Thinking of going stick burner

[SoCal Smoke]

I have a Lang 36 Hybrid Deluxe and love the smoker. When I was looking at a smoker I looked at a ton of them and per price and what the smoker had to offer I chose this one. I did not want to mess with defuser plates to get the perfect space to get the temp. just right , and then need to move them to clean the plates and re-place. I simply think that any stick burner is just better than a processed lump or disc of wood to flavor my meat. I like to compare it to stove top food , to campfire camping food.

[BriggsBBQ]

That model has a lot of cool features. I thought reverse flow is harder to clean because the plates cannot be removed. With defuser plates you just clean the plate.

[DWCowles]

BriggsBBQ the reverse flow is very easy to clean. I get my Lang up to 300 F. and brush the grates and scrape the tuner then take a water hose to it and let it steam clean.

[Joedvasquez]

I'm considering getting one of those. how do you like the reverse flow? Does the warming box and charcoal side work well? I'm torn between that,lone star grillz 36x20, or a Kat BBQ smokers (small outfit in Modesto, ca) any info I'd greatly appreciate.

[SoCal Smoke]

Not at all , my Lang is very easy to clean. All that you need to do is pull out the bottom racks and scrape the bits into the channel and either scrape it into the exit spout , or simple scrape and then rinse after you return the racks or grates to STEAM CLEAN THEM after you scraped them with your wire brush. Plus what ever falls between the defuser plates goes where ??? With my Lang it is 1 plate with a channel in the middle.....no gunk falls between the cracks. I do not have a smoker with the defuser plates , so I am speaking hypothetically as I do not have first hand knowledge with that smoker , just going by what I saw on their sites.

[Thom Emery]

We take ours to the big rig truck wash
The whole place smells like bbq while they steam it clean

[BriggsBBQ]

I am pretty far from a big rig truck stop but the idea is good. I do have some local old school spray yourself car washes. The truck stop should pay you to clean there as that smell is golden.

[JGK]

I recently took delivery on a Karubecue Pit and I think it's great! Yes you have to add wood every 30 minutes but that's it ! All you have to do is watch the meat temp, take it off when done, and eat! A great concept with the firebox on top and pull the smoke through the embers to create pure smoke. Only stick burner like it on the market !

[Histrix]

I too love my KBQ. Fortunately, I have electricity at my house...and also flush toilets.

[BriggsBBQ]

I am sure the Karubecue Pit works great and I do not mind it needing electricity but DWCowles has a good point. If you went camping or ended up without juice then in turn you lose the smoker. Also I like how the offset builders let you customize.

[EdF]

Question for you KBQ owners. I currently have a BGE, and as you likely know it's pretty versatile. I also have a portable TEC infrared that takes care of searing. If I were to replace the BGE with the KBQ, would I be able to get near that 350 degree indirect temp that so many recommend?

[BriggsBBQ]

Thank you guys for all the input. Very very helpful. My next pit will be a custom offset. With that being said I guess it is time to start pinching those pennies as those rigs are pretty pricey.

[DWCowles]

My point about having to used electricity with the KBQ was that if it comes up a storm or for any other reason the electric goes out you're screw not to mention if it rains and the KBQ isn't under a shelter than the fire is out. Nether is a problem with the off-set. BTW... Histrix I'm very happy that you finally got electricity and flushing toilets.

Great choice BriggsBBQ

[Koy Schoppe]

But what if you woke up and someone had stolen your logs...

[DWCowles]

Nobody around here wants to work that hard Koy Schoppe

[rat88]

If the electricity is only to run a blower motor, it should run for days on an inverter and a deep cycle battery or one of the those chinese $99 2 stroke generators.
(that reminds me.. I havent fired up my chinese $99 2 stroke generator for a long time)

[Huskee]

Great points above. Yes, offsets are against sleep, but if you time it right they don't have to be. If you want SIFI, get a pellet cooker or a gasser. If you want convenience of pushing a button and walking away, you will sacrifice something. However, that said I don't start a cook at night on my stickburner, so I find no need to skip sleep. If I'm going to cook something for lunch I simply don't use my stickburner, because I too want to sleep. I will however get up at 4 or 5am to start an all-day cook...that comes with the territory of pitmasterhood. You can make excellent food on ANY device, kamado, kettle, gasser, pellets, etc. But, you can only make that unique taste of an all wood (log) cook on a stickburner. And you can only get the fullest satisfaction & romance of doing it all yourself (if that matters to you) w/o the help of electricity or fans or dials, on an offset.... best of all worlds! of course this is IMHO. I know I just made several folks shake their heads!

