newbie with no clue

frayedend · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject: newbie with no clue

Hi,

I am totally new to smoking and would like to try it out. I haven't been happy with most bbq around here. Anyhow, I am trying to make sense of all the smoker options. Can someone give me the pros and cons of the different types of smokers?

I will mostly want to do ribs, brisket, pulled pork. Anyhow, I see bullet types, water smokers? and horizontal offset/separate box on the side. I am not sure what I need. Oh yeah, why are some smokers considered charcoal only and some charcoal and or wood?

Thanks Smile

_________________
Jim

Steve-O · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Need some info to help out.
budget ($0 to ??)
space (patio, 10 acres)
Location (apartment, lake, backyard)
wood or gas/electricity
How often do you want to smoke
Are you trying it out or going for it big time?
_________________
"BBQ may not be a religion in Texas, but the two institutions are closely associated."
- Robb Walsh "Legends of Texas Barbeque Cookbook"

frayedend · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Steve-O · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Get an el cheapo brinkman from Academy sports. $89 or less. These are electic and are great for 1st timers that don't know if they really want to get into it. Get a Maverick ET-73 (or similar) remote thermometer.

Next thing to add is an afterburner gas attachement which will let you vary the temp in the smoker. These are $50.

All of the recipes on this forum will work in the ECB. Get Paul Kirks "championship BBQ" to help get you started.

Once you get hooked, there are a lot of ~$1k smokers that will last a lifetime.... as the ecb has a definite lifespan...
_________________
"BBQ may not be a religion in Texas, but the two institutions are closely associated."
- Robb Walsh "Legends of Texas Barbeque Cookbook"

mding38926 · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Thomas P. · BBQ Pro Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 596 Location: Texas

First, grill on gas if you want to, but gas won't get you good BBQ, no matter what anyone says. Also, stay away from electric. If you want to BBQ, then BBQ. Don't buy anything that uses pellets, either, until you know what you're doing. Then go pellet if you want.

Here's my recommendations:

$30 - buy a brinkman water smoker. It's a bullet-style rig that turns out decent food. The cooker just isn't going to last long.

$50 - buy a Weber kettle grill and learn to use the indirect method, either on one side or in the center of the grill. For one piece of meat at a time, it's pretty good.

$119 - Chargriller Pro - Carried at Lowes, This is a barrel without the side fire box. For the economy class grills, it has several excellent features. It holds up well, has an inovative adjustable fire pan, and comes ready to accept several upgrades.

$169 - Chargriller Super-Pro - This is the same Chargriller model with the side fire box. You can order the whole thing as one package from Chargriller, on-line, or you can buy the fire box kit at lowes for $50 and add it to your Chargriller Pro.

When you approach the $200 range, start looking at New Brauenfels or Oklahoma Joes for offsets, or the Weber Smokie Mountain if you want to stick with a bullet.

Above that, well, just cruise around the posts here or the links on the main page.

Good luck! Very Happy

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Leading the quest to abolish propane from Que'dom...
Big Tom, Hillbilly Ambassador to flatlanders everywhere!

GO VOLS!

JimH · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

I'll second the WSM, it's $100 more than you want to spend but it has a good track record. The Brinkman Charcoal Water Smoker, in it's current configuration, is a waste of time & money.

mding38926 · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

frayedend · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Thanks for all the tips. The budget is definitely flexible and I am sure that this is something I want to do. Can someone tell me what the difference between using the bullet type or one with a fire box on the side is? I assume that you can get better temp control with the side box, not sure. Also, is the water pan just for keeping temps lower in a bullet type? Thanks
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Jim

allsmokenofire · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

adolpho · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Everyone can be a critic of smokers, especially the ECB, but I'm with Dinger on this one. The ECB is a very inexpensive way to find out if you're truly interested in smoking. It does wear out (I'm on my 3rd in 16 years) but if you take care of it, it lasts around 4-5years easy. There are mods for it, but you can get a small smoke session out of it (5-6 hours) without mods and it'll produce decent cue.
From my experience, the water pan helps control the temperature. There are theories that the water keeps moisture in the pit and so on, but there are other theories that say at a certain temperature the mositure doesn't matter, it evaporates too quickly (ALIEN HELP EXPLAIN THIS IF YOU CAN). I'm not sure what to believe on moisture, but sometimes I cue with the top rack only and I don't use the water pan and I get higher temperature readings that's great for chicken (around 260-275 degrees). So that's why I believe the waterpan helps predominantly with temperature.
Just my observation, that's all.
Good luck on whatever you pick to start cueing with, I'm just glad you're joining the club!!!!
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Hogwild · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

I cut my teeth on an ECB years ago and they'll do decent Q. I currently have the Chargriller Pro and love it...have to do the mods though. click here for lots of chargriller info.

