What to Buy Next????

billt01

blasting

Something different - maybe a wood fired oven?

baychilla

People really seem to like the LonestarGrillz insulated cookers.  All but the smallest are massive overkill for me though.  That and I doubt I could convince anyone that if you let a WSM sit long enough it turns into a cabinet cooker.

Gulfcoastguy

A deep freeze for all of the future cooks.

epcotisbest

Cashfan said:

epcotisbest said:

Seems like you have plenty of cookers. What to buy next? Maybe a convertible...if you are married, let your wife pick it out. Make, model, color...all her choice. Beats roses.

lol!

No wife, just the dog and I. Neither of us mind driving old vehicles with a lot miles!!

In my defense, the Mini and blackstone where both on sale. The Mini was a $100 score off Craigslist, and the Blackstone was at walmart for $100 last year. No reasonable person would have said no to those deals...... I had planned on selling the round Primo after I picked up the Large oval, but found I use them both too much to get rid of either, unless I got an XL.......

Oh well, dogs usually prefer to drive old trucks anyway. I got a Blackstone bargain at Walmart as well. Got the 17" for $35 on closeout sometime last year. Picked up an Akorn Jr. for $74 too. Have enjoyed the BS so far. Have not tried the Akorn yet, but hard to pass up a bargain. Will probably use both camping this season.

DoubleEgger

That RoccBox might be something to consider. 

Cashfan

JohnInCarolina said:

caliking said:

Check out the karubecue. A few here have one. The flavor profile is most excellent . @The Cen-Tex Smoker @20stone may chime in.

I was going to suggest this as well, though it’s similar to a stick burner in the sense that there’s a fire that needs feeding.  Based on his OP, my impression is that he’s looking for something closer to a “set it and forget it” arrangement.  

Yes, more set it and forget it than a stick burner. That is why I am looking at the WSM and PBC. Looks like they put out a good product with a different taste than the eggs. 

The karubecue looks pretty high maintenance. I'm not opposed to high maintenance, just not overnight, which I think would limit the cooks, and I'd be using the eggs anyway. 

Jeremiah

Where are you located @cashfan? 

Cashfan

Southern MN

GregW

Something you might consider is a wood pellet fired grill or smoker. There are quiet a few on the market. I have one made by Cookshack. I have a FEC 120. It is perhaps overkill for home use. It will easily cook 150 pounds of pork butts.
A pellet fired unit smokes in the perfect thin blue smoke range. The temp setting and times are all computer controlled for a good nights sleep.

Cookshack makes the PG 500 and 1000 residential class units.
They are combination direct and indirect cookers. People tend to give them good reviews.

HeavyG

DoubleEgger said:

WeberWho said:

JohnInCarolina said:

saluki2007 said:

JohnInCarolina said:

caliking said:

Check out the karubecue. A few here have one. The flavor profile is most excellent . @The Cen-Tex Smoker @20stone may chime in.

I was going to suggest this as well, though it’s similar to a stick burner in the sense that there’s a fire that needs feeding.  Based on his OP, my impression is that he’s looking for something closer to a “set it and forget it” arrangement.  

Isn't the karubecue as close as you can come to a set it and forget it when it comes to stick burner type smoker?

Probably, but you still have to pay attention to how the fuel is being used up and refill it periodically.  Just how often I’m not sure, but I don’t think it takes hours between refills.   I watched Cen-Tex do this when I was at his house, but it’s possible my BAC inhibited my ability to pay attention to how frequently he had to add wood.

I believe it's every 45 minutes or so 

The inventor says 30 mins so it’s definitely not a set it and forget it. Amazing Ribs review also says chunks are too small and splits are too big so you’ll have to source the wood accordingly. 

Thirty minutes is probably a reasonable expectation. I've had to feed mine as frequently as every 20 minutes. Never been able to go for 45 minutes between feedings.

Jeremiah

Cashfan said:

Southern MN

Well there went my offer.  But still, at $300 the PBC is a great buy. I use mine now for turkeys and chicken wings. But that's really user preference, as I just like my egg better for other cooks. 

Photo Egg

Cashfan said:

JohnInCarolina said:

caliking said:

Check out the karubecue. A few here have one. The flavor profile is most excellent . @The Cen-Tex Smoker @20stone may chime in.

I was going to suggest this as well, though it’s similar to a stick burner in the sense that there’s a fire that needs feeding.  Based on his OP, my impression is that he’s looking for something closer to a “set it and forget it” arrangement.  

