WSM 18 is it worth it?

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beast

Newbie
Original poster
Aug 29, 2015
5
10
I'm new to smoking and have been using a Weber Kettle.  It works pretty good, but I may have an opportunity to buy a WSM 18 at a discounted price. What differences will I see? What is a fair price for a WSM?
 
Well if that used 18.5 WSM is more than 250 i wouldn't buy it because you can buy a brand new one for 300 also depends on current condition. I am not sure how long of a smoke you can do on a kettle. but i do know you can get upwards of 20 hours on 1 load of coals for a 18.5 @ 250 and i would assume that its alot easier to control temps as well because a wsm is made for smoking and a kettle if more fore grilling but can smoke same with the wsm they can be grilled on as well 
 
Price is 230 new in box. I am trying to decide if it's worth it to drop the money on or try to build a drum smoker or modify a brinkman or something like that.
 
Hi beast,

I have a WSM 18.5 myself, and I really like it. I have been cooking following in it, with a lot of happy family and friends :) :

Brisket

Chicken

Ribs(beef once and quite a lot of times pork)

Salmon

Links

Boston butt(for pulled pork)

It took a while to control the temperature, but I now have the hang of it. 

This weekend I made a mod for it as well, so I can now fit 3 cooking grates inside the original cooking chamber, which is really when I am making ribs and maybe link/sausages. 

I would recommend buying a gasket kit for it as well. 

So yes, I can recommend buying a WSM, but it is of course a bit limited with cooking surface, but the mod I made this weekend helps a lot.

I can send you some info if you want, I have made a table for mine as well, which is pretty nice when you have to handle the meat for adding sauce etc. 
 
$230 is a great price on a new in the box WSM.  I've had a 18.5" since 2005 and love it.   Unless you are regularly cooking for a heard, the 18.5" is plenty.  I can do 4 large pork butts on mine with no problems.
 
Difference will be like night and day.  The kettle is really for  grilling, the WSM is for smoking. Different tools for different tasks. If you try to build a drum you will invest at least $230 before your done. And 230 is a great price for a NIB 18.5! I'd jump on that deal.
 
Maybe build a drum, but walk away from the Brinkmann idea! Wish I'd have bought a WSM instead of the horizontal trailmaster I bought, but my back issues were the winning plea, I just couldn't bend or hunch over like that to operate it.
For that money, being nib, I'd jump on it and buy the goodies from Cajun mods? I believe? The gasket kit and door mod in particular.
Then be happy!
 
I've been very pleased with my WSM! I bought as $1000 gas grill thinking it would be easier as I'm at work a lot but after reading about them here and other places I took the plunge if you get it I highly doubt you'll regret it!
 
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