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Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 2:54 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
I'm looking for an inexpensive Charcoal smoker. I know some of you on here smoke, lol. Thoughts on this one?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Meco-Charcoal ... iewedItems
VS This one:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Char-Broil-Am ... k/16681580?
Thanks!
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 5:05 pm
by RubberMallet
the water smoker is junk. the charbroilers is ok and can smoke meat well once its modified a bit.
to be honest the best smoker in your price range is going to be a weber kettle with the smokenator attachment.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 5:09 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
What are you Dr Dooferschmertz? Never heard of that, I'll look that up.
Any why praytel is the watersmoker junk?
I also looked at the Brinkman Split door. I like that one a lot but I want a combo smoker/grill.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 5:40 pm
by BJWilliams
Rooster Cogburn wrote:What are you Dr Dooferschmertz? Never heard of that, I'll look that up.
Any why praytel is the watersmoker junk?
I also looked at the Brinkman Split door. I like that one a lot but I want a combo smoker/grill.
do you have kids that watch Phineas and Ferb? I mean Id get that reference from Sly maybe
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 6:09 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
Bj. I have one up on the Fox. I have four kids between 6 and 16. So yes.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 7:34 pm
by SuperJon
BJWilliams wrote:Rooster Cogburn wrote:What are you Dr Dooferschmertz? Never heard of that, I'll look that up.
Any why praytel is the watersmoker junk?
I also looked at the Brinkman Split door. I like that one a lot but I want a combo smoker/grill.
do you have kids that watch Phineas and Ferb? I mean Id get that reference from Sly maybe
The question is why do you, as an almost 30-year-old single man, get the reference?
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 9:31 pm
by Sly Fox
Because Phineas & Ferb is arguably the most creative show on television these days.
Rooster - Mallet knows what he is talking about when it comes to charcoal smokers.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 29th, 2011, 10:24 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
Yea I agree but from what I see of the right size Weber kettle and Dr Dooferschmertz smokinator it would be close to $300 for mallets smoke suggestion. I like it but it's more than I want to spend now. I may get one to start out on and just get a better one later.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 7:26 am
by LUconn
I have a Weber Smokey Mountain. I like it. Everything I make seems to take about 3 hours longer than I plan for but I'm pretty sure that's because I only barely know what I'm doing.
It runs anywhere from $200-$300
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 9:33 am
by RubberMallet
Rooster Cogburn wrote:Yea I agree but from what I see of the right size Weber kettle and Dr Dooferschmertz smokinator it would be close to $300 for mallets smoke suggestion. I like it but it's more than I want to spend now. I may get one to start out on and just get a better one later.
whoa! 300 bucks?
55 for the smokenator and your can find 22.5 kettles for 80 bucks at lowes.
if i was suggesting 300 dollar smokers you'd be in luconns realm.
the water smoker will be a bear to maintain any type of temperature in. the only one like that i'd consider is a weber smokey mountain and yes, its around 300 bucks.
the charbroil horizontal is an ok style and will cook good food. but to be honest, i've seen them and they are kind of elcheapo. if you could find and older one on CL like a new Braunsfeld, brinkman smokenpit they seem to be better quality and thicker steel.
i have a smokenpit and with a few modifications (real easy mods) it works real good.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 9:56 am
by RubberMallet
oh and my child's derby car this year :

Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:10 am
by ALUmnus
RubberMallet wrote:oh and my child's derby car this year :


Our deaf pastor made pretty much that exact same derby car for one of his kids last year (it was a little more square than yours). It dominated the races and almost won the whole thing.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:19 am
by Rooster Cogburn
RubberMallet wrote:Rooster Cogburn wrote:Yea I agree but from what I see of the right size Weber kettle and Dr Dooferschmertz smokinator it would be close to $300 for mallets smoke suggestion. I like it but it's more than I want to spend now. I may get one to start out on and just get a better one later.
whoa! 300 bucks?
55 for the smokenator and your can find 22.5 kettles for 80 bucks at lowes.
if i was suggesting 300 dollar smokers you'd be in luconns realm.
the water smoker will be a bear to maintain any type of temperature in. the only one like that i'd consider is a weber smokey mountain and yes, its around 300 bucks.
the charbroil horizontal is an ok style and will cook good food. but to be honest, i've seen them and they are kind of elcheapo. if you could find and older one on CL like a new Braunsfeld, brinkman smokenpit they seem to be better quality and thicker steel.
i have a smokenpit and with a few modifications (real easy mods) it works real good.
OK I was looking at the wrong kettle. I see the $80 one and I just found the cheapest price I've seen on the Smokinator at $75.
I also just saw this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Brinkmann-810-530 ... B000HVAIQS
Thoughts?
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:19 am
by Rooster Cogburn
RubberMallet wrote:oh and my child's derby car this year :


Awesome, was it fast?
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:25 am
by RubberMallet
it didn't race. it was for the 3 yr old. it was for awana grand prix. her sister got to make one so she thought she should get to make one too.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:27 am
by RubberMallet
Rooster Cogburn wrote:RubberMallet wrote:Rooster Cogburn wrote:Yea I agree but from what I see of the right size Weber kettle and Dr Dooferschmertz smokinator it would be close to $300 for mallets smoke suggestion. I like it but it's more than I want to spend now. I may get one to start out on and just get a better one later.
whoa! 300 bucks?
55 for the smokenator and your can find 22.5 kettles for 80 bucks at lowes.
if i was suggesting 300 dollar smokers you'd be in luconns realm.
the water smoker will be a bear to maintain any type of temperature in. the only one like that i'd consider is a weber smokey mountain and yes, its around 300 bucks.
the charbroil horizontal is an ok style and will cook good food. but to be honest, i've seen them and they are kind of elcheapo. if you could find and older one on CL like a new Braunsfeld, brinkman smokenpit they seem to be better quality and thicker steel.
i have a smokenpit and with a few modifications (real easy mods) it works real good.
OK I was looking at the wrong kettle. I see the $80 one and I just found the cheapest price I've seen on the Smokinator at $75.
I also just saw this one: http://www.amazon.com/Brinkmann-810-530 ... B000HVAIQS
Thoughts?
that one is worse. it really is. it will smoke food sure, but you are having to be near it all the time. you want something you can at least leave alone for 3 or 4 hours.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:42 am
by HenryGale
I have a Chargriller with the side firebox and love it. I would like to upgrade to the Weber Smoky Mountain ...simply because they maintain constant temps better.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:51 am
by RubberMallet
chargrillers are nice too and can be had for less than 150 with a side fire box. i'd prefer that one to a the charbroiler in the link.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 10:55 am
by Rooster Cogburn
I don't disagree with any of what you say. I'm just so new to this I'm trying to figure it all out. The Vertival domes just seem a little easier. so what is the big problem with the vertical domes? like the ones above or this one?
http://www.lowes.com/pd_332738-42600-CB ... 0-%20$100#
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 11:36 am
by RubberMallet
the biggest issues usualy are maintaining temps. those usually result in huge temp swings. also ash buildup is always an issue with those. they just aren't conducive to longer cooks like shoulder and brisket.
i'm sure there are guys out there that love them and have success. i've just not seen much of it. most people i know that buy them end up rarely using them.
Re: Looking for a charcoal smoker
Posted: August 30th, 2011, 1:30 pm
by Innocent Bystander
Rooster Cogburn wrote:RubberMallet wrote:oh and my child's derby car this year :


Awesome, was it fast?
Its a platypus....it doesn't do much.