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Cheap and lazy
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Cheap and lazy
Thanks to this site, I'm finally able to smoke good ribs and the holy grail of Texas barbecue, brisket. I no longer have to pay barbecue joints $18-$22 a pound for what a lot of times is pretty mediocre. I'm using a 15 year old Weber kettle (thats the cheap part) with a slow n sear and am really happy with the flavor profile that I get from charcoal and a few chunks of hickory or apple wood. Ribs are a relatively easy 5-6 hours, but brisket is usually 12-14 hours on the cooker. I usually put it on at midnight to have it ready to eat by 6pm. I have to add charcoal around 5am and then worry about it while I'm sleeping. I need more capacity, a cooker that can go longer without refueling, and hold temperature so I don't have to tend to it as much. A pellet smoker is the obvious solution, but a quality one is pricey, and I've heard that they don't have the the smokier flavor profile us Texans prefer. I started thinking a 26 inch Weber kettle would give me more capacity and a longer cook time without refueling, but I would still have to tend to it like my 22 inch kettle. A 22 inch Weber Smokey Mountain would give me plenty of capacity, but I read they're difficult to keep at the 220-225 temperature I like to cook at. I lean toward Weber products because they last. I've been looking at the Masterbuilt 560 which seems to cover cost, capacity, ease of use, and flavor profile I like. What causes me to hesitate is the quality. I can't imagine one of those lasting much more than 5 or 6 years without some of the pricey mods some users are adding, like $270 for a stainless firebox liner and water pan. I up for any advise I can get.Tags: None
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In Memoriam
- Sep 2016
- 11728
- Kansas Territory
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Grills / Smokers
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Kingsford 24" grill (Free) 'Billy'
Brinkmann Smoke n Grill
Oklahoma Joe Highland, gaskets, LavaLock baffle / tuning plate. 'Big Joe'
Weber 18" Kettle ($30 CL) 'Lil' Feller'
Weber Smokey Joe ($25 CL) 'Lil' Brother'
Weber 22.5 Master Touch '93 P Code Blue($85) from fellow WKC member Bmitch 'Elwood'
Weber 22.5 Bar-B-Q Kettle '69-'70 "Patent Pending" Red ($80) from fellow WKC member dwnthehatch 'Maureen'
Weber 22.5 OTS DD Code Black ($40 CL) 'DeeDee'
Weber 22.5 OTS DO Code Black ($15 CL)
Weber 22.5 OTS E Code Black ($20 CL
Weber 22.5 OTS EE Code Black ($20 CL
Weber "C" Code 18.5" WSM '81 ($50 CL) 8-0!!!
Weber "H" Code 18.5" WSM '86 ($75 CL)
Weber " " Code 18.5" WSM
Weber 26.75, $199 NFM clearance !!!
Weber SJS AH 'Lil' Brother'
Weber SJS AT 'Lil' Sister'
Weber SJS DE Code (FREE) 'Lil' Helper'
Weber SJG M Code 'Lil Traveller'
Weber SJS AH Code 'Kermit' (Lime Green)
Horizon 20" Classic, w/baffle/tuning plate (FREE)
Good One Open Range, (FREE), Monthly Prize from AR giveaway!!!!
Thermometers:
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Ol' Skool Bi-metal probe pocket thermo, that has checked / served ~ 1,000,000 meals in my possession, easily...
Maverick ET-732, (Black)
Thermopops, (Red, Yellow, Green)
ThermaPen Mk4 (Black), THANKS!!! to jgjeske1
Blue ThermaPen Mk4
Orange Thermapen Mk4
Pink Thermapen Mk4
ThermoWorks IR-GUN-S
ThermoWorks Smoke
ThermoWorks Open Box Smoke
4 Pro Series cable extensions
Smoke Gateway
Accessories:
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2 Slow 'N Sears, Slow 'N Sear XL, Grill 'N Griddle
BBQ Vortex, 2 Hovergrills, Top Deck
Warming shelf
MyWeigh KD-8000Kitchen Scale
Backyard Grill marinade injector
Acoustic Guitars/Electric Guitars/Basses/1928 National Duolian/Harmonicas/Banjo Washboard, Spoons, kazoos, pocket comb with wax paper, egg shakers ;-)
Bear Paws
Meat Rakes
BBQ Dragon/Chimley of Insanity, Dragon Wing Shelves (x2 ea.)
