Help deciding on first charcoal unit

N

Namtrag

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2014
Messages
25
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
At the ripe old age of 52, I am really interested into doing more than just cooking burgers, hot dogs and chickens on a gas grill. I would love to start learning to cook on charcoal, and also to learn low and slow and branch out.

I have a very limited budget of max $350 or so, and have been reading a lot of great reviews of the following three units in that price area:

WSM 18.5"
PBC
Char-Griller Akorn

My wife says why consider either of the last two since we have a grill...

I am leaning towards one of those two since the Weber is a smoker only, but she does have a point: maybe all I need is a smoker lol. I told her the other two are very versatile and can do either task.

Anyway, any veteran help and points to help me decide are very much appreciated!
 
You can smoke some really good food on a weber 22" one touch silver...maybe only $99? I can get a good 5 or 6 hour smoke using the snake/chain charcoal method. You can then use the rest of the money on good thermometers and such. Plus you can grill and smoke on it.

That said, I'm ready to move onto a bigger dedicated smoker but it's taken a few years to feel like I'm ready to make the jump.

So, my vote would be the WSM.

GOOD LUCK!
 
You might get lucky on criagslist with a WSM or a Weber 22.5 of some sorts. There was an 18.5 WSM listed here in St. Louis for $100.
If your handy and have tools.....Build a UDS!!!
 
Knowing what I know, I am much happier with a dedicated smoker and dedicated grill.

I would opt for the WSM. It is a fantastic smoker, it will last a lifetime, and there are plenty of us with them to help you out and information out there would take a lifetime to read.

That should cost the $300, then use that $50 for some charcoal.

If you end up liking the charcoal and getting the hang of it and want a grill, for $100 you can get a Weber 22.5" grill that will last a lifetime also. That can be a future purchase since you do in fact already have a grill.
 
I don't own any of the rigs you mentioned but from what I have read the Akorn is probably the most versatile of the three. From low and slow smoking to pizzas and high heat searing.
As you can see above, Fwismoker swears by his PBC and says it's just as versatile as anything else.
If you want a dedicated smoker you can never go wrong with the wsm.
I have a 22.5 Kettle OTG. It's only $149 new but like mentioned above you can probably get a good used one for under $50 on Craigslist. You can do lots of cooking in it as well. I've smoked ribs, pork butt, chicken, and more. I've grilled the best steaks and pork chops ever and made great burgers and hotdogs. Others have made pizzas and tons of other things on theirs. It does take a little time learning how to maintain temperature for low and slow but there's lots of helpful folks here that love to help.

In my opinion I would go with something on the cheaper end of your budget to see how you like charcoal style cooking. You will and you will end up with more cookers anyway. Just figured out what you want first :becky:
 
You guys are giving me some great advice! I'm not very handy though. Looks like the big poppa one is a kit.

I will go back and read more on the WSM. I know the company makes great stuff, and I have their portable propane grill, which I love.

The Akorn I was thinking would be a great choice since it can do regular cooking, and lower temp cooking. It could serve as a possible replacement for our Brinkman gas grill too, as it is getting on in age.

The PBC just has no negative reviews I have seen.

And the WSM is great too from all I have read.

Then others come along and give me even more possibilities to think about.

Thanks for all the input!
 
The WSM is a great smoker. I'd be looking for a deal on a 22.5 if you can. :becky:
 
Namtrag said:
You guys are giving me some great advice! I'm not very handy though.You don't need to be handy. It takes drilling holes and they supply the drill bit plus templates....piece of cake Looks like the big poppa one is a kit.
Click to expand...

There's a youtube video on the assembly to give you an idea.
 
another option is a weber 26". Plenty of room for grillling and smoking.

however, if you don't want that,i would get a 18.5" wsm for $300. Then, keep an eye on Cl and pick up a 22" weber kettle. I see them all the time for $20-$50.
 
If you're looking to really learn the fine sides of bbq, I'd say WSM. Size depends on how many you can see yourself cooking for. If you want to turn out fantastic food with little effort, then PBC. Akorn is in the running if you yourself wanting max versatility, ie very high heat / pizzas.

