Posted: 2/14/2010 1:30:51 PM EDT
I have been thinking about getting a smoker, for those of you that have them what brands are good. I have done some smoking on my BBQ but it is to hard to control so I am looking for a good one
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I got my 10 year award last year from my company, out of the whole book everything looked like crap. I didnt read close, I saw "BBQ GRILL" and ordered this thing  Ive never smoked. I wanted a damn BBQ grill. A good, old fashioned, charcoal BBQ grill. Why a smoker? |
| I have this smoker (the 30" electric) that I got at Gander Mountain. I think it's the shit. I'm a huge fan of the electric setup though I was reluctant at first. |
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I used to have a barrel smoker. I hated it. It needed constant attention to get good results, used way too much fuel, and was way too hot at one end and way too cool at the other. Still, I could do good work one it. Here are ribs done NFS (no fucking sauce) style, smoked 'til the meat starts falling off the bone.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/greguzzi/BBQ/PICT0002.jpg Then, I got a really good grill. It's got ceramic-coated cast-iron grates, a crank handle to rais and lower the coals, and upper and lower vents on each end. It works really well as a grill and pretty damn well as a smoker, too, once you figure out how to adjust the vents. Before long, I gave the smoker away. Here's the grill/smoker in action: http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/greguzzi/BBQ/PICT0001_1.jpg I smoke on it all the time, using hickory from a guy down the street who sells it. When I fire it up, all of Georgetown drools . . . |
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I got my 10 year award last year from my company, out of the whole book everything looked like crap. I didnt read close, I saw "BBQ GRILL" and ordered this thing
Ive never smoked. I wanted a damn BBQ grill. A good, old fashioned, charcoal BBQ grill. Why a smoker? Well I have a nice BBQ that works great and I BBQ about twice a week year round  but it does not do a great job slow cooking in the winter when it is windy you can't regulate the temp So I want something that I can use in the winter to slow cook
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smoker on the cheap...metal trash can..electric single burner...easy....http://www.cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/elecsmoker.html |
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I have this smoker (the 30" electric) that I got at Gander Mountain. I think it's the shit. I'm a huge fan of the electric setup though I was reluctant at first. Does it hold temp ok when it gets cold in the winter? that is one thing I have heard about some of the electric ones, that some of them are under powered 
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You want electric, and low effort, get a Traeger.
Based on the same principle as a pellet stove. Fill the hopper full of your favorite fuel, set the temperature and walk away. http://www.traegergrills.com/ My brother in law has one, and absolutly loves it. I'm looking to get one myself, to replace two of the three smokers I use regularly. I have a barrel smoker, an electric Brinkman, and a Little Cheif. All the little cheif is used for any more is cheese, the barrel smoker does everything else but ribs, those go in the Brinkman. ETA: I also have a gas grill
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http://www.askthemeatman.com/how_to_make_smoker_art_updated_9300.htm
using an old fridge and some good recipes.. |
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smoker on the cheap...metal trash can..electric single burner...easy....http://www.cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/elecsmoker.html On a similar note, this gets you closer to a Big Green Egg, at a minimal cost. http://lifehacker.com/5350455/build-a-bbq-smoker-for-under-50?autoplay=true I am yet to try this but its on my list. |
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I have this smoker (the 30" electric) that I got at Gander Mountain. I think it's the shit. I'm a huge fan of the electric setup though I was reluctant at first. Does it hold temp ok when it gets cold in the winter? that is one thing I have heard about some of the electric ones, that some of them are under powered
Held fine at mid thirties down here. |
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I have one of these
It works pretty well for what I use it for. |
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I have one of the Weber Smokey Mountain Cookers (Weber Bullet). It is very easy to control temp over a very long slow smoke, but uses charcoal and a water pan (not super easy like you are looking for). Weber just came out with an even larger size of the same smoker with many improvements. The new, redesigned smaller one has a few improvements as well. This is a great smoker and is even used by some competition BBQ teams. Tons of info and support available on virtualweberbullet.com.
I have never used one, but the Traeger is supposed to be VERY easy to work with and gives great results (pellet grill). From what I have seen and heard I would suggest getting the upgraded temp control unit. It has actual temp settings rather than "low, Med, High" - giving you much greater control. Mak smokers are also supposed to be fantastic (pellet type also) but are VERY expensive. Both smokers used to be made in Oregon but I think Traeger was bought out and is now manufactured over-seas. |
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Mak smokers are also supposed to be fantastic (pellet type also) but are VERY expensive. Never heard of these guys until just now... looked them up and HOLY SMOKES! $2,000 for a pellet smoker? If you're going to go pellet, I'd strongly suggest sticking with a Traeger. Personally, I'd stay away from anything that requires you to have electricity in order to use it, but that's just me. |
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+1 Quoted: You want electric, and low effort, get a Traeger. Based on the same principle as a pellet stove. Fill the hopper full of your favorite fuel, set the temperature and walk away. http://www.traegergrills.com/ My brother in law has one, and absolutly loves it. I'm looking to get one myself, to replace two of the three smokers I use regularly. I have a barrel smoker, an electric Brinkman, and a Little Cheif. All the little cheif is used for any more is cheese, the barrel smoker does everything else but ribs, those go in the Brinkman. ETA: I also have a gas grill [img style=']http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_blackeye.gif[/img] |
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Traeger FTMW +1 My wife is damn near the non-steak BBQ'nst person I know, even she can't fuck one up on ours.  Thanksgiving Turkey, brats, beercan chicken, you name it. It all comes out GOOD. Definetly go with the temp controlled model rather than the three settings.....but either way you really can't go wrong. |
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Traeger FTMW +1 My wife is damn near the non-steak BBQ'nst person I know, even she can't fuck one up on ours.
