I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.

It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
are much fewer.

Thanks!

Grant Erwin
posting from google due to Verizon's abysmal ignorance of reality

"pops" > wrote in message
...
> I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
> end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
> could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
> but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
> end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
> as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.
>
> It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
> BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
> are much fewer.


If in your pursuit of excellence you happen to pass any shacks with weather
beaten signs proclaiming "BBQ", dirt parking lots, and a lot of business,
check them out also.

The best I ever had was sold out of a 6 by 8 foot shed in the driveway of
the man who owned the house.
He had a shitload of cooking area out back. He'd start cooking Thursday
morning and when he started selling Friday, he'd be sold out by not much
after noon.

This place was listed as one of the 10 best BBQ joints in America some time
back. It's been at least 7 years since I was there. He was old then. He
may not still be alive.
Point is, those little shacks are what it's all about.

Smoker design is irrelevant. Give me a chainsaw, a cherry tree, some meat
and a few concrete blocks and I can make you happy.


TFM®

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:23:29 -0700 (PDT), pops >
wrote:

>I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
>end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
>could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
>but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
>end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
>as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.
>
>It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
>BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
>are much fewer.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Grant Erwin
>posting from google due to Verizon's abysmal ignorance of reality

Yep, you're from Seattle, and we all's supposed to get together
sometime! (you, Denny and me)

Say when and where and how--feel free to email me as my addie is
unmunged).

pops > wrote:

> I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
> end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
> could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
> but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
> end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
> as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.

You won't see anything made out of air tanks (or any barrel-type
smokers) here in or around Austin. At least not at any of the
restaurants.

John Mueller had some uprights similar to a water heater/tank, but I
don't think he's in business a any more (and if he is he's in
Bastrop, just outside of Austin).

You best bet for BBQ designs is on the Net.

-sw

On Sep 14, 6:22*pm, Sqwertz > wrote:
> pops > wrote:

> You best bet for BBQ designs is on the Net.
>

Big Jim, who posts here sometimes used to manufacture and sell tank
designs. Lazy-Q he called his as he used propane and a hot plate for
smoke and heat. Makes good stuff according to those who should know.

I don't know of anyone in Austin, although there have to be a couple
of pit makers up there somewhere.

There is a nest of nationally known pit makers in Houston, but you
know what they are going through now with IKE. Klose is there, as
well as Pits and Spits, and Tejas Smokers. All of them have won their
fair share of awards.

Lyfe Tyme pits is a couple of hours away from Austin, in Uvalde.

http://www.lyfetyme.com/

Their pits are unbelievable, and I'd bet they would last a "lyfetyme".

Google "Texas Pits" and you will find a bunch of them, some with toll
free numbers. A lot of these guys know each other, so if you get one
on the phone they can probably direct you in the right direction.

Good luck!

Robert

On Sep 14, 4:23*pm, pops > wrote:
> Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
> are much fewer.

Sorry, I gotta laff. Intelligent design?? You'll get as many
different answers from as many folks as you ask about what a good pit
looks like. My only concern would be capacity. If I was going to
cook for a bunch of folks, then a big pit would be my answer. If, on
the other hand, if I was only cooking for say 3-5 folks, a WSM would
do me just fine.

As TFM said, design is irrelevant. I cook in a horizontal 55 gallon
drum. It's not the prettiest nor fanciest smoker you'll find; it's
leaky and uses more lump than some would be happy about but I know how
to turn out kick ass Q my family and friends love, so I'm happy.

-frohe

On Sep 15, 11:28*am, frohe > wrote:

> As TFM said, design is irrelevant. *I cook in a horizontal 55 gallon
> drum. *It's not the prettiest nor fanciest smoker you'll find; it's
> leaky and uses more lump than some would be happy about but I know how
> to turn out kick ass Q my family and friends love, so I'm happy.

I agree with you and TFM both. I really learned to smoke on a 55
gallon pit, and when you get a good one, it kills.

I babied my last one along for about 16 years, it was one of the last
years that New Braunfels Smokers was actually making smokers in New
Braunfels. It stayed carefully protected under the deck cover and was
coated with veg oil on the outside after each use.

It used as much fuel as a small campfire and required a fair amount of
attention.

But man on man, what a great product that thing put out. My newer
stuff may be more efficient and easier to use, but I don't think they
always put out a better finished product.

Robert

> wrote in message
...
> On Sep 15, 11:28 am, frohe > wrote:
>
>> As TFM said, design is irrelevant. I cook in a horizontal 55 gallon
>> drum. It's not the prettiest nor fanciest smoker you'll find; it's
>> leaky and uses more lump than some would be happy about but I know how
>> to turn out kick ass Q my family and friends love, so I'm happy.
>
> I agree with you and TFM both. I really learned to smoke on a 55
> gallon pit, and when you get a good one, it kills.
>
> I babied my last one along for about 16 years, it was one of the last
> years that New Braunfels Smokers was actually making smokers in New
> Braunfels. It stayed carefully protected under the deck cover and was
> coated with veg oil on the outside after each use.
>
> It used as much fuel as a small campfire and required a fair amount of
> attention.
>
> But man on man, what a great product that thing put out. My newer
> stuff may be more efficient and easier to use, but I don't think they
> always put out a better finished product.
>
> Robert


You're supposed to sit around the pit, tending the fire the entire time the
meat is cooking. Otherwise you'll be in the house with a bunch of
chattering wenches.