Yes, more set it and forget it than a stick burner. That is why I am looking at the WSM and PBC. Looks like they put out a good product with a different taste than the eggs. 

The karubecue looks pretty high maintenance. I'm not opposed to high maintenance, just not overnight, which I think would limit the cooks, and I'd be using the eggs anyway. 

I cooked on WSM before and during my first few years of owning BGEs. The flavor profile, to me, was very close to my XL BGE but needed more adjusting on longer cooks. I sold my WSM when I got my 2nd Egg. I still have a small custom offset on 2 wheel axil that I have not fired up for many years. Much different flavor/crust/skin profile from WSM and my Eggs. I honestly don't think WSM will do it for you. But if you want to try, watch Craigslist.

Jeremiah

The question really no one has asked is how much do you want to spend on what you buy next? A $300 PBC or WSM? A $600 roccbox? A $1500 karubeque? Or A $6000 Shirley?

DoubleEgger

Jeremiah said:

The question really no one has asked is how much do you want to spend on what you buy next? A $300 PBC or WSM? A $600 roccbox? A $1500 karubeque? Or A $6000 Shirley?

The OP started out saying he was looking at a stick burner so there’s a decent budget. He mentioned a WSM or a Barrel so that’s why I mentioned a Roccbox as its priced in the same ballpark. 

Jeremiah

DoubleEgger said:

Jeremiah said:

The question really no one has asked is how much do you want to spend on what you buy next? A $300 PBC or WSM? A $600 roccbox? A $1500 karubeque? Or A $6000 Shirley?

The OP started out saying he was looking at a stick burner so there’s a decent budget. He mentioned a WSM or a Barrel so that’s why I mentioned a Roccbox as its priced in the same ballpark. 

Hey I love spending other people's money. Just trying to figure out what price point were at and what we want here, as there's a big difference between a PBC and a full blown offset...

theyolksonyou

Kamodo Kamado

Cashfan

I could see spending 2-3 thousand on something I'd really like. I was looking at the Yoder Wichita and a couple others around that size, they start at around 1600 new. I'm not interested in a big smoker on a trailer. Too much money for something I'm not sure I'd use, and I don't really have space for something like that. Been watching CL, only seeing the cheap ones and the trailer units, and not much in between.  

Like i said earlier, I don't think a stick burner is for me. 

I was leaning toward the PBC and WSM because of the ease of use. 

WeberWho

The Good One Smokers are something a little different. It's an offset style smoker but fueled with lump charcoal. I drooled over the The Good One Marshall for the longest time until running upon a used Shirley. I don't think I've ever seen a negative review on the Marshall. I have The Good One Open Range. A little small for my tastes and will be selling this summer. Great cooker though. If you're ever in the Twin Cities, Quetopia has a The Good One Open Range on the showroom floor to get an idea. Chris Marks has won the American Royal multiple times with The Good One Smokers.

DoubleEgger

Jeremiah said:

DoubleEgger said:

Jeremiah said:

The question really no one has asked is how much do you want to spend on what you buy next? A $300 PBC or WSM? A $600 roccbox? A $1500 karubeque? Or A $6000 Shirley?

The OP started out saying he was looking at a stick burner so there’s a decent budget. He mentioned a WSM or a Barrel so that’s why I mentioned a Roccbox as its priced in the same ballpark. 

Hey I love spending other people's money. Just trying to figure out what price point were at and what we want here, as there's a big difference between a PBC and a full blown offset...

Money is no object when spending someone else’s cash. 

theyolksonyou

Corvette?

theyolksonyou

An old one, of course. 

HeavyG

Cashfan said:

I could see spending 2-3 thousand on something I'd really like. I was looking at the Yoder Wichita and a couple others around that size, they start at around 1600 new. I'm not interested in a big smoker on a trailer. Too much money for something I'm not sure I'd use, and I don't really have space for something like that. Been watching CL, only seeing the cheap ones and the trailer units, and not much in between.  

Like i said earlier, I don't think a stick burner is for me. 

I was leaning toward the PBC and WSM because of the ease of use. 

Pellet pooper then? Perhaps a Yoder YS640?

Focker

This thread is all over the Focking place.....
BS, KBQ, RB, LOL!  

I don't have a drum, but flavor profile from it vs WSM would be the same IMO, because by design, they are the same.

I hang stuff in my WSM with a rod and hook kit, just like a drum.  And personally, things are better being on a grid, horizontal.

I can run overnighters on a heaping full ring of briqs, adding fuel in the morning.

It runs in cold, sub-zero ambients, wind being the only issue.  Blocking it, helps.