Thanksgiving Turkey, brats, beercan chicken, you name it. It all comes out GOOD. Definetly go with the temp controlled model rather than the three settings.....but either way you really can't go wrong. Youve always been a good meat smoker............. |
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Quoted: Traeger FTMW +1 My wife is damn near the non-steak BBQ'nst person I know, even she can't fuck one up on ours. Thanksgiving Turkey, brats, beercan chicken, you name it. It all comes out GOOD. Definetly go with the temp controlled model rather than the three settings.....but either way you really can't go wrong. We did the Tday turkey on ours for the first time this year. Dunno what took us so long to get around to trying it, but it was worth the wait. Gonna do another turkey on it again next weekend, and can the majority of it. |
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You want electric, and low effort, get a Traeger. Based on the same principle as a pellet stove. Fill the hopper full of your favorite fuel, set the temperature and walk away. http://www.traegergrills.com/ My brother in law has one, and absolutly loves it. I'm looking to get one myself, to replace two of the three smokers I use regularly. I have a barrel smoker, an electric Brinkman, and a Little Cheif. All the little cheif is used for any more is cheese, the barrel smoker does everything else but ribs, those go in the Brinkman. ETA: I also have a gas grill Holy Shit $1000.00 for a smoker  I just spit beer all over my keyboard
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Quoted: Quoted: You want electric, and low effort, get a Traeger. Based on the same principle as a pellet stove. Fill the hopper full of your favorite fuel, set the temperature and walk away. http://www.traegergrills.com/ My brother in law has one, and absolutly loves it. I'm looking to get one myself, to replace two of the three smokers I use regularly. I have a barrel smoker, an electric Brinkman, and a Little Cheif. All the little cheif is used for any more is cheese, the barrel smoker does everything else but ribs, those go in the Brinkman. ETA: I also have a gas grill Holy Shit $1000.00 for a smoker I just spit beer all over my keyboardYou'll use it more than you use the range & oven inside the house. |
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I have the same one and love it. |
My work here is done. 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: well actually I am signing up as a dealer and will be offering their product line to my customers  Had a buddy that fell for that. Pass and just buy the grill Please explain Pass and just buy the grill Please explain OK. Our friend isn't selling them anymore. If anyone of us could have made it work long term, I would have put my money on him. He's 'the type'. He gave it a good full run, all as honest as Abe. (6-7 years? guessing) If you're asking me to shoot holes in your plan, I won't. I didn't do it to him either. But the bottom line is that it didn't work, and the turnover rate for Traeger dealers seems to match those of the tooltruck drivers, which gwitness can probably comment on. Corporate is in it to win, and they have a solid product. But they are too affable when it comes to their dealer strategy, and it hurts those without the storefront to survive their lack of fortitude. IMHO, YMMV. Yada, |
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Quoted: well actually I am signing up as a dealer and will be offering their product line to my customers
Had a buddy that fell for that. Pass and just buy the grill Please explain
Pass and just buy the grill Please explain
OK. Our friend isn't selling them anymore. If anyone of us could have made it work long term, I would have put my money on him. He's 'the type'. He gave it a good full run, all as honest as Abe. (6-7 years? guessing) If you're asking me to shoot holes in your plan, I won't. I didn't do it to him either. But the bottom line is that it didn't work, and the turnover rate for Traeger dealers seems to match those of the tooltruck drivers, which gwitness can probably comment on. Corporate is in it to win, and they have a solid product. But they are too affable when it comes to their dealer strategy, and it hurts those without the storefront to survive their lack of fortitude. IMHO, YMMV. Yada, I've had the same Matco dealer for 11 years... not a hard fast rule....some can make it work..some can't....I've looked into a Matco franchise in the central western Washington area....I can't keep doing what I'm doing now forever...my body won't let me.
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: well actually I am signing up as a dealer and will be offering their product line to my customers Had a buddy that fell for that. Pass and just buy the grill Please explain Pass and just buy the grill Please explain OK. Our friend isn't selling them anymore. If anyone of us could have made it work long term, I would have put my money on him. He's 'the type'. He gave it a good full run, all as honest as Abe. (6-7 years? guessing) If you're asking me to shoot holes in your plan, I won't. I didn't do it to him either. But the bottom line is that it didn't work, and the turnover rate for Traeger dealers seems to match those of the tooltruck drivers, which gwitness can probably comment on. Corporate is in it to win, and they have a solid product. But they are too affable when it comes to their dealer strategy, and it hurts those without the storefront to survive their lack of fortitude. IMHO, YMMV. Yada, I've had the same Matco dealer for 11 years... not a hard fast rule....some can make it work..some can't....I've looked into a Matco franchise in the central western Washington area....I can't keep doing what I'm doing now forever...my body won't let me.Yeah, some do make it. We had the same Cornwell guy the entire time I worked in the machine shop. Snap-on & Matco were a series of flakes. |