Economical vertical smoker
- Thread starter mtmuley
- Start date
Wildabeest
Well-known member
Stick burner?
Nick87
Well-known member
What are you looking to use it for? Sausage?
Yep. For sausage and brats and that kind of thing. I have a vintage refrigerator my Grandfather used as a smoker and I have also. Just want better temp control and of course smoke volume. mtmuley
Open to any recommendations. mtmuley
Nick87
Well-known member
For sasuage on a budget i'd probably go propane. Someone who knows better will probably be along with a better answer though.
Wildabeest
Well-known member
I’ve got a Masterbuilt electric. Use it mostly for lower temp (160-200 degrees) smoking of jerky and pastrami. Doesn’t put out the best smoke, and has some hot spots inside of it. But it works for what I use it for so long as I rotate stuff every 30-60 mins throughout the cook.
Pellets or chips would probably be easier to find for you than good smoking wood. Could be wrong. Also would cut down on what you would need sitting around the house to supply a stick burner. Electric is pretty much plug and play. No babysitting.
Johnny Bravo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2022
- Messages
- 1,486
Masterbuilt electric for sure
Potsie
Well-known member
I recently saw an outfit basically selling the internal guts for a pellet smoker, but just the mechanicals - not the actual smoker.
Gave me an idea for an actual smoke house.
Gave me an idea for an actual smoke house.
WildWill
Well-known member
The masterbuilt electric would probably be your easiest way to go for something quick, simple, and requires low maintenance. If you want a little more of a smoke finish though I'd look at pitboss vertical. Although I'm admittedly a bit bias towards pellets.
That's what I have. Used to make sausage and slim Jim's on it all the time. I havent used it in years since the kids moved out
Charlie Bob
Well-known member
The best smoker I've ever used cost me $50 to build . I swear the food tasted better in this set up than any other I've used .
Google Upright Drum Smoker
udsparts.com
Google Upright Drum Smoker
Ugly Drum Smoker Parts | how to build a 55 gallon cooker | UDS Parts | UDS Parts
How to build a UDS Ugly Drum Smoker! All that you need is a 55 gallon drum. 55 gallon drum parts, Ugly Drum Smoker parts, UDS charcoal basket, UDS cooking grate, thermometer, UDS hinge, UDS intake damper, Exhaust Damper, UDS Longtube intake pipes, baffle system for UDS
udsparts.com
Another vote for the masterbuilt electric. I have an offset smoke that pumps as much smoke as you could want. I’ve had a lot of good use in cold and high winds and it holds temperature well. I got the offset because it seems so well insulated that I couldn’t get any smoke in the summer because the heating element would flip off even at the lowest thermostat setting.
JohnBud
Well-known member
I'll add a vote for the Pit Boss pellet smoker. So simple to use and that means I can use it often. I primarily use mine to smoke elk roasts to a perfect 137 degrees.
I've got an old Bradley electric that uses the wood chip "pucks". Has been a good unit.
I'd definitely go with electric. Charcoal / wood requires too much babysitting to control temps. Can't hardly run a gas smoker low enough for cold smoking.
Plus, electric is just handy. No fuel source to drag around, just plug it in.
I'd definitely go with electric. Charcoal / wood requires too much babysitting to control temps. Can't hardly run a gas smoker low enough for cold smoking.
Plus, electric is just handy. No fuel source to drag around, just plug it in.
Boarmaster
Well-known member
I would go Masterbuilt electric if you really want to control temps. I currently use a Masterbuilt Thermo Temp gas smoker at camp. It has a thermo state that regulates the flame holds temp as good as any I have seen. But I sort of wonder how long it will last with that thermo gizmo on it. No power at camp but a generator so the reason I went with a gas.
Gellar
Well-known member
I worked with a guy that won several local BBQ competitions using a homemade drum smoker.The best smoker I've ever used cost me $50 to build . I swear the food tasted better in this set up than any other I've used .
Google Upright Drum Smoker
Ugly Drum Smoker Parts | how to build a 55 gallon cooker | UDS Parts | UDS Parts
How to build a UDS Ugly Drum Smoker! All that you need is a 55 gallon drum. 55 gallon drum parts, Ugly Drum Smoker parts, UDS charcoal basket, UDS cooking grate, thermometer, UDS hinge, UDS intake damper, Exhaust Damper, UDS Longtube intake pipes, baffle system for UDS
My first smoker was a Masterbuilt Electric, it was easy to use once you figured out how to hold the plug-in so it didn't shock the shit out of you.
