Hi,

I have been using my Brinkmann Smoke n Grill for quite a while with great
success. I've done some minor tweaks like drilling holes in the fuel pan
and I am now doing 14 hours with relatively stable temperature. However, I
just found that I can get a WSM for around $150 at a local outlet. Is
stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it? I now feel I know my
Brinkmann. Would I have to go through a lot of noob failures again with
the WSM, or are they somewhat similar in the way they work?

My wife always says "don't mess with success". I am afraid of doing so in
this case. Maybe I should wait until I can do an even more substantial
upgrade to, let's say, ceramic?

--
//ceed ©¿©¬

ceed wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have been using my Brinkmann Smoke n Grill for quite a while with
> great success. I've done some minor tweaks like drilling holes in the
> fuel pan and I am now doing 14 hours with relatively stable
> temperature. However, I just found that I can get a WSM for around $150
> at a local outlet. Is stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it? I
> now feel I know my Brinkmann. Would I have to go through a lot of noob
> failures again with the WSM, or are they somewhat similar in the way
> they work?

Compared to a ECB (El Cheapo Brinkman) a WSM is just boring to use. IME,
the WSM is more stable and easier to control. You also get a bit more
space, if that is important.

> My wife always says "don't mess with success". I am afraid of doing so
> in this case. Maybe I should wait until I can do an even more
> substantial upgrade to, let's say, ceramic?
>

I went from the ECBX2 to a WSM to two ceramics. I still have them all
and I use them all. I keep the ECBX2 and WSM at the lake house and can
cook for twenty (or more) on the two of them. The two Kamados are my "at
home" cookers as I don't treat a #9 and a #7 as portable.

--
Matthew

I'm a contractor. If you want an opinion, I'll sell you one.
Which one do you want?

I don't know much about the ceramic cookers (accept that they look really
cool!) but I can tell you as a former ECB "Gourmet" user that switching to
the WSM was a great decision for me. I would be extremely surprised if you
experienced any "noob failures" because, since you've been using the ECB,
you're most likely quite experienced at fire tending and temperature
control.

On the other hand, if you've got your ECB performing consistently w/ 14 hour
burns..boy, that's pretty damn good. Perhaps the decision would come down
to other factors. For instance, I, like you, could often achieve fairly
consistent burn times and temps w/ my ECB during the late spring and summer
months. BUT (!), living in Wisconsin, weather conditions often prevented me
from using my ECB w/ any sort of success. Due to the build quality and
construction materials my ECB was extremely susceptible to windy conditions
and ambient temperatures. If it was a cool day w/ a decent amount of breeze
I'd literally have to fight the thing just to keep a consistent temp for an
hour. Try cooking a butt in those conditions! In addition, I couldn't even
think about cooking during the late fall and winter months. However, now
that I have the WSM I've got BIG plans for football season this year.

Good luck whatever you decide!

J.P.

"ceed"
<ceed@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqr stuvwxyzabcdefghijk.com>
wrote in message newsp.suvscia021xk10@bobdello...
<snip>
> Is stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it? I now feel I know my
> Brinkmann. Would I have to go through a lot of noob failures again with
> the WSM, or are they somewhat similar in the way they work?
>
> My wife always says "don't mess with success". I am afraid of doing so in
> this case. Maybe I should wait until I can do an even more substantial
> upgrade to, let's say, ceramic?

In article <op.suvscia021xk10@bobdello>,
ceed
<ceed@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqr stuvwxyzabcdefghijk.c
om> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have been using my Brinkmann Smoke n Grill for quite a while with great
> success. I've done some minor tweaks like drilling holes in the fuel pan
> and I am now doing 14 hours with relatively stable temperature. However, I
> just found that I can get a WSM for around $150 at a local outlet.

Darned good price! Wish I could take advantage of it. :/

> Is stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it? I now feel I know
> my Brinkmann. Would I have to go through a lot of noob failures
> again with the WSM, or are they somewhat similar in the way they
> work?

I understand where you're coming from, Ceed. I've reached a point where
I feel like I can do anything with my ECB (within reason, of course),
but I tell ya what...

I look forward to the day when I can set up a WSM for an overnight cook
and *not* have to set the alarm clock for some ungodly hour of the
morning just to get up to tend the fire!

> My wife always says "don't mess with success". I am afraid of doing so in
> this case. Maybe I should wait until I can do an even more substantial
> upgrade to, let's say, ceramic?

That's a pretty big jump, price-wise, isn't it? I'd go for the WSM,
myself. That way you can enjoy the benefits of it until the time comes
when you *can* justify/afford to upgrade to ceramic. As for "don't mess
with success", I say use your success - and the knowledge you've gained
- with your ECB to take you to the next step! Should be a no-brainer!

