Help a beginner - offset or vertical? Both?

Gig103 · Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Hi gang,

I'm still shopping for a budget smoker, and all the ones I had seen so far were vertical smokers like the WSM that use a chip box and water pan.

But yesterday I noticed that Home Depot sells an offset smoker on the cheap ($159):
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100661412/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Of course this is closer in design (but not quality, i'm not kidding myself) to the big guns you guys have, so I was tempted by it. But, I have some hesitations I'm hoping you guys can help with:

1. A coworker who has both vertical and offset smokers says he only uses the offset for brisket because he needs the water pan for the leaner meat like pork picnics. Is this true, or can you put a water pan in an offset? Would the pan go in the main chamber or in the burner box?

2. Size. It's just me, my wife isn't a fan of 'cue. I'm hoping to convert her but in the mean time, is heating a big smoker like that going to use a lot of fuel when it just has a small amount of food on it, making it not worth the effort?

3. Will it work with charcoal or are offsets just for stickburners?

4. For someone who has always used propane, how much of a learning curve is there to charcoal? How much attention does it take to keep a good temp?

Mike Lawry · Posted: Oct 16 2009 Post subject:

If you can afford it , buy both the Brinkmann + a WSM.

There both fun.

But if I had 2 choose 1,

Ill never be without my WSM.

Mike Lawry.

twojacks · Posted: Oct 16 2009 Post subject:

I second that, get a WSM 18. Great price around for last years model, hold temps like a rock for hours, well built and easy to use.

Good Luck on your choice.
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Alien BBQ · Posted: Oct 16 2009 Post subject:

Ease into it with a Chargriller Duo with the optional fire box. Gas/ Charcoal/Wood all in one!

http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16878&highlight=duo

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SmokeHound · Posted: Oct 16 2009 Post subject:

k.a.m. · Posted: Oct 16 2009 Post subject:

Gig103, I don't use a chip box in my WSM. I and most use wood chunks. For a new person to smoking I would recommend the WSM hands down. These cookers are pretty much set it and forget it. I have two WSM's a UDS, and an offset and my go to cooker for low and slow is always my WSM. Here is a link to the virtual Weber bullet. You should read this before you make any decisions.
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/
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