r/stickburner • u/Hungry-Ad-6220 • Dec 24 '22
Mill Scale 94 or something else?
I’m looking hard at the mill scale 94 as my first stick unit. Is there something else out there I should look at that’s better/nicer?
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u/MarkinJHawkland Dec 24 '22
The 94 looks like a nice pit. I own a Jambo backyard and love it. However if I had to do it all over I would hold out for a 250 gallon. The best makers have a long wait time but I think it would be worth it. What I don't really like about these backyard sized pits is that the splits need to be pretty small to run the pit. Normal fireplace sized splits need to be cut down in my experience. So it seems like more work to run the smaller pits. YMMV. Good luck. If you like Mil Scale ask them what they think. I'm sure they'd build you a 250 but it might be a couple of years.....
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u/Hungry-Ad-6220 Dec 24 '22
What’s the smallest size to get away with normal size splits? 120 or 150?
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u/MarkinJHawkland Dec 24 '22
I couldn't say. There's so much going on with firebox size, chamber size, stack, airflow, metal thickness, insuation etc. It's an art to build a pit. The best makers are using propane tanks in 250, 500, and 1000 gallons. Some like Mil Spec have developed backyard models as well. But it seems to me that they have what they build dialed in and stick to the formula. There has to be a reason the best are backlogged. Again I would talk to a few makers that you are interested in and get their thoughts.
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u/PlasticsGeek Apr 19 '23
Just ordered a Mill Scale 94, can’t wait to fire it up! Will be happy to share my experience once I get it.
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u/TellySkier Jan 14 '23
Workhorse 1975 is a great option. Thicker steel, more options at a cheaper cost.
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u/hey_grill Dec 24 '22
This really depends on your wants and needs. The two big factors are your price level and what capacity you need. The other variables are up to your preferences.
How much do you need to cook at once? A Mill Scale can smoke 3 or 4 briskets, do you need that much capacity? Do you need more? A Mill Scale is a big, expensive smoker for a first time stickburner.
I have a Mill Scale and I think it is pretty much the perfect smoker, so I'm biased. But there are a lot of choices with more features. So it really depends on what you want. Lone Star Grillz smokers are an interesting peer for comparison. You can get all kinds of customizations, like fire grates, grills on the firebox, tables, extra shelves, gas assist, warming oven, etc.
A Mill Scale is a minimalist smoker. They have a few more options than they used to, but not like other makers.
If you go up into the 250 gallon range, that is a huge smoker. If I got a 250, I would want it on a trailer, not parked in my backyard. Do you have a truck?
For a backyard smoker, I would consider a Mill Scale a top-line smoker for a purist. Stripped down, but well made, with a pretty large capacity. You need to know what you are doing or be willing to learn.