Cookware:
Probably a ton of cast iron, mostly very old...still cookin'
G'Ma's Piqua skillet, :-)( They went out of business in 1934~)
'60's Revere Ware (Mom's), + others found elsewhere
60's CorningWare 10-cup percolator (Mom's) Daily driver
50's CorningWare 10-cup percolator (G'Ma's), for a backup! ;-)
Carpy Wally World stock pots, in approx 2 gal/3gal sizes, blue speckledty-porcelain enameled
Tramontina 6.5 qt Dutch Oven
Cutlery, etc.:
Shi*-ton of kitchen/chef knives, most sharper than my straight-razors are. (Better steel!) Chicago Cutlery, Old Hickory, various, including some nice German stuff ;-)
Dexter 12" slicing knife, 6" Sani-Safe boning knife
Smith's Tri-Hone Natural Arkansas Knife Sharpening System
Multiple steels, from all over the planet
Crock sticks
Diamond stones, various
Lansky Sharpening System
Tableware
Daily driver:Washington Forge Mardi Gras, Navy / Cobalt Blue
Dinner: Guests: Washington Forge, Town and Country
Fancy / Formal: Family silverware
Howdy from Kansas Territory, Welcome to Th Pit!
Lookin forward to learnin along with, an from ya!
I gots me a kettle, too!
- 1 like
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Club Member
- Mar 2020
- 2303
- Muskego, WI
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Current cookers:
Rec Tec RT700 "Bull" pellet cooker
Smokin-It model 2 electric smoker w/ Maverick 732 temp monitor and cold smoking kit
Weber Genesis 3 burner gas grill w/ rotisserie
Charbroil Grill2Go gas grill
Weber 22" Performer Deluxe kettle grill w/ThermoPro TP-20S temp monitor
Onlyfire rotisserie kit for 22" kettle
Weber Smokey Joe
SnS Deluxe
Vortex
The Orion Cooker convection cooker/smoker (two of them)
Blackstone 17" griddle
Joule Sous Vide circulator
Favorite beer: Anything that's cold!
Favorite cocktail: Bourbon neat
I can be of no help because I cook primarily on a pellet cooker. But welcome to the pit from WI! I am sure you’ll get plenty of advice.
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Club Member
- Sep 2015
- 7308
- Colorado
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> Weber Genesis EP-330
> Grilla Grills Original Grilla (OG) pellet smoker with Alpha/Connect
> Pit Barrel Cooker (gone to a new home)
> WeberQ 2000 (on "loan" to a relative)
> Old Smokey Electric (for chickens mostly - when it's too nasty out
to fiddle with a more capable cooker)
> Luhr Jensen Little Chief Electric - Top Loader circa 1990 (smoked fish & jerky)
> Thermoworks Smoke
> 3 Thermoworks Chef Alarms
> Thermoworks Thermapen
> Thermoworks IR-GUN-S
> Anova sous vide circulator
> Searzall torch
> BBQ Guru Rib Ring
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Club Member
- Apr 2018
- 1619
- the LOU
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Cookers:
22" Blackstone Griddle, with stand & hood
CharGriller Portable Firebox - so modified you'll BLOL
Kitchenaid #810 Charcoal Grill - highly modified
Weber BI-code Black Performer w/Igniter
Weber DE-code Red Limited - 'Lucille'
Accessories:
Ancient heavy CI Propane Turkey Fryer, for lighting chimneys
BBQ Dragon kettle shelves - 2
Fyre Dragon Kettle Drippin' Ring, Burnin' Cone & Drippin' Pan - 2 sets
Fyre Dragon Kettle Ribbin' Ring
Fyre Dragon Kettle 2-Zone Smokin' Sheet
OneGrill Rotisserie for the Kitchenaid
Smokenator
Smoking Tubes: 2x12" & 1x6"
SnS
Weber Gourmet Grill w/Griddle, Pizza Stone & Wok
My Helpers:
Anova 900W Sous Vide Cooker w/Radios
Instant Pot 6Q Duo
Nesco Tabletop Roaster
& the PIT!
