Any Feedback?

[Bigbo]

Looking for a little feedback here- first time purchase.


I know this is not the purist way of doing this, but it gets me smoking some tasties. (Call it a compromise) with a easier learning curve.


I am leaning towards a Char-Griller
Super Pro Charcoal Grill/Smoker -w with Offset box. or possibly the Pitmaster Deluxe Grill smok-n-pit and I am going to convert it to a Afterburner-H.


I thnk it will be a good way to learn how to smoke, and not have to deal with winter temps and keeping a fire box lit. (Me and charcoal have not ever been friends) and after all.....didn't I read somewhere. Charcoal is for heat.....wood is for smoke?

so why would it make a difference of using a burner for your heat?


it's all about the smoke, right?




thanks in advance
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Smoke em if you got one! (a BBQ Smoker)

[DawgPhan]

I say dont do the afterburner, but that is just me...I would also say get WSM if you have never smoked before..things will be a lot easier on you with a WSM than they will be with a starter offset..

[DawgPhan]

also know that propane burning will produce water vapor that might affect your meat...

[mding38926]

I tend to agree with Dawg...........just not my thing...........then again I love managing the fire and spending hours with my pit............
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Dinger

[allsmokenofire]

[Alien BBQ]

Mike is right on the time investment. In the long run you will want to learn the coal and wood fire art. You can’t go wrong with a WSM for ease of use, but you will eventually move up as your skills increase. I had a student that got her husband to sign off on an ECB before taking my Pit Master class. After she brought some of the class assignments home, he gave her the go ahead to buy a SnP Pro. Now the SnP deluxe is a good starting smoker and will last you for years, but they can be cantankerous sometimes. You might want to check out my post on Project brinkman. The mods I list are for the serous Q’ers. You can get by with loosely dropping a 14 inch pizza pan with 3/8 holes drilled in it between the fire box and the cooking grate. Either one is a good smoker, …basicly the WSM is easier to use and the SnP is half the price.
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[Thomas P.]

Char-Griller definately over the SnP Pro...

If you want to learn how to do it, go without the Afterburner H. Learn the principles of tending a fire first, then you'll be able to get even more use out of something like the "H"
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Leading the quest to abolish propane from Que'dom...
Big Tom, Hillbilly Ambassador to flatlanders everywhere!

GO VOLS!

[Doc1680]

Go with the Chargriller. It's much more versitile. It's a killer grill too. As far as ease of use. I just started smoking last year. I started with the CG. It's not that hard to do. You seem to be a somewhat intelligent person. No offense. I don't know you that well. It's like anything else though. You need to practice with it. Hell I didn't cook right on a stove the first time I did it either. Good luck either way and let us know what you go with.
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Love the voodoo that Q do.

Doc

[kickassbbq]

The WSM is a good smoker, but I would go with the offset firebox rig. You are going to end up probably buying one anyway, might as well do it now. Gas burner???? Hey, jump in there and learn how to smoke with charcoal and wood.
If you get that smoker and have a question on using it, these guys will teach you all you need to know and then you can fine tune your smokin' yourself.
Yes, I am crazy, but they know me here.
Smoke On!!!!!
Ed
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Smoke On!!!!!!
www.kickassbbq.com

[hvac81]

Just my opinion- Charcoal/Wood is the only way to go. Cant beat the flavor of natural smoking. I have tried gas and no one liked it as much as the real thing.
Just my Opinion tho

[Alien BBQ]

I have only one comment on the Afterburner H and it is on the website and not on the product. After visiting the web site and looking at the many different things, I noticed that the use of galvanized steel kept showing up… a lot. I would closely look at the materials being used before I plunked down my money. IMHO better wise than sorry.
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[JamesB]

I would go with the WSM as a first smoker recommendation as well.. Why? You get the cooked with coals/wood flavor and a good bit of the convenience that a gas or electric smoker provides, in that you can get very long burn times with out as much baby sitting...

The long burn times will allow you to experiment with various woods and such and provide you the opportunity to fine tune your Qing ability with out getting burned out (pun) on having to constantly mess with the fire... You will also be able to learn a bit of fire management for when you eventually move up to a larger rig (which you will I'm sure!).


I own a couple of fairly large offsets and several other smoking and cooking devices, but the WSM is still my most used smoker. It is very good at a wide range of cooking. You can grill (smaller amounts) on it, you can cook directly over the coals or you can use the water pan (I use sand in the pan) to cook somewhat indirect. Heck, I've even placed my cast iron wok directly on the coal ring to stir fry!

There are a ton of WSMs used by competition cooks that win numerous cookoffs, so you know that the lil' WSM can produce good Q! With the porcelain coated steel construction of the WSM it will last a life time too!

Good Luck with your decision...

James.

[JamesB]

I should add that as long as you can keep the WSM out of direct wind, you can cook very successfully in even extreme temps...

James.