Vertical or horizontal smoker

Moose
A few months I was in your position. I read all I could here on this forum, and decided to go with the "Cookshack 008". I had never smoked before, and rerely even grilled, so knew nothing. Since getting my unit, I get rave reviews from all who eat my grub. Butts, Brisket, Smoked deviled eggs, Smoked baked beans, always come out really nice.
Almost set it and forget it, and friendly folk here to guide you all along the way.
Hope this helps some. Bob

Questions:

1. How much you got to spend?
2. How much you plan on smoking?
3. What do you plan on smoking?
4. How much do you know about smoking?

Moose-

I agree with the above. Alot of people here have done a similar progression through offsets, ECB's (El Cheapo Brinkmans), ending up with a CS, and some still use all of 'em. I don't consider the decade I spent fooling around with stuff as a waste, but the learning curve was a lot longer than it had to be. Keep reading through the posts on this site, and if you decide to go with a CS, you'll have plenty of good advice, and more importantly, you'll be able to turn out some great 'cue in short order!

I was thinking of spending around 600$.I'm planning of smoking every weekend during summertime.

I was thinking of smoking chicken,pork, ribs.

I'm new at this

Ty SmokingOkie

Moose,
If I were you,I would consider a cookshack. I have one like alot of other people on this forum.I am sure alot of people would agree with me that Cookshack is a great product.
You may prefer a stickburner or something else.Just my 2 cents.

Well seeing as your on the "Cookshack" forum I would suspect that most would tell you buy a Cookshack smoker. Which one would depend on your need's. Are you a backyard Q'er or thinking about vending ? An 008,009 does most folk's O.K. for them and a couple other's or a 050, 055 for larger loads and more folk's. I'm sure more will add with ALOT more info.

Good Luck

Mark

quote:

I was thinking of spending around 600$.I'm planning of smoking every weekend during summertime.

Moose, one thing to remember with the CS is that you can cook year around. This unit is well insulated and allows you to somke in sub-zero temps with little to no difference in your cook times. Remembber too their money back guarrantee. If you don't like it, send it back within 30 days. Ask the folks in this forum, CS support is second to none!

You will not make a mistake going with CookShack!

Wheelz-

You know, I always forget to mention that year-round cooking advantage. Just last week, it was well below 60* with a 5-10mph wind blowing at my place, and the old CS didn't miss a step!

One of the reasons I decided on Cookshack is that you don't end up paying to heat the world. They are very well insulated. I have a gas vertical that I will be moving to my cabin, because I don't use it any more at home. I also have a SM100 which is an earlier version of the current 150.

Some say that gas tastes, I have never had the problem, but an electric smoker will allow you to cook long and slow a lot easier because it only heats when it needs to heat. Also not all that are advertised as smokers are really smokers, some so called smokers are really grills in disguise, because 250 is about as low as they will go. With the smokette 250 is as high as it will go.

Depending how the horizontal is designed I would guess that the stuff closer to the firebox will cook a lot faster than at the other end. A vertical, especially a CS is more evenly heated top to bottom.

A pellet grill such as a Traeger might do what you are looking for, but their temperature on your price range are HI, Lo, and Smoke. What that translates into temperatures depends, on the pellets, the temperature and the wind etc.

When I decided to get my smoker....see signature, I wasn't that aware of the Cookshack. I was reading a lot about the Bradley, but moving pars jam and fail. I settled on my S.T. because of price and availibility in my area. So far, it's been perfect.

I also have a log burner, but use it for short fast smokes, beans, veggies. I can't stay awake all night baby sitting a log-burner for those loooong overnite smokes.

dan

Moose,

Since you are in New England, the outdoor temp issue is something you may want to consider. The CS is so very well insulated that smoking during the winter is no problem.

I smoked on Christmas Eve 2005 when the outdoor temp was in the low teens and a sub-zero wind chill and had no trouble. My CS worked flawlessly and the cook times were the same as with warmer temps.

