Economical vertical smoker

[Charlie Bob]

I worked with a guy that won several local BBQ competitions using a homemade drum smoker.

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.

I’ve built several. I had it down , using real lump charcoal with apple or cherry wood chunks mixed 50/50 , I could maintain 220 degrees for over twelve hours . Set it and leave it .
I had four racks . I used an old Weber Mini grill base for the firebox and a full-size Weber grill lid .
I got all the stuff by telling the scrap guy that comes by every trash day what I needed and he had it all the very next week.
Except for the actual drum , it was a food based drum used for honey . I just burned wood in it for a day or so and tilted it 45 degrees so the heat burned off the inside coating.
$20 for the drum .
I still say the butts I smoked in it were my best ever .
I’ve got a BGE now and wish I had a UD .
So for the OP asking about a frugal smoker , really check out UD’s .

 

[6mm Remington]

I had a Masterbuilt vertical electric smoker and liked it pretty well. Couple things that were not so good was that periodically you have to add wood chips when they burn down slowly. Not a huge deal. I had the heating element go out and replaced it twice. I did use it a lot but it went out pretty quickly. Kind of a pain in the neck. You do have to rotate shelves in the smoker if you are doing multiple shelves at once. Overall it was pretty good.

I then purchased the Pit Boss Sportsman 7 Series vertical wood pellet smoker and I like it quite a bit more than the Masterbuilt. You have a large pellet container on the smoker and if you have it say half full or even less you would have to do a lot of smoking to use up all the pellets. I have done wild game jerky, beef roasts, salmon, corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes, beef brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, and beef steaks on it. On the beef steaks I smoke them for about 1/2 an hour and then put them on the gas grill at medium high heat to sear the steaks. Oh my good! I think you would really like the Pit Boss.
David

Sportsman 7-Series Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker

The Sportsman vertical wood pellet cabinet smoker sets the standard for backyard BBQ. Smoke as low as 130°F on the 6 included racks and control with Wi-Fi.

www.pitboss-grills.com