Welcome to the PIT from the Lou!
I have a couple kettles - my performer Louie and my redhead Lucille - so I know what you have and what you're up against. I too, am working within a budget, so I've learned to hack.
I look at Craig's List a lot, and came upon a new, unused Kitchenaid grill for $ 100 - the owner said it was 'too big'. None of us would consider buying or owning this by choice. Jackpot.
I reset the chimney with a gasket, put a gasket on the lid, put grommets in for thermometer probes, put in a thermometer at the grate level, sealed the chassis to assure I had a smoke chamber, and used trimmed magnetic plates for bumper stickers to seal the front areas around knobs and such. I put in a sheet metal rectangle in the ash bin to prevent the floorboard from rusting out. The monster gives me about 50% more burn time than a 22.5" kettle.
My point is, maybe think outside the box and put some work into something to make it what you want. One thing this grill does have it great CI grates, and a pretty big second tier tray to boot.
The lid gasket and landing pad...
and ready to go ↓
Food for thought maybe? I use two grates on the left as the smoking area, and the entire grate on the right, boxed off, as a fuel box. If you're handy building something up could be fun..
(this is not good for dead of winter cooks, the gauge steel is too light)Last edited by JGo37; September 18, 2020, 01:28 PM.
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Charter Member
- Dec 2014
- 6387
- Grew up in New Orleans, lived in Texas for 20 years, lived in Mandeville, LA for 22 years. I now liv
Check out the snake or fuse method on the YouTube channel they can go a long time without tending to the fire. I’ve used it with success on my son’s 26” with good success.
- 2 likes
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Club Member
- Jul 2017
- 1186
- Southeast Illinois
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Cookers I have:
Weber S-335 gas grill
Weber 26” kettle
Weber 22” kettle
Camp Chef XL Smoke Vault
Camp Chef 3 Burner cook top
Camp Chef Woodwind 36 Pellet grill with sidekick burner
PBC
Accessories:
SnS XL
SnS standard
Vortex
Weber Rotisserie for 22” Kettle
1st gen FireBoard
2nd gen FireBoard
Griddle for Camp Chef cooktop
Several Thermoworks items
Set of Grill Grates
I have a 26” kettle and a PBC. I’ve done as many as 7 slabs of ribs on my Kettle by rolling them up. I can get up to 6 7-8 lb pork butts in the PBC. As far as whole packer briskets go...only one on the kettle and two in the PBC.
i would love to have more capacity too but am VERY pleased with how each of these cookers operate.
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My two cents worth: I still have my circa '78 Weber kettle in addition to a current Weber Performer and PBC. I jumped on the pellet cooker bandwagon a couple years ago, was never really impressed with the smoke profile and the controller failed after 13 months. If it were me I would do a 26" kettle if capacity and low and slow was the real need. Just sayin.
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Club Member
- Mar 2020
- 2137
- Near Chicago, IL
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Current Portfolio:
Masterbuilt Gravity 560 (Smokey)
Joule
Akorn (Bandit)
Old (sold) Loves:
PBC
Weber 22" Premium
Thermometers:
Inkbird
Thermoworks POP
Preferred Charcoal:
Masterbuilt Lump
Favorite Rubs:
Homemade (mainly MMD/Just Like Katz rub)
Other Accessories:
Cave Tools Grill Light
Mercer brisket slicing knife
Rapala brisket trimming knife
SS BBQ trays
NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves
LEM # 8 Meat Grinder
Lodge 5-Quart Dutch Oven + Skillet
Meat Claws
Grill Rescue Brush
Favorite Whiskey/Beer:
Anything Peaty or anything from New Holland brewery
Welcome from Chicagoland!
I own a MB560 so I would definitely recommend it. The mods you are considering are not worth it, in my view. However, it is an excellent smoker. I think it deserves to me on your short list still.
Some others that might meet your needs would be a Pit Barrel Cooker or a Oklahoma Joe Bronco barrel cooker. The OJ can be sometimes found at Walmart for around $200.
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