I bought my PBC because of the ease of use and the fact I probably do more chicken than anything. It rules for that
 
I like the WSMs, i use my 22.5 for a smoker and grill..:thumb:

2psn71e.jpg


2z65lw4.jpg
 
"My wife says why consider either of the last two since we have a grill..."

No offense to anyone, but you have a gas grill. A charcoal grill is a very different animal in both function and flavor.

IMHO in your shoes I would look for a 22.5" Weber kettle (preferably a Performer) on Craigslist and learn to grill and do some smoking on it. They are easy to get started on and there is a ton of information online to get you started.

I have a Weber gas grill, a WSM, and several Weber kettles and love them all. My Akorn gets the most use nowadays but it is a whole different learning curve. Starting with the Webers made that much easier.
 
Last edited:
I had never thought of getting a weber kettle and learning to cook and smoke with it. But several of you are advising that! What an economical way to do it! I am going to check that out ASAP on Craigslist, and also read some threads about smoking on it.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the great responses!
 
Ok.....it's not quite like the good 'ol days where you could find 'em out on the sidewalk on trash day, but take a look at this thread & remember.....ALL of the kettles you see were free.....only expense was replacement grates, 'cause I like to use the flip-up ones.....

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194863

You can do dang near anything with them & if you're just learning charcoal, that's a definite 1st step.....

Akorn's are great, but there's a bit more fine-tuned learning curve there....same with the PBC....they're great, but usually people are already somewhat familiar with charcoal cooking in some form prior to using one of those....

WSM, a bit less of a learning experience, but still a bit more complex than the lowly kettle......

People do hi-heat pizza, bake pies & cakes, long low smokes, grilling, searing....all manner of juicy goodness.....

My signature line from elsewhere :

"But the ever versatile kettle reigned supreme"

Whatever you decide, ask questions....they'll be someone who knows the ropes on that particular cooker & will be able to get you lined up......:cool:
 
I have a UDS that I have done some great smoking on, and would not take it away from my list. However, saying that, I recently bought a Webber kettle ($149) and have really fallen in love with the versatility and the quick set up and use aspects of it. I can lite a chimney full of briquets and have supper on the table in about 45 minutes. Last night I lit about 1/2 chimney and grilled some salmon steaks in less time than it took the wife to cook some baked potatoes in the microwave, and throw together a couple of salads and put them on the table. I have about 8 cooks on less than a 20 lb bag of K - Blue. I smoked some baby backs on it last week, and they turned out better than any I have cooked on my UDS. My next purchase will be a 22 1/2 WSM to use instead of my UDS. They are a very economical and quality smoker/grill for the backyard family cooking use. That is my .02 worth!

Good luck on whatever you choose!

Omar
 
I am biased to a WSM. They are so easy to learn on, yet you are making serious BBQ. I have done a couple mods to mine so I can grill on it if I feel like (link in signature). It's a great machine to learn with and decide if you want to step up to something more serious like a stick burner...
 
Check craigslist or ebay for a WSM. I picked up a new 18.5 on ebay early last month for $255. Have used it every weekend since and love it.

Highly recommend a Thermapen.
 
They are all good units and since you have to learn to grill and smoke on any one of them. You should decide what are your requirements, does it need to be mobile? Are you going to use it year round? How much grate room do you need. Will it have to be moved into the garage etc after every cook, or stored outside. I'm guessing that you will end up cooking for a lot more folks just like most of us here than what you originally thought once your into this addiction. Personally, I was never able to get any of my Webers into the 650 degree to 800 degree range for searing/cooking pizza's. But that is something I won't go without. There is a huge difference between 550 degrees to doing it 650 + degrees. IMHO. Do you want set it and forget type smoking? Do you want to be able to smoke for 15+ hrs when required without having to add coals? Your answers should help knock down the options.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Pitts & Spitts adjustable charcoal grill. Reviews?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Nuco59
N
lastmajordude
Observations of an old dude
Replies
13
Views
634
jham0077
jham0077
GrapeRadio
Gravity Smoker can’t decide.
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
gfh
G
Headgear
Your favorite charcoal for Kamados???
Replies
6
Views
426
Headgear
Headgear
D
Lights on grill keeps going out
Replies
4
Views
341
Maylar
Maylar
Back
Top