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Decision Help, Small or Mini

I've already got an XL and a L, but I need to start eating more fish and I hate firing up the L for 1 piece. I found a local dealer who has a package, nest, etc, for $550, $700 every other place I've called.  The mini is $580ish everywhere I've called.  I don't plan on taking it with me anywhere, mini, and if i did get the mini i'd need to get a table for it so the small seems to be the way to go.  However, I think I've read the small is a bear to control temp.  

Just looking for a little advice, or am I being stupid? And I take no offense to being stupid, in fact I'm pretty sure I invented the word/definition by my actions/decisions over the years.

Thanks in advance.  

The DudeThis is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

Walter SobchakNihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

Cumming, GA

Eggs - XL, L, Small

Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

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Comments

  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
    Small, no problems with temp control here, works great.
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    edited April 2016
    That is a really good price on the small, and a pretty high price on the mini :). With those prices I would get the small no doubt. 

    You could wait for the GA Mountain Eggfest for a deal on a mini, but your deal on the small is better. 

    http://mountainegg.com/demo-eggs/

    I don't have any real issues with my small except sometimes it takes a while to come up to temperature.  Once it gets going it is fine.   I got the high-Q grate which helped. 


    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,945
    Those sound like Mini-Max prices.  Mini should be around $399 I thought.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 953
    Those sound like Mini-Max prices.  Mini should be around $399 I thought.
    Seems like the mini is in demand and the small isn't around here (cumming, ga).

    The DudeThis is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter SobchakNihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

  • 1move
    1move Posts: 516
    Just curious at those prices why not just go with a MiniMax? 
    XLBGE, MMBGE, CyberQ
  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 30,871
    Get the small.  
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,174
    Another vote for the SBGE-I have no issues with temp control hot or low&slow. I immediately installed a High-Que grate and it is a great cooker.  I cannot compare as I don't own a MM or mini.  FWIW-
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 16,984
    No transport, Small. 
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,457
    I have both and the mini gets more use than the small but the small is an awesome egg.  I have no issues with it at all.  The question you have to ask yourself is which one do you want first because eventually you will want both.  

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 953
    I have both and the mini gets more use than the small but the small is an awesome egg.  I have no issues with it at all.  The question you have to ask yourself is which one do you want first because eventually you will want both.  
    Ya man, I hear ya.  Bout to get in the car and grab me a small.  However, not being at the store this moment, it will be a game time decision.  I'll let y'all know where I land.

    The DudeThis is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter SobchakNihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

  • Sammi
    Sammi Posts: 598
    The small is my go to for most nights. The mini is my traveller. 
    Sudbury, Ontario
  • jakebge
    jakebge Posts: 79
    I have a small and use it just like you described.
  • SmokyBear
    SmokyBear Posts: 389
    Love my Mini, but at times wish I had the extra 3'' of grate the small or MM gives you to move food around on.
    Mini BGE, KJ Classic - Black, Cookshack SM025, Weber Gasser (mostly for Kamado storage!)
  • Dexterdog
    Dexterdog Posts: 17
    Get a Mini Max if you can find a decent price.  I had a small and then traded it and got the MM.  Same cooking surface as the small and it is more portable.   
  • I have the small and mini, and I use them both all the time. If you aren't going to travel with it, get the small for the few extra inches of grid space. Head on over to N. GA Eggfest in May and get a demo there if you can. 
    Happily egging on my original large BGE since 1996... now the owner of 5 eggs. Call me crazy, everyone else does!
     
    3 Large, 1 Small, 1 well-used Mini
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,457
    If your not travelin with it I say go for the small first.  To confuse you even more it's fun as hell seeing how much food you can cram on the mini!!   Lol

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • blasting
    blasting Posts: 6,262

    Small.  I see no point in the mini, but there is much love for it from those that own it.

    For me, cooking at home I want more space and don't want to be cramped.  For traveling, transporting fragile ceramics that take hours to cool down doesn't appeal to me.



    Phoenix 
  • dougcrann
    dougcrann Posts: 1,129
    Yes...to both....
  • bhedges1987
    bhedges1987 Posts: 3,201
    Either!

    Kansas City, Missouri
    Large Egg
    Mini Egg

    "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us" - Gandalf


  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 953
    I went with the small for $569.  The mini max was $599. I just don't see myself carrying it around so the small it was.  I swear this **** only happens to me but the dam wire screen part of the draft door was missing.  I think someone stole it off the unit on the floor and I never thought to check.  Anyway the dealer is going to get me one, said it would be in thursday.  Sucks that I can't even use it because the draft door is so loose without the screen I wouldn't be able to control it or shut it down.  Oh well, but ya, I'm happy as hell otherwise!



    The DudeThis is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter SobchakNihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

  • Good call. You'll be putting that to work in no time I'm sure. 
  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    You might try this approach 'till Thursday.  Bamboo skewers shaved a little on the ends to hold the door tight.  Shouldn't need it during cooking, only for shutdown ... maybe.


    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 953
    You might try this approach 'till Thursday.  Bamboo skewers shaved a little on the ends to hold the door tight.  Shouldn't need it during cooking, only for shutdown ... maybe.



    Thanks man!!!!!!!

    The DudeThis is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter SobchakNihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

  • I have the small and the airflow is not good.  The minis a rocket by comparison.  I've heard the mm is also a rocket.  
    Flint, Michigan
  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 953
    I have the small and the airflow is not good.  The minis a rocket by comparison.  I've heard the mm is also a rocket.  
    Are u using a high q grate?

    The DudeThis is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter SobchakNihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    Nice score.  I wouldn't worry about cooking on it.  Jeepsters suggestion is great but even with out that if you put on the rain cap it will snuff just fine.  Fire her up. 


    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,008
    Light that sob up!!! Congrats on the small. I'm one of the odd ones here. I'd take the small over the MM all day everyday. Awesome grill. Small but still big enough and it works just like the bigger siblings. MM works more like the mini. No brainer especially with it being cheaper. You might want to look at a kick ash basket for it. I bought one for mine. It will make clean outs easier with the kick ash basket in my opinion 
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,127
    Now that's a grill of a lifetime! Congrats on your new baby. 
  • Fred19Flintstone
    Fred19Flintstone Posts: 8,168
    edited April 2016
    danv23 said:
    I have the small and the airflow is not good.  The minis a rocket by comparison.  I've heard the mm is also a rocket.  
    Are u using a high q grate?
    Yes sir I am.  The small breathes like it has emphysema.  IMO, pay the $30 more go with the mm.
    Flint, Michigan
  • Scottborasjr
    Scottborasjr Posts: 3,494
    The small is my hot dog cooking, brat making, kids aren't home cooking machine. Never had an issue with temp control. Clean it a little more often then my Large and Medium (maybe once every four months take all the innards out) 
    I raise my kids, cook and golf.  When work gets in the way I'm pissed, I'm pissed off 48 weeks a year.
    Inbetween Iowa and Colorado, not close to anything remotely entertaining outside of football season.