--
Stan Marks

A waist is a terrible thing to mind.

On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 09:09:11 -0500, J.P. >
wrote:

> On the other hand, if you've got your ECB performing consistently w/ 14
> hour
> burns..boy, that's pretty damn good. Perhaps the decision would come
> down
> to other factors. For instance, I, like you, could often achieve fairly
> consistent burn times and temps w/ my ECB during the late spring and
> summer
> months. BUT (!), living in Wisconsin, weather conditions often
> prevented me
> from using my ECB w/ any sort of success. Due to the build quality and
> construction materials my ECB was extremely susceptible to windy
> conditions
> and ambient temperatures. If it was a cool day w/ a decent amount of
> breeze
> I'd literally have to fight the thing just to keep a consistent temp for
> an
> hour.

I live in Austin, TX. We have a few freezes during winter, so I can pretty
much use use the ECB all year here. Thank you for great advice though.

I am able to do 14 hours by refueling every two hours. If I refuel too
often I get problems after about 8 hours. I have also added a grate to the
bottom of the fuel pan. Also, using briquettes does not work. It has to be
lump.

Sounds like the WSM would be a good idea for me though.

--
//ceed ©¿©¬

ceed wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 09:09:11 -0500, J.P.
> > wrote:
>
>> On the other hand, if you've got your ECB performing consistently w/
>> 14 hour
>> burns..boy, that's pretty damn good. Perhaps the decision would come
>> down
>> to other factors. For instance, I, like you, could often achieve fairly
>> consistent burn times and temps w/ my ECB during the late spring and
>> summer
>> months. BUT (!), living in Wisconsin, weather conditions often
>> prevented me
>> from using my ECB w/ any sort of success. Due to the build quality and
>> construction materials my ECB was extremely susceptible to windy
>> conditions
>> and ambient temperatures. If it was a cool day w/ a decent amount of
>> breeze
>> I'd literally have to fight the thing just to keep a consistent temp
>> for an
>> hour.
>
>
> I live in Austin, TX. We have a few freezes during winter, so I can
> pretty much use use the ECB all year here. Thank you for great advice
> though.
>
> I am able to do 14 hours by refueling every two hours. If I refuel too
> often I get problems after about 8 hours. I have also added a grate to
> the bottom of the fuel pan. Also, using briquettes does not work. It
> has to be lump.
>
> Sounds like the WSM would be a good idea for me though.
>

FWIW, take a look at the sunbeam fire pot I have used with my ECBX2

<http://www.mlmartin.com/bbq>

I've gotten over 9 hours with a single fueling.

--
Matthew

I'm a contractor. If you want an opinion, I'll sell you one.
Which one do you want?

>However, I just found that I can get a WSM for around $150 at a local outlet. Is
>stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it?

>FWIW, take a look at the sunbeam fire pot I have used with my ECBX2
><http://www.mlmartin.com/bbq>
>I've gotten over 9 hours with a single fueling.
>Matthew

So I am a complete newbie and lurker, and bought the ECB this past
weekend. Was trying to hold out for the WSM on a clearence sale and
couldn't find any. Amazon was the best price I could find at 179
shipped. So just gotta ask - where did ya find a WSM for 150? - And do
they have smoking wood there as well?
So far have done the initial burn and seasoning, and did some sausages
in the ECB - keeping it stock (except added a real thermometer) for a
few weeks so I can then do the mods on the FAQ list and compare each
mod. I may need to add mathews firepit from above though - it seems
like a great way to get longer burns. If I go the route of the FAQ's
instead I intend to grind the legs so they still fit inside the smoker
as opposed to fitting to the outside.

2kewl-AlamoCityGypsyMC wrote:

> If I go the route of the FAQ's
> instead I intend to grind the legs so they still fit inside the smoker
> as opposed to fitting to the outside.
>

You can do that if you like, but ...

Ultimately I replaced the legs on the ECBX2 with 3/4" conduit. I made
them quite a bit longer than the stock legs. This allows me to use an
unmodified Sunbeam fire pot (_MUCH_ more stable than the modified one)
or a turkey fryer burner as a heat source. I think the added safety is
well worth the effor.

--
Matthew

I'm a contractor. If you want an opinion, I'll sell you one.
Which one do you want?