Between the two, in all criteria, and bang for your buck, the WSM wins hands down.  In the comp arena, it has smoked more offsets than any other, and is the most decorated, mass manufactured, pit on the market.

My experience differs from Darian's.
IMO, the hotter fire does provide a better smoke profile vs my egg.  For example, butts get a more meteorized look, better smoke ring.  Ribs are another fine example as well.  Even run a Cajun Bandit rotisserie on the 22 WSM, one of the best accessories I have purchased.

Butts on the 22 WSM.

 Chicken on the 22 WSM.

Ribs off the 14 WSM.

Buddy's ribs on his 18 WSM.

Deboned smoked trout via snake method on the 14 WSM at 175.

Over The Top Chili on the 18 WSM.

HTH

The Cen-Tex Smoker

saluki2007 said:

JohnInCarolina said:

caliking said:

Check out the karubecue. A few here have one. The flavor profile is most excellent . @The Cen-Tex Smoker @20stone may chime in.

I was going to suggest this as well, though it’s similar to a stick burner in the sense that there’s a fire that needs feeding.  Based on his OP, my impression is that he’s looking for something closer to a “set it and forget it” arrangement.  

Isn't the karubecue as close as you can come to a set it and forget it when it comes to stick burner type smoker?

Not really. You still have to mess with the fire and feed sticks every 30-45 min. It does keep the temp
steady and the smoke clean as long as you keep the fire in good shape but you still have to tend the live fire and add sticks often. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

DoubleEgger said:

WeberWho said:

JohnInCarolina said:

saluki2007 said:

JohnInCarolina said:

caliking said:

Check out the karubecue. A few here have one. The flavor profile is most excellent . @The Cen-Tex Smoker @20stone may chime in.

I was going to suggest this as well, though it’s similar to a stick burner in the sense that there’s a fire that needs feeding.  Based on his OP, my impression is that he’s looking for something closer to a “set it and forget it” arrangement.  

Isn't the karubecue as close as you can come to a set it and forget it when it comes to stick burner type smoker?

Probably, but you still have to pay attention to how the fuel is being used up and refill it periodically.  Just how often I’m not sure, but I don’t think it takes hours between refills.   I watched Cen-Tex do this when I was at his house, but it’s possible my BAC inhibited my ability to pay attention to how frequently he had to add wood.

I believe it's every 45 minutes or so 

The inventor says 30 mins so it’s definitely not a set it and forget it. Amazing Ribs review also says chunks are too small and splits are too big so you’ll have to source the wood accordingly. 

I use full splits and cut them in half or thirds for the most part. There are some that are too fat to work but I burn those in the fireplace. If I buy a half cord, most of it will work in the kbq once cut to the right length. 

unoriginalusername

Watch BBQ pittmasters on Netflix and you might come away thinking a Yoder YS640 pellet smoker should be your next grill to complement your lineup. Similar airflow as a stick burner, at low temps blue smoke without any of the high touch commitment 

Cashfan

Focker said:

This thread is all over the Focking place.....
BS, KBQ, RB, LOL!  

I don't have a drum, but flavor profile from it vs WSM would be the same IMO, because by design, they are the same.

I hang stuff in my WSM with a rod and hook kit, just like a drum.  And personally, things are better being on a grid, horizontal.

I can run overnighters on a heaping full ring of briqs, adding fuel in the morning.

It runs in cold, sub-zero ambients, wind being the only issue.  Blocking it, helps.

Between the two, in all criteria, and bang for your buck, the WSM wins hands down.  In the comp arena, it has smoked more offsets than any other, and is the most decorated, mass manufactured, pit on the market.

My experience differs from Darian's.
IMO, the hotter fire does provide a better smoke profile vs my egg.  For example, butts get a more meteorized look, better smoke ring.  Ribs are another fine example as well.  Even run a Cajun Bandit rotisserie on the 22 WSM, one of the best accessories I have purchased.

Butts on the 22 WSM.

 Chicken on the 22 WSM.

Ribs off the 14 WSM.

Buddy's ribs on his 18 WSM.

Deboned smoked trout via snake method on the 14 WSM at 175.

Over The Top Chili on the 18 WSM.

HTH

Thanks for the feedback and pics!!

Looks like the WSM is the way to go for now, and maybe something else later. More versatile with mods and accessories, and similar taste profile.

I will be looking at all the suggestions in this thread and would welcome others!

baychilla

If you're looking at a pellet grill Mak seems to have a small but very devoted following.

theyolksonyou

How about some new All Clad cook ware?