice of ham ;)

Sorry about the lack of pics. Next time!

[NEMichsportsman]

I've got a couple of these Taylors:

http://www.target.com/Taylor-TruTemp-Digital-Cooking-Thermometer/dp/B0001BFJ54/sr=1-1/qid=1228912630/ref=sr_1_1/183-8994045-9693727?ie=UTF8&index=target&field-original-keywords=tru%20temp&rh=k%3Atrutemp&page=1

I've never had any issues with the Taylors...


I've heard good things about these:http://www.partshelf.com/maet73.html
and think I will pick up one soon. The wireless would be nice and dual probes bonus.

This dual probe is also on my list as a possibility: http://www.maverickhousewares.com/et83.htm

I have been looking for a multiple display....but I dunno if there is such a thing.

[Shoeman]

Hi Joel

This is the one I have

http://www.taylorusa.com/consumer/images/808.gif

Regardless of the target setting, it primarily shows LOW until it's close to the target. I need to know where the temp is at all times, not when it's too damn late to make the fixin's

That dual probe Maverick might do the trick, although it has features I really don't need. It would be sweet to come up with a rig that displays like 4 different probes on a panel (temp only would be cool). Hell I can use a watch...LOL

There's our claim to fame... :D

[STEINFISHSKI]

This is the one I use Ralf. It shows current temp and you can use the 20% off coupon that comes in the mail weekly.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/73287170193.jpg

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=11720307

[NEMichsportsman]

The one Stein posted looks exactly like my older taylor, all of the ones I use show the current temp. If you do get those bed bath beyond coupons its a pretty good deal.

Ideally I would like to see something with 3-4 probes and displays for each, but now I am starting to build quite a collection of singles!! Definitely would be a niche market- we would be able to sell 1 to Spanky for sure....:lol:

[Riva]

Gonna have to save my bottle deposits up. This baby will be about $3,000 with delivery. Gravity feed smoker; Close to "set it and forget it" as you can get.

http://www.stumpssmokers.com/vertical_series-223P.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n8AjmNU9hg

[Spanky]

Yes Riva, they are nice, and the FEC1000 are pretty nice too! I just can't convince myself to become a pelllet pooper user.
I absolutely love the stickburner I have.It does take alot of work, but the taste of the food is hard to beat. We all love the taste of food cooked outdoors over an open fire.

Shoeman, I feel your pain;

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff55/Captspanky/temptrans.jpg
thats just about half of them!

The best and most reliable by far is the Maverick ET-73.

I have talked to my oldest son, who is quite the computer geek, about developing just the animal you are speaking of. I dn't know why no major manufacturer has not done this:

A larger receiver with separate channel recieving capabilities for separate probes and sending units. It could even contain a memory chip to record times and temps for the future reference. The comp teams would scoop these things up big time.

I do hafta admitt, after a few months smoking foods, and getting used to your smoker, you will be less inclined to need to know about every degree and what the meat is doing all the time.

I used to be in the group of folks who had to monitor the temps and times like it was a science. I hate to say it, but it aint. Once you do enough big smokes and get a feel for how the meats are supposed to look and feel, you will be like myself, down to 1-2 therms for the majority of the cooks.
Getting used to your smoker and its personallity during all kinds of conditions, with different types of meats, is key!!! Make a few notes, especially on the items that you may only do on occasion. I try and keep an informal log for each smoke, especially if I am changing rubs or temps. If I hit the majic combo, I want to be able to repeat it for competitions.

I did buy my Maverick from partshelf about a year ago, I had to finally change batteries after hundreds of hrs of use just a couple months ago.
Don't be scared away by the functions and features. It will only do what ya want it too. I have used mine many times without ever setting, or using the clock!;)

[Michigander84]

Love smoked anything!

[DangerDan]

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff55/Captspanky/temptrans.jpg
thats just about half of them!

Holy Crap Dan!

You got more monitors than the friggin space shuttle..:lol: :lol: :lol: