Vertical vs horzontal

[bekellog81]

Well I broke in the new smoker this weekend. I was pleased with the way that it worked. Came up to temp quick, stayed steady, and recovered quick. The only problem I had was getting the deer up to proper temp to finish. However the wind did came up to about 30-40mph. I have to think that the wind did have an effect. Is there any thing that may help this problem???

 

[Dutch]

Use a wind screen to block the wind from the Smoker. Anything steady above 15 mph and I begin to worry. Even on a relatively warm day, steady winds blowing across the Smoker will rob you of heat.

 

[scott in kc]

Ben, I cooked at the Boone County BBQ Contest (Columbia MO) in 2004, it was July 23, 24. It was cold (40's) cloudy and windy all friday evening and in the wee hours of saturday morning it began to rain (ended up raining 5+" that weekend). The weather was horrible for smoking, it really couldn't have been worse, at least not in July.

The team behind us was cooking on 2 SnP's. They had theirs covered with packing blankets. Kept the wind off their cookers and they didn't curse the wind as bad as we did. They turned their cookers so the wind was blowing against the stack end and did real well with them.

I think you're really going to like cooking on a offset.

 

[bekellog81]

Thanks for the advice Scott, I will try that. I may have a chance this weekend. I already think that this smoker is going to be alot better than my ECB!!! I think that it is easier to cook on too. I was suprised how jucy the meat turned out without the water pan!!! Thanks again

 

[jminion]

Inexpensive offset pits requirer more work than I'm willing to give it. If your budget is in the $200 range a WSM will in most cases cook as much food as one of these offsets once you figure in the hot spot next to the firebox.

If you choose to go forward with the offset plan on making mods to make up for the bad design and quality of materials. The round fireboxes make ash control more difficult causing the ash to restrick air flow. Just not a fan of cheap offsets.
Jim

 

[bekellog81]

I just wanted to update everyone on my new smoker. I have cooked many chickens, several pieces of deer, and some pork loin. ALL of the food turned out really DELICIOUSl!!!! I have not had any problem yet with my "INEXPENSIVE pit!!!" The ash concern, that I had, has not been much of a problem. I may eventually need to mod the smoker, we will see!!! I am sure that the WSM is a fine smoker, but one of the reasons that I wanted to get away from the Verticle smokers is the acess to the food on the second level. When I used my ECB, everytime I lifted the lid I would loose alot of smoke and heat. My Pitmaster does not seem to loose as much heat. I feel that I am satisfied with my purchase, and will continue to enjoy using it, reguardless of the fact that it is a cheep or INEXPENSIVE smoker, as some would say!!!!!!!

 

[ham's on fire]

Hey Ben,

I just wanted to second what Scott in KC said. I spent most of this winter smoking in the wind and rain. I have a GOSM but I had to wrap it and face the back into the wind to keep the temps up. I used my heavy canvas elk bags just because they were handy.

Glad to hear you're enjoying that new smoker. My wife and I enjoy hearing about you and Lady J's cook'n adventures.

HAM

 

[jminion]

bekellog81
Sounds as if I may have caused you some hard feelings,not how i ment it. Once you have a chance to cook on an offset that is constructed with 1/4" steel and a better design you will understand my post.
Before I purchased my first smoker I visited a competition and learned what I did not want to deal with. At this time I cook on WSMs, primo ceramics, Traeger mobile pellet cooker and a Klose mobile unit. I always look at design and materials. The heavier the steel or ceramics will hold heat in bad weather conditions, fire control and conistant pit temps makes the end product easier to achieve.
Jim

 

[bekellog81]

Thats Ok jminion,
No hard feelings I am sure that when I get the chance to smoke with one of the better pits that I will understand. Thanks for your advice.