Used Model 50 - What to Check

Hi, I just joined.

I saw an ad on Craigslist for what looks to be a model 50 smoker for $150. The add says it "works great". From research on this site, that seems like a great price if its functional, but looks like replacement parts for this 15+ year old model are expensive. What would be the most important things to check when I go to look/buy? I assume it's reasonable to ask owner to put a chunk of wood in and set it to 225 before I come over so I can confirm that it's working, not leaking smoke badly, holding relatively steady temp etc. Other than that, what are the common things on this that fail or need replacement?

Thanks,

Robert

7/4/202:20 PM

❤️ 0

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

jay1924Member

Don't know anything about the model 50, but on any used smoker, check the condition of the cooking grates, and factor in the cost of new ones - they aren't cheap to replace.

7/5/207:44 PM

❤️ 0

rpascal151Member

Thanks. I went over yesterday morning, and honestly it looked either hardly used or VERY well cared for. Guy had 4 extra grates he gave me (9 total) and only 1 had any significant rust... several looked like brand new chrome. The heating element and woodbox looked so clean I asked if they had been replaced or original (he told me original). He plugged it in with a chunk of wood and once I saw a little smoke coming out that was all I needed to see. Seller also included an older maverick 2 probe meat thermometer, 3 gallon ziplocks of wood chunks (hickory, pecan and oak), and a cover (which I'll probably never use since I have the smoker next to my gas grill on a covered porch where it would pretty much take a hurricane to get wet.

Fired it up yesterday for a test run to reverse sear some ribeye steaks and only flaw I noticed was a bit of smoke coming out the top left corner of the door. Planning a longer smoke with some big beef ribs today.

7/6/207:19 AM

❤️ 0

jay1924Member

Congratulations on your find!

7/6/2011:46 AM

❤️ 0