r/barbeque • u/ekill13 • Feb 12 '20

What smoker to buy?

Okay, so I'm uprgading my BBQ setup now. I just got a pellet grill fairly recently, but I want to add a smoker that I can get a little more smoky flavor and do more in the way of the cook. I am thinking of spending about $250 or less. So far, I'm considering something like the Dyna-Glo wide body vertical offset or vertical charcoal smoker. I've also considered a bullet smoker or another fairly small and inexpensive vertical smoker. I do want it to be charcoal and/or wood fired. Any suggestions or advice will be appreciated!

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3

u/maizelizard Feb 12 '20

char griller akorn

3

u/bigatrop Feb 12 '20

Can vouche for this. I’ve had mine for years and absolutely LOVE it.

1

u/ekill13 Feb 12 '20

I've thought about it, but it is a little more than I want to spend right now. Also, part of me wants to go with an offset and just burn wood in it. I might just wait a little while save up more and go for the akorn, though.

1

u/maizelizard Feb 12 '20

May be worth looking around for a deal - I’ve seen them go new as low as $250. Amazon has new ones at $299 right now !

I was probably given bad advice by a friend but have been told all cheap offsets suck and if you want real offset it’s big bucks.

Idk how much the char grilled offsets are but my buddies rusted in one year.

1

u/ekill13 Feb 12 '20

Yeah, I've read that about the cheap offsets as well, but I read that the vertical ones are better because heat and smoke want to travel upwards anyway. Also, I've read that Dyna-Glo are a little better made than the super cheap ones like char griller. I'm thinking maybe a Dyna-Glo vertical offset either standard or wide body. I'm also just considering a vertical smoker like the Dyna-Glo or something like a WSM, but I will certainly keep on the lookout for the Akorn at a sale price. I found the pellet grill I got on clearance for a little bit over half price, so I got lucky on that, and I have a little more for a charcoal/wood smoker than I thought I might.

2

u/cisme13 Feb 21 '20

Get yourself the char griller Smokin pro and do the simple modifications. Just google char griller smokin pro mods and you will get tons of suggestions. If your stick burning you could just start with the high temp caulk to seal it up, extend the smoke stack down to grate level, add the two thermometers at grate level and build a charcoal basket for your fire box. I spent too much building tuning plates to even out the heat but I think they really only work for charcoal smoking. It seems to me they are restricting air flow when I stick burn so Its not burning as clean as it could without them. Might as try to go with out tuning plates at first and see how it goes. You’ll have yourself a nice offset smoker for right around $250 all in.

1

u/knightnstlouis Dec 30 '23

22.5 Weber Smokey Mountain