AZ Barbeque.com
Smokers, Grills, Pitts & More => Weber Smokers & Grills => Topic started by: smokinscott09 on January 01, 2010, 04:59:13 pm
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After reading a bunch of posts I see that a lot of folks are using the WSM for personal use and for comps. I'm sure this has be hashed over and over, but this is one of the smokers I am thinking of upgrading to. I'm sure there are a bunch of folks who can throw me some pros and cons on this unit. In reading some of the reviews a common thread seems to be with the poorly built door, and a mis reading thermometer.(off by 15 degrees by many accounts. I would like to hear some thoughts. I am going to have to save my butt off for the $399 price considering I am moving up from a ECB which cost me $50 but does smoke like a champ! And I am hoping to someday do a little competition with this.
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Built in thermos tend to be somewhat sketchy regarding accuracy. I'd suggest temping at grate level with a good temperature gauge for consistent accuracy.
WSM's are great products and we use them to compete. If the $399 WSM price tag is a bit steep, consider the Pro Q products. There are a few left here in AZ at a great price. The comparable Pro Q model to the WSM 22.5 is the Excel20. Look on Craigslist or in the BBