Random Survey

[rat88]

I have been working on improvements on a low end Masterbuilt electric "smoker" for awhile and almost have a working proto type. I think I have addressed all of the things I hate about it, and have modified it to fix those issues. I have come up with a design that will be multi fuel, hot and cold smoke and can do REAL BBQ with a few tweaks. I would like to hear all the complaints on the low end smokers to make sure I fixed everything. People are paying $300 for a charcoal fired trashcan, what price range would be marketable for an electric that could cook a full packer (or 2) with the end result that would compare to a PBC?

[Spinaker]

Most of the complaints I hear regarding cheap units, are they leak. That seems to be the number one issue. I would make sure that is addressed, number 1.

The PBC is the best value on the market. And it makes great food.

[DeusDingo]

amen. my masterbuilt gas is so leaky that a good wind will drop the temps considerably.

[rat88]

the proto type has welded seams and door seals. It is also made of 16 ga steel where the low end stuff has 24 ga

[tbob4]

You don't want to compete against the PBC crowd because they have their own competitors in the marketplace and their own cult following. Don't market against someone in another market. They may some day want to consider your product but would be put off by negative adds directed towards them.

What you have written sounds like it could rise into the top of the electric smoker market. Take THEM on. Continue to note why yours is better than your direct competitors. I do not have a price point only because I don't own, nor have I shopped for, an electric smoker. Good luck! It's fun to come up with a new tool.

[EdF]

Speaking from my "product manager" role, I agree with tbob4 here. Pick you competition carefully. What does your product do that changes the game for users? Do you emphasize some aspects of the product that give a different value than the ones you're competing with?

[rat88]

The reason for comparing them to the PBC was for price and quality of the finished product (food). If I had said "this will cook better that any electric smoker" everybody would think " that cant be hard because they all cook like crap anyway"

Thanks for the input

[EdF]

So, you now have a combination of superior results and of convenience. Go there.

[Huskee]

I'm leery of anything that makes such a claim as 'an electric that can cook a packer with results that compare to a PBC'. You simply cannot get that flavor without actual combustion. Are you making a hybrid that utilizes an element for lighting & stability and charcoal?

[rat88]

It will have an external pellet burner to supplement the smoke when using electric and for cold smoking. The chip box on all electrics I have seen sit right over the heater element and after the unit comes up to temp and shuts off, you lose the heat needed to get the smoke started.

[Jeff_Carley]

so is yours like a treager-ish machine then?

[Steve Vojtek]

Or an A-MAZE-N-TUBE type devise I use in my electric and for cold smoking cheese and salt etc????

[rat88]

I did some testing on a bong back in the spring and have refined it a little for this build. Materials for the hopper are scraps from making the body and is powered by a $15 pump. It will produce more than enough smoke and is tuneable. Burn time for the hopper will last 4-6 hours and will cover the time needed to get a good smoke ring on most cooks. Most electrics top out at 250 and don't get hot enough to do chicken properly. That will be remedied too.

[Steve Vojtek]

I (maybe wrongfully) assume the 'bong' is one of those air pump driven cold smoke generators? I have built one myself and they work great. I myself have tested a bong on many occasions in my younger years..maybe led to some braincell damage but it was fun

[rip1877]

Steve Vojtek, I thinking you are referring to the classic manual plant aromatic dispersion devise. With all the new fangled devices out there I think some have lost touch with creating the smoke effect that we studied back in the day.

[Steve Vojtek]

rip1877 Yes I was referring to the classic MPADD. At least we put some work Into creating our own 'smoke' back in the day - nowadays they push a button...What's the world coming to? And I used scissors!!!! ( to prepare the plant aromatic mix)

[Nate]

$0 to nothing sounds about right for an electric smoker...

I question the true ability of it to turn out Q comparable to the PBC or any charcoal cooker for that matter.... With or without the pellet add on.

[rat88]

I keep getting kicked in the balls for comparing this to a PBC one time. " dont piss off the PBC guys".

Have you tried to do a steak on a PBC? How about 2 dozen burgers? Put pork butts or a brisket on autopilot over night? Ran out of charcoal halfway through a cook?

This will do hot and cold smoke, electric, charcoal, LP, grill, hell you could probably do a shrimp boil in this thing, with more precise temp control.

[Spinaker]

I routinely run briskets and butts over night on my PBC. Just did one last Friday night. I Know Jerod Broussard does the same with 3, 4,5 briskets at a time. Tough to be that capacity given the footprint. Not to mention ease of use.

[rat88]

I have been a trash can cooker for 35 years. I just built #8. If you will notice, my avatar is a gas fired unit. I hate to spill the beans, but they are a tall weber with hanging meat. I built the last one for $30 and you suckers are paying $300. It is meat and heat, we have been doing this for 3000 years

[lschweig]

Does your labor have a cost?

[Nate]

I'm just going to throw this out here. Here is the link from the main AR site about electric smokers.