Gimme a chainsaw, a tree, some raw meat for a buck a pound, and some time.
It'll be good. We might even do some target shooting to keep the wimmen
inside.


TFM®

On Sep 16, 5:33*pm, TFM® > wrote:
> We might even do some target shooting to keep the wimmen inside.

Especially if you're shooting at them. <g>

-frohe

Be sure to go to Lockhart, about 30 minutes SE of Austin for FABULOUS BBQ.
Smitty's in downtown Lockhart, Kreitz BBQ, and Lockhart BBQ all have some of
the best I've ever had. Smitty's has a smoker that is absolutely
unbelieveable, and the restaurant is built around the pit.....If you wanna
see a REAL pit smoker, Smitty's is the place to go! And remember,
everything is bigger in Texas!!



"pops" > wrote in message
...
> I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
> end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
> could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
> but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
> end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
> as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.
>
> It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
> BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
> are much fewer.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Grant Erwin
> posting from google due to Verizon's abysmal ignorance of reality

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:20:33 -0700, Denny Wheeler
> wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:07:16 -0700, Desideria
> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:23:29 -0700 (PDT), pops >
>>wrote:
>>
>>>I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
>>>end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
>>>could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
>>>but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
>>>end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
>>>as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.
>>>
>>>It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
>>>BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
>>>are much fewer.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Grant Erwin
>>>posting from google due to Verizon's abysmal ignorance of reality
>>
>>Yep, you're from Seattle, and we all's supposed to get together
>>sometime! (you, Denny and me)
>
>Grant's kind-of in the middle for us. He's in Kirkland.
>
>>Say when and where and how--feel free to email me as my addie is
>>unmunged).
>
>And we gotta go over to that island visible from your windows and find
>Ivan.

Yes, we do. But I haven't seen him around lately, either.

"Denny Wheeler" > wrote in message
news
> On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:07:16 -0700, Desideria
> > wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:23:29 -0700 (PDT), pops >
>>wrote:
>>
>>>I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
>>>end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
>>>could go eat (I'm from Seattle, so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
>>>but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
>>>end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
>>>as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.
>>>
>>>It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
>>>BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
>>>are much fewer.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Grant Erwin
>>>posting from google due to Verizon's abysmal ignorance of reality
>>
>>Yep, you're from Seattle, and we all's supposed to get together
>>sometime! (you, Denny and me)
>
> Grant's kind-of in the middle for us. He's in Kirkland.
>
>>Say when and where and how--feel free to email me as my addie is
>>unmunged).
>
> And we gotta go over to that island visible from your windows and find
> Ivan.
>

Ivan must be a neighbor of mine.


>
> "Every single religion that has a monotheistic god
> winds up persecuting someone else."
> -Philip Pullman
>
> -denny-
> (not as curmudgeonly as I useta be)

On Sep 14, 5:23*pm, pops > wrote:
> I'm heading to Austin with a day or so to spare and a car towards the
> end of the month. I think I already know a lot of the Q places where I
> could go eat (I'm from Seattle, *so any genuine Texas BBQ is a treat)
> but I'm looking for places I could go where I could see as many high
> end smokers as possible. I'm looking for tips on how they're designed
> as I have a 24x60" air tank waiting to be made into a smoker.
>
> It's pretty easy to find places on the Web that talk about how to cook
> BBQ. Places where they discuss matters of smoker design intelligently
> are much fewer.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Grant Erwin
> posting from google due to Verizon's abysmal ignorance of reality

Pops, think Austin for food and fun, but, not a hotbed of a design
cache for your custom pit.
I'd suggest going to a local KCBS sanctioned bbq cookoff.
These amateurs are really pros at what they do, many have on hand
custom cookers, or modified off the shelf rigs. Most will be happy to
talk about what they're doing, and how the unique features of their
cooker influence their entries. Some, will not offer their proven (or
yet to be proven) secrets about their pits, and or the recipes; for
obvious reasons. But, you'll find most are helpful; outgoing, and
friendly due to the common interest in excellence in barbecue. Pops,
you'd learn more at a single cookoff than 2 weeks shuttling around the
Texas Hill Country.
One important thing: Be careful in the timing of your visit, don't
expect any banter with the cooks at anytime close to turn in time.
After the entries are turned in, they're all pretty well wiped out in
the afternoon from a long night behind them of tending a pit. many
are packing it in as well and won't have time or the energy to speak
with you. Try visiting the night before, when the, cooks are
socializing, and exchanging lies about what their doing. You'll
still learn tons. Good luck.
Pierre