Brand spanking new from Chicago

[chiokie]

Hello All and thanks for having me. New to the game but looking forward to getting a good bit of info from this forum. I've been doing a bit of smoking with good results on my Weber Kettle but I think I'm ready to move up to a dedicated smoker. Probably going to get a WSM soon. Still debating in my head on the 18.5 vs 22.5 but most just because I don't know how much I'll be doing just yet. Leaning towards the big guy.

Live in Chicago, raised in Oklahoma.

Thanks

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome aboard!

I would just get the 22.5 right off the bat.

I have all 3 & if I could only keep one of them I would choose the big one.

It's really nice to have the extra room.

Al

 

[chiokie]

What other accessories do you suggest right off the bat?

 

[jarhead1979]

Definitely a solid thermometer, ChiOkie. That is, if you don't already have one. I use the Maverick ET-732. It has two probes. One for chamber temp, one for meat temp. Coincidentally, your WSM should also have a rubber grommet for feeding two probes in without having to go under the lid.

I have also heard great things about the thermopen. I've got one being delivered tomorrow, but haven't tried one out, yet.

Other than that, the WSM should come with everything you need. I did a smoke in mine (22") straight out of the box and it was great. She holds temp like a champ. I would recommend the 22 over the 18...just because she will fit a packer brisket, or a good sized rack of ribs, laid flat out on the grate.

 

[jarhead1979]

I should also add, just in case, that like many other factory installed thermometers, the one on your WSM should not be trusted. Mine has been close to 30* off since the first smoke.

 

[chiokie]

Just snagged a never been used 22.5 off craigslist last night. It's a couple years old so doesn't have grommets. Can these be installed or does it make that much of a difference?

 

[jarhead1979]

 
Just snagged a never been used 22.5 off craigslist last night. It's a couple years old so doesn't have grommets. Can these be installed or does it make that much of a difference?

I think that they can be installed, and i think it would be a worthwhile mod. I'll include a link to another thread that will let you see what some other folks have done. You could run probes under the lid, but I would imagine that over time it would cause your probes to fail quicker than they normally would.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/148339/cutting-notch-in-wsm-drum-for-temp-probe-wires

 

[jarhead1979]

I've also seen some folks just run them through the top vent...just might be a little problematic when you need to take the lid off.

 

[gary s]

  Good afternoon and welcome to the forum, from another cloudy but hot day here in East Texas, and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about  everything.

Gary