On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 09:06:24 -0400, "Matthew L. Martin"
> wrote:

>ceed wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have been using my Brinkmann Smoke n Grill for quite a while with
>> great success. I've done some minor tweaks like drilling holes in the
>> fuel pan and I am now doing 14 hours with relatively stable
>> temperature. However, I just found that I can get a WSM for around $150
>> at a local outlet. Is stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it? I
>> now feel I know my Brinkmann. Would I have to go through a lot of noob
>> failures again with the WSM, or are they somewhat similar in the way
>> they work?
>
>Compared to a ECB (El Cheapo Brinkman) a WSM is just boring to use. IME,
>the WSM is more stable and easier to control. You also get a bit more
>space, if that is important.
>
>> My wife always says "don't mess with success". I am afraid of doing so
>> in this case. Maybe I should wait until I can do an even more
>> substantial upgrade to, let's say, ceramic?
>>
>
>I went from the ECBX2 to a WSM to two ceramics. I still have them all
>and I use them all. I keep the ECBX2 and WSM at the lake house and can
>cook for twenty (or more) on the two of them. The two Kamados are my "at
>home" cookers as I don't treat a #9 and a #7 as portable.


I also followed a similar Barbecue path, although I started with a
Smoke & Grill =>> ECB =>>WSM =>> Kamado #7 =>> Added a Kamado #9

I would say that you would likely be very happy with that WSM in terms
of ease of use and putting out great 'cue using less effort and fuel



-Chef Juke
"EVERYbody Eats When They Come To MY House!"
www.chefjuke.com

On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 07:52:31 -0500, 2kewl-AlamoCityGypsyMC
> wrote:

>> However, I just found that I can get a WSM for around $150 at a local
>> outlet. Is
>> stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it?
>
>> FWIW, take a look at the sunbeam fire pot I have used with my ECBX2
>> <http://www.mlmartin.com/bbq>
>> I've gotten over 9 hours with a single fueling.
>> Matthew
>
> So I am a complete newbie and lurker, and bought the ECB this past
> weekend. Was trying to hold out for the WSM on a clearence sale and
> couldn't find any. Amazon was the best price I could find at 179
> shipped. So just gotta ask - where did ya find a WSM for 150? - And do
> they have smoking wood there as well?

It was at Big Lots! (local store, not online). Since I still haven't made
a decision I haven't been back checking if they still have it at that
price. Usually Big Lots! has fast turnaround. And no, they do not have
smoking wood.

> So far have done the initial burn and seasoning, and did some sausages
> in the ECB - keeping it stock (except added a real thermometer) for a
> few weeks so I can then do the mods on the FAQ list and compare each
> mod. I may need to add mathews firepit from above though - it seems
> like a great way to get longer burns. If I go the route of the FAQ's
> instead I intend to grind the legs so they still fit inside the smoker
> as opposed to fitting to the outside.
>
The mods I did was to drill holes and add a circular Weber grate I picked
up from Home Depot. It fits perfectly in the fuel pan for added air
circulation. I've done 14 hours pulled pork a couple of times keeping the
temperature between 200 and 240 by refueling after three hours and then
every two hours. If I refuel more often the temperature starts to drop
after around 8 hours. I have also noticed that I have to be kind of
careful when refueling so that burnt out coals doesn't pack on the bottom
of the pan clogging the venting. Briquettes does NOT work, it has to be
lump charcoal. I have been using mesquite lump which burns hotter than
most. However, it seems to be the consensus that mesquite isn't the
greatest for smoking. Personally I have had good results with it when used
in the form of lump.


--
//ceed ©¿©¬

ceed wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have been using my Brinkmann Smoke n Grill for quite a while with
> great success. I've done some minor tweaks like drilling holes in the
> fuel pan and I am now doing 14 hours with relatively stable
> temperature. However, I just found that I can get a WSM for around $150
> at a local outlet. Is stepping up to this higher end bullet worth it? I
> now feel I know my Brinkmann. Would I have to go through a lot of noob
> failures again with the WSM, or are they somewhat similar in the way
> they work?
>
> My wife always says "don't mess with success". I am afraid of doing so
> in this case. Maybe I should wait until I can do an even more
> substantial upgrade to, let's say, ceramic?
>


If you can get a WSM for $150, go for it. That's a good price. You
won't have to go through a learning curve, since your already doing
great Q on your Brinkman. The WSM works great and doesn't require a lot
of tending the fire.

If you deside in a couple of years you want to upgrade to a ceramic,
well you won't be the first around here to have a beginners unit, WSM
and a ceramic. Hell, IIRC one ordered a WSM waiting on delivery of a
Kamado !!!

Enjoy!!!

BBQ

>It was at Big Lots! (local store, not online). Since I still haven't made
>a decision I haven't been back checking if they still have it at that
>price. Usually Big Lots! has fast turnaround.

The bad news is they don't have any at the three BigLots I tried around
my area in San Antonio, the good news is that I don't have to explain
to my wife why I bought two smokers in a little over a week!
2-kewl