So I started looking at pellet smokers and decided maybe I didn't won't to go that route. I own a summit charcoal and a KBQ. Really like both of them. I Was wanting a set it and forget it smoker. Something I could roll out of the garage and do long cooks on. I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on it. Kind of got looking at the WSM. Then I got thinking if the WSM would be much different than my Summit. I wasn't sure how many people have owned both and if they thought their was any benefit to owning both.
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Hi cbritton - I can't answer your question but I noiticed that we overlooked you on the KBQ roll call so I added your name to the roster: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...30#post1130230 -
Do you not see the Summit as a set it and forget it smoker?
How large of cooks are you wanting to do?
I’ve had a 22” WSM for a few years. I also have an 18”. I also recently purchased a Summit.Comment
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Can't answer your question regarding WSM vs Summit, BUT I can heartily recommend the Char-Griller Akorn Auto Kamado as a FINE set n forget charcoal/lump cooker! Smoked a 10# whole bone-in butt roast yesterday; rock steady cooker temps from 915AM, paper wrapped it at 430 then finished PB at 615P. Much Yumminess and didn't have to touch the cooker for nine hours, just kept an eye on app
Best wishes on your MCS
Peace,
NunyazComment
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With the grills you have I would be getting a pellet smoker. You have charcoal smoker covered with the WSCG and wood with the KBQ. Pellet smokers are set it and forget it easy to use. They make great food.
The WSM is a one trick pony. Unless you just need more real estate I'd skip it and get something different like a pellet cooker.Comment
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I would have thought the Summit would have been pretty close to set and forget. I might try asking for advice on that one first.Comment
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Yeah I do. Sorry I should have been more clear. My Summit sits on my back deck and I have large sliding doors that you have to go out of to get to it. In the winter you either let a bunch of cold air in or during the summer you let a bunch of bugs in.Originally posted by BBQandLove View Post
Thought having something I could roll out of my garage might be nice. Plus something else to play around with.Comment
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I can see you enjoying the WSM then. I’m assuming you would mod it to add wheels? What size are you thinking of/ -
I've owned all 3 sizes of WSM. In my opinion, the 18" is the superior size. Mainly because it's easier to move around and shift meat between shelves during a cook. I get better performance on my 22" when I use the 18" fire ring. I tend to only use one cooking rack in the 22. If you want to seriously think pellet, I think the best buy out there is the GMG Trek. It is small though.
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Yeah I was kind of looking at the Grilla OG but I wasn't 100% about them. Not a lot of videos on YouTube other than by Grilla themselves.Originally posted by Old Glory View PostComment
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cbritton, I never leave the lid open. I have had a spectacular "BooM" event, which taught me a great deal about pellet smokers. I believe this applies to all manufacturers...if after you turn it on, there's no heat, turn it off and clean out the pellets in the firebox before you turn it on again! I won my current OG at the World Food Championship in 2017, but my first one was made in Michigan (my brother has it). It's a beautifully designed cooker.
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A temp controller might be a better choice, and less expensive. The Summit should be fairly S&F by itself, but with a temp controller, it should be rock steady. It's $400+ for the WSM. If ya buy something like a Fireboard 2 and a fan, it would be a bit over $300.Comment
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Ha yeah I actually tried out my FireBoard 2 last night with a pit viper. Not sure what I did wrong. It ran for a couple hours when I went to bed last night. I woke up a couple hours later because the pit temperature was dropping. I set it up with 75% max fan power and the fan baffle open. I am going to assume it was user error.
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Howdy!! So, I don’t have a WSM or a WSCG, but I do have several other cookers and can kind of relate to what you’re looking to answer. I have a kettle, a Bronco drum, a gasser, and an old school OK Joe offset. Since my personal plan is to acquire one of every single type of cooker I kept a close eye on Craigslist and picked up a woodwind pellet grill last year very reasonably. Being that I prefer VERY heavy smoke, I wasn’t sure how I’d like the pellet rig. I find that I actually use it quite a bit now to add light smoke flavor to many meals that don’t necessarily warrant firing up the offset or the Bronco. Or even the kettle for that matter. If you’re not in a rush, I HIGHLY recommend keeping an eye on Craigslist for a pellet rig that meets your criteria and won’t break the bank. I see that you are a fellow Hoosier. I don’t know where you are in the state, but there is a guy in Indy who is a distributor for Lumberjack pellets. Of the pellets that I have tried so far, they are easily my absolute favorite. And he sells 20 pound bags for $10 a bag. But I digress. Good luck in the hunt!!!!! Let us know what you choose to do!!! I am an MCS enabler. Lol.Comment
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Cool! Yeah I look at Craigslist every now and then. A few years ago I was set on getting a Smokefire, but once I saw people having problems with them I kind of lost interests in them. Plus I am afraid the experience would be too hands off. I really enjoy my KBQ, but necessary don't want to be out with it when it's 20 degrees out. I also worry on some of the pellet controllers how long the manufacturer will support them.
I've even kicked around the idea of making a gravity fed lol
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A pellet grill is close to a "Set-it and Forget-it EZ bake" smoking cooker. Luv my pellet grill. For that reason. Learning how to use it is simple, fast, and produces good-tasting meat. At a friend's house in an entry-level Pit Boss, I cooked a very good rack of ribs and a spatchcocked chicken.
They are not for everyone.
Keep us posted on what you decide, and pictures too.
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For a charcoal smoker, I don't think you can get more of a set it & forget it experience than you can with the Summit Charcoal. A WSM will require a bit more tinkering. If you really want something that's more set it & forget it than the Summit, then a pellet grill would be the way to go.Comment
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I’m kind of in the opposite boat. I own a Grilla Silverbac and a the 18 WSM and was very close to pulling the trigger on the Summit this past summer. I don’t view the WSM as a set and forgot it. I do have the Billows fan but the WSM takes more time to set the grill up and it’ll use a lot of charcoal even if the the cook isn’t too long. There were a few times last year when I tried staying up late to do a brisket on my WSM, only to say screw it and toss it on the Silverbac. Why? I didn’t want to stay up another half hour, at least, to wait until the WSM came to temp. Had I not nodded off I could’ve been better prepared but since I had a pellet grill all I did was turn it on, set the temp and go to bed. Not to mention the WSM is not well insulated, doesn’t come with stock wheels, and will burn a lot of fuel. I’ve made some awesome food on it and made some not so awesome food on it. Unlike a pellet smoker there’s a learning curve to it as well. That being said I love my WSM and still have it with no intention of ever getting rid of it.
In the end I went with the SNS kettle. I love it though I recognize it’s short comings. I’ll add a Kamado in the future. Curious what others say here.
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I have a pellet grill/smoker that fills all of my needs for longer cooks. It’s just so easy and foolproof. When I feel like, or need to cook with charcoal, my Weber Performer 22” kettle handles 98% of those tasks. With the Vortex, SnS insert, and rotisserie kit, it will do anything. Occasionally, like last night for the steak cook off, I’ll use the Smokey Joe because of the small amount of meat being cooked. BUT, having said all that, I DO have a total of 9 outdoor cookers so who am I kidding? MCS baby! Buy them all! 🤣😵💫🙄Comment
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