KCAL56


Your not right !! I used to live in s. Cal. and loved it, leaving is a lonnggggg story. Sure do miss the 3-4 times a week "Q'ing", during the winter drive up to big bear have our fill of snow shoot back down to the beach and bbq GREAT times !! OPPS off topic, gotta go .

Moose, a CS 008 or 009 sounds like a good choice based on your answers, unless you're feeding the masses. I have an 055, so I'll let an 008/009 owner chime in on capacity issues.

For the food you want to cook, being a beginner (as I was a few months ago), and for your price range, I do not think you could beat a CS. Very, very pleased with mine. This forum alone is an invaluable resource for Q&A, last minute "help", virtually assuring yourself of success if you spent the time to read posts and learn from others. CS customer service has a solid reputation in the event you need something or have a problem.

I'm one of the aforementioned previous users of a log burning offset, which is wonderful once you learn, and if you have the time to babysit it. For a long brisket or pork butt cook, the convenience of putting it on the night before, letting it go, then doing the watching toward the end of a 12-18 hour cook, the CS is sooooo well worth the investment. Most of all, consistently good results/product.

Have fun making a choice, and welcome to the world of Q.

Phil

Sir Moose:

I also went from the Brinkman water smoker to the offset, and finally to a smokin' tex. This was mostly a reflection of my income as opposed to my experience. If I had a choice, you would have to stay awake for eighteen hours cooking your first three briskets on charcoal before you would be allowed to purchase an electric smoker. As it appears that you have the wad of cash and the desire to feed others, I say grab a cookshack and start reading; you were lucky enough to find the right place at the right time.

Moose,
I think you are very lucky, as I was. My first purchase, after much research, was a CS. You get what you pay for and the support, forum and results are top notch. I research and read much more than post but I can say I am more impressed all the time.
My only advice, if you are gonna store and use outside, do not get a model with the LCD screen. I have to use a heat source to warm my panel up when it gets below 40 degrees before I can set the temp/time...

Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by KCAL56:
[qb] Wheelz-

You know, I always forget to mention that year-round cooking advantage. Just last week, it was well below 60* with a 5-10mph wind blowing at my place, and the old CS didn't miss a step! [/qb]

I've been using my ECB (SnP) all winter (Massachusetts - it's been milder than usual, but I did a great standing rib roast a few weeks ago in sub-zero wind chill)
I've really had no problem keeping the temp up, and I've even been able to start it at 11PM, go to bed, and still have it up to temp the next morning when I go to restock it (for butts)

That said, I will be shopping for a CS in the next yr or so. I didn't want to make a big investment only to find that I was not enjoying/using the thing.
Bob

I still have my original ECB, I'll have to post a photo some time, swear it's from the 70's.

The walls are so thin it WILL lose temp. Just has to, rules of thermodynamics apply. If it doesn't for you, count yourself lucky.

I used to put a thermal blanket over mine to keep the heat in.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinOkie:
[qb] I still have my original ECB, I'll have to post a photo some time, swear it's from the 70's.

The walls are so thin it WILL lose temp. Just has to, rules of thermodynamics apply. If it doesn't for you, count yourself lucky.

I used to put a thermal blanket over mine to keep the heat in. [/qb]

I didn't say it didn't take more coals to keep the heat up
Just that it wasn't impossible.

Hi Guys,

Thank you very much for your advices, I just order smokette 2 at Cabella's. I order the stainless one and I should receive it next Friday. Can't wait for next weekend.

Again Thank you very much

Moose

Congrats.

Lots of great info from the gang here, so just ask away.

Enjoy the new smoker and let us know how it goes.

Smokin'

You will love it!!

I got my 055 at Cabela's (just North of the Kaw) and have not had a failure yet (many "Q"udos to all that have helpfully posted here which I have read diligently).
I ordered an AmeriQue last week and can't wait for it to arrive and take to the lake house, that is when the Land of the Magic Dragon will be smokin', for sure.
Rob