Alien BBQ · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Go with the ECB for the money, once you are hooked, you can then upgrade and keep the ECB as a second grill or backup smoker. You do have to use water for temp control on these but a small flower watering bucket works great for refilling. Check out the post on how to put it all together.
http://www1.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2317&highlight=ecb
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JimH · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

I had an old one too, I used it for ten years before it gave up the ghost. I also owned the new model, which I bought from Lowes for $45. This si the new Brinkman:

[img]http://images.lowes.com/product/039953/039953501883.jpg?wid=158&cvt=jpeg[/img]

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=95542-000000447-852-7080-E&lpage=none

It's this model that is worthless. The ash pan has a 1/4" clearance from the bottom of the unit, so your fire chokes on it's own ash. I struggled with this thing for a year before I tossed it. They had changed the design so much that you could not easily modify it. My old brinkman could run for four or five hours on a load of charcoal but the new one only an hour before you have to start stirring the coals or add charcoal. On the old model the ash pan was suspended above the base by three bolts, on the new model the ash pan has a flange that fits over the base so when it rains the water drains into your charcoal. The top two thirds are the same smoker, the base and the ash pan are a disaster. It was that experience that made me make the jump to an offset. I like bullets and maybe next year I'll get a WSM but Brinkman has seen the last of me.

followingariver · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 27

fray,

don't know where in Mass you are, but they have a cheap bullet smoker at Home Depot in Danvers, around $40 bucks I believe, they are also selling two 24lb bags of Kingsford for $12, so for around fifty buck you can get started. Come to think of it, I'm sure you can get this at any home depot. I've been messing around with a bullet smoker for a little while now and have turned out some good ribs, pulled pork and chicken, eventually I will probably upgrade but I am happy with it for now.

- Dave
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Smoking and Queing in Beverly Mass.

frayedend · Posted: Feb 28 2006 Post subject:

Wow, Thanks Guys. You are all so helpful. I think I have my answers. I am still just wondering why some say charcoal and some say charcoal and wood. Can I put wood in all of the smokers? I want to use hickory, maybe a little mesquite, maybe some other stuff. Anyhow, I think I'll start with an el cheapo bullet since I can do it for so little. Of course if I love it (which I have a feeling I will, I need a hobby and hopefully my kids are old enough now to give me a bit of time) I will end up buying something much better later on.

Thanks again!
_________________
Jim

Thomas P. · BBQ Pro Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 596 Location: Texas

frayedend · Posted: Mar 01 2006 Post subject:

Thanks,

I think I have everything figured out to get started. I'll post my results as soon as I buy a smoker and try this out. I've been big into grilling but haven't had any luck trying to get good smoke on my gas grill while maintaining temps. But I will say that adding some hickory to a smoker box in the grill does add some good flavor even when cooking high and fast. I am anxious to get to some serious bbq.
_________________
Jim

frayedend · Posted: Mar 01 2006 Post subject:

Any comments on this smoker from Brinkman on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brinkmann-Vertical-Charcoal-Wood-BBQ-Smoker-NIB-0-S-H_W0QQitemZ4443350217QQcategoryZ20723QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I know I can get el cheapo for 45 bucks at the local lowes, but I wouldn't mind spending a little more just because I think I'll want more capacity fairly quickly.
_________________
Jim

Thomas P. · BBQ Pro Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 596 Location: Texas

I believe that would be a good choice for a first smoker. It's a cousin to the ECB and WSM, and the wee little brother of the Backwoods and Spicewine Smokers.

Cabinet smokers use a deflected direct heat principle, just like the bullets. Some will try to tell you they are better/worse than the western off-set style. This is totally not the case.

The cabinet and bullet cookers are simply the child of Eastern BBQ traditions and evolution while the horizontal barrels are the offspring of totally different issues related to Western BBQ.
_________________
Leading the quest to abolish propane from Que'dom...
Big Tom, Hillbilly Ambassador to flatlanders everywhere!

GO VOLS!