[Huskee]

BriggsBBQ Yes, it's nice having some off the grid cookers, or at least one. We used ours in a ice storm last winter when we'd lost power for a couple days. Nice having that backup for sure. We had Grade-A BBQ, even if it was by candlelight!

[BriggsBBQ]

Huskee I think I saw a pic of you in the snow with the offset on here. Didn't know the lights were out but I bet it makes that experience much better.

[Beefchop]

That seems to summarize it nicely - trade offs. Footprint, fuel cost & storage, efficiency, user skill. All variables when selecting a cooker.

[Martyjmc]

I just bought a Horizon offset horizontal classic 16 smoker. It is a heavy quality built cooker. I have only used it once and the temperature was not real difficult to maintain. I have always loved playing in the fire since I was knee high to a grasshopper and I still love it. This will most likely be that last pit I buy and I suspect my grandkids will be using it long after I pass on, even if the apocalypse comes and there is no more electricity. It's fun, durable and I am guessing you will never regret buying a quality offset. Good luck and enjoy!

[Mpryan]

I was in the same position in May. Had a WSM that I liked but it just wouldn't cook enough. So I started looking for a stick burner. After a lot of research I decided on a 36" Lang. Right before I ordered it I saw the amazingribs.com review on the KBQ and that's what I ordered. I'm really happy with this smoker. I think it's awesome. It does need electricity but in a pinch there are inexpensive small generators out there. Anyway imho you can't go wrong with this smoker. Here's what I cooked for the Fourth on my KBQ What ever you decide on I'm sure you will be happy. Burnin logs is the best.

[Huskee]

Congrats on the new cooker! Can't beat the flavor of wood, whether small chunks or big'uns. Caution though, your pants tend to shrink the more you practice smoking meats.

[Beefchop]

You are in Dallas so you'll have a lot of pitmakers to choose from in East Texas! Have you been to the lump and kamado section of the pit forum? CeramicChef has a mod where he fills a small cast iron pot with wood chunks and pellets, covers the pot, and places it on his bed of lump in his ceramic. Drills three little holes in the bottom to let heat in, and he claims that the smoke flavor rivals the expensive offset he used to own. I mention that only because you have BGE and you may try experimenting before you drop $1-$5K on an offset! Not that I want to stand in the way of anyone buying another smoker.

[Beefchop]

BriggsBBQ I think it's wise to take your time. It's a big investment. Buy once, cry once. : ) It's too bad we can't cook on a variety of smokers to test them out before we buy them. Gator Pits does rent some of their pits. Good luck!

[BriggsBBQ]

Totally agree many of those pits are a huge investment and if it is your first stick burner you do not always know what key things to look for. These forums help but still there's a lot of them out there for us

[Beefchop]

BriggsBBQ I hear ya. Reverse flow vs. tuning plates. Round vs. square firebox. What dia. (20 vs 24&quot and length give me the best fire control and efficiency for my cook needs? Should I insulate the firebox? Add a warmer box or vertical smoking chamber? Gas assist? Trailer vs. patio?

[thollaway]

I've been using a WMS for a couple of years and have it dialed into a science. However, I wanted a much better flavor profile so decided to step up into the stick burner world. After much research and debate I just picked up my new Lang 48D. Had the first cook this weekend and it exceeded my expectations on the first cook. The flavor was not something I have been able to accomplish on a WSM. I can't wait to get the Lang figured out and dialed in!!!!

[scottranda]

I'm really considering a Lang. What temps did you run on the 48"?

[thollaway]

I'm 4 cooks in and can keep it around 250. I'm very surprised at how little wood it takes to keep it there.

[DWCowles]

Welcome to the Pit thollaway I too have the Lang 48D. You will love that beast.

[scottranda]

What are your typical temps on the 48"?

[DWCowles]

scottranda it likes to run around 250 so I just let it run its course

[scottranda]

DWCowles Thanks! I'm not picky between 225 and 250. So that's good!

[fuzzydaddy]

thollaway We'd love to get an intro from you over in the Introduce Yourself channel when you get a minute. Thanks!

[Spinaker]

Do it!!!

[SoCal Smoke]

#16.3
Joedvasquez I got the deluxe because I wanted the most bang for the buck but I have only used the warmer box a couple of times to warm up some vegetables , though you can also cold smoke in it. I have used the charcoal grill and love it , though I am used to my 22inch Weber so it takes some getting used to. Though the 2 pull/slide out racks/grates are nice. If you need more info just let me know