Got some paid work coming, need to confirm a smoker.

[_John_]

Kind of out of the blue a friend has a guy who runs a bar who does BBQ once a week and may expand to a couple. His last BBQ source left and wants me to take over. Even if he expands to multiple nights a week, I don't foresee doing more than 30 pounds at a time. I crunched the numbers and will make enough to cover everything plus some for a new smoker.

So here is the rub, my PBC can do the required ribs, but they will often need 4-5 butts which don't really fit. They said frozen is ok and they will reheat but I really want to give fresh a go and see how people like my Q when I get 50 at a time trying it. This will require the meat to go on when I get up for work and should finish right around or just before I go home, so I need something that can maintain temp throughout a day regardless of weather (it will have a cover). My wife works from home and I only work 10 minutes away so somebody will always be around to take it off when it's done. I have no idea where I would put tons of pellets, but could probably work something out.

Ideas? My first thought was WSM with controller, then MAK 2 star for remote temps...

Had to run quick, on the way home I thought about a Cookshack.

[Jerod Broussard]

Depending on budget I would really consider a vertical insulated with an Auber. Backwoods, etc...

[Huskee]

Dang, a 26" kettle grill, especially with a Hovergrill, will fit an amazing amount of pork butts. I'd start cheap and build up as needed.

[mayapoppa]

"I only work 10 minutes a day" ... where do I get that job?!

[Dr ROK]

Can't give much advice on other smokers, but I have a Cookshack smokette and love it. It is as "set and forget" as you can get. Mine is an older and smaller model so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles they have now, but with a couple maverick thermometers and the procedures I've learned on this site, I can smoke circles around many. Even before I was aware of AmazingRibs.com, people raved about my pulled pork. Now they have digital temp controls and digital temp probes that will allow you to cook the meat to your desired temp and then automatically go into a holding cycle to hold the meat at a specific temp until you get around to taking it out. I don't have any experience with the pellet grills they make, but I've seen posts of teams placing/winning competitions quite frequently with the pellet grills. Mine is just a smoker and it only takes about 4 oz or wood per smoke. I can only do three butts in mine, but it's the smallest of the bunch. I'll be getting another cookshack in the near future, not because mine isn't working, but because I need something larger for my catering business!

[PaulstheRibList]

Gravity Fed would do exactly that. I just bought a huge Gravity Fed Insulated Cabinet. It uses a pit temperature control device, and will keep that temp exactly where your device sets it as long as there is fuel in that chute, and all the pits have fuel chutes designed for longer than a brisket cook.

[_John_]

A stumps sure would be awesome, they are 6 hours away, cookshack is 4 hours, nothing for sale around me that I see other than stick burners so delivery would probably come into play for anything else.
I will look some more in the reviews.

[Letmebefrank]

I would endorse a Cookshack electric for the pork butts. My first smoker was (is) a Smokette, which I've had for about 10 years. I also have a Cookshack pellet grill, but I still use the Smokette for pork butts and briskets. As for taste, for what it's worth, my pulled pork (basically the AR technique to a T: dry brine for 24 hours, memphis dust, then smoke overnight at 215 until IT of ~200) gets a ton of praise.

Full disclosure, I think electrics are quite limited. They're really good at big slabs of meat because the cooking environment is so humid, but I cook everything else on the pellet grill. But for what you're describing, and where you live, I would go so far as to say getting a Cookshack electric is a layup.

One other thing, I have never been there but I've dealt with them over the years on various things and they have excellent customer service and seem like really good people. They might even have a way for you to taste some pork cooked on one.

[KevinJ]

John if the Stumps Gravity fed Smokers interest you I would also encourage you to also look at the Assassin Smokers, they're in Macon GA, they have a gravity fed 28, 24 and will soon be coming out with a 17 for just under 2K, they also come standard with a Pit Master IQ 120.

I've been looking at the smaller Cabinet smokers for the Backyard like the Backwoods G2 Chubby, Humphrey's Weeble, 270 Sumo and probably will add the Assassin 17 to the list, it's a bit more than the others but it's gravity fed and also comes with the ATC. After factoring that in it and I can pick it up, it will come in pretty close to those others in price.

I've also thought about a MAK 1 Star but I've got 2 grills already and just looking for a dedicated Smoker, also think I'd enjoy messing around with the a Cabinet Smoker a little bit more.

[_John_]

KevinJ Thanks, I looked at the Assassin as well, but given the price I didn't see enough of a difference to make a 12-14 hour drive.

[KevinJ]

KevinJ Thanks, I looked at the Assassin as well, but given the price I didn't see enough of a difference to make a 12-14 hour drive.

Gotcha, I thought you you were 6hrs away from Macon GA, Stumps Smokers LLC is based just outside of Macon, wasn't thinking about a dealer LOL.

[_John_]

KevinJ Yeah, and now that I look at the Stumpster I think I like it best of all so far.

[DWCowles]

John if you want a "set it and forget it" smoker a RecTec will be hard to beat. Plus it has a 6 year warranty.

[KevinJ]

KevinJ Yeah, and now that I look at the Stumpster I think I like it best of all so far.

That's the size of the Cabinet Smokers I've been looking at and I know Stumps makes great Smokers, I'd check to see if it comes with casters, an option or something you can add yourself.

I like the 2 cabinet door design instead of 1, I'm sure you've probably already looked at the Backwoods (G2 Chubby) and if you haven't already checkout Humphrey's Smokers (Weeble) and 270 Smokers (Sumo) you may have a dealer somewhere within driving distance. On the 270 Sumo I was quoted a great freight rate from a Maryland dealer down to FL under $200. I like the Humphrey's and 270, shipped they would both be just over $1700.

[_John_]

KevinJ I am in KC a lot and I can get a Humphrey there, never heard of them.

Yeah I think that Battle Box might have taken the lead!