I have finally retired and have time to use a real smoker. Don't mean to step on any toes but for me nothing beats the flavor that comes from a totally wood fired smoker. I have had a Stump Classic gravity smoker which I loved, but it was too big. Then I did a lot of reading (here) about the best pellet smoker in my desired price range, and got a MAC One Star General which I still have and love. However, my wife and I went to an event that had food venders. She had brisket from one of them and said the words that I never thought I would hear: "This is the best brisket I have ever tasted". I was devastated!!! I prided myself for my brisket. I tasted it and she was right. It was fantastic. It was unmistakably cooked on a stick burner.
The next day I started looking and found a guy selling a Fat Daddy Titan offset, reverse flow smoker that he quickly out grew with his Q catering business. He said with the included CyberQ that he got for it, it was $3200.00. He was asking $1600.00. But it was going to be over an eight hour round trip. That was too far for me but I took a shot. I told him about the drive and apologized for the lowball number and asked if he would do $1,000.00. He said no, but if you want to come all that way to get it, I take $1,100.00. So here it sits. I have done some spareribs and one brisket so far and I Love it. I cannot believe how tight it is. It is way big enough for anything I would ever do with it but still small enough where I can roll its 600 lbs. out onto our covered patio where I can back up a load of wood in the gator and smoke away. BTW, the ribs were very good, so was the brisket but I tried a different rub that is not my favorite.
I have a lot to learn and I am very busy now cutting oak and hickory to feed it with after seasoning for quite some time. I am using some ash with a little osage orange mixed in for now. I may have to break down and buy some oak and hickory which is advertised as seasoned. I don't trust it but I have a moisture meter and am very familiar with what good seasoned wood looks like, feels like, and sounds like when hit together. But smoking with ash is not my favorite, okay but not great. I sure am glad that I have enough time now to poke a fire in a good wood smoker. I am also glad to be a member of this site. I do very much love the info here. Great site with a good group of guys and ladies. You all help me so I never have to hear my good wife say those awful words again unless it is about my brisket. Thank you all and have a nice day!
The next day I started looking and found a guy selling a Fat Daddy Titan offset, reverse flow smoker that he quickly out grew with his Q catering business. He said with the included CyberQ that he got for it, it was $3200.00. He was asking $1600.00. But it was going to be over an eight hour round trip. That was too far for me but I took a shot. I told him about the drive and apologized for the lowball number and asked if he would do $1,000.00. He said no, but if you want to come all that way to get it, I take $1,100.00. So here it sits. I have done some spareribs and one brisket so far and I Love it. I cannot believe how tight it is. It is way big enough for anything I would ever do with it but still small enough where I can roll its 600 lbs. out onto our covered patio where I can back up a load of wood in the gator and smoke away. BTW, the ribs were very good, so was the brisket but I tried a different rub that is not my favorite.
I have a lot to learn and I am very busy now cutting oak and hickory to feed it with after seasoning for quite some time. I am using some ash with a little osage orange mixed in for now. I may have to break down and buy some oak and hickory which is advertised as seasoned. I don't trust it but I have a moisture meter and am very familiar with what good seasoned wood looks like, feels like, and sounds like when hit together. But smoking with ash is not my favorite, okay but not great. I sure am glad that I have enough time now to poke a fire in a good wood smoker. I am also glad to be a member of this site. I do very much love the info here. Great site with a good group of guys and ladies. You all help me so I never have to hear my good wife say those awful words again unless it is about my brisket. Thank you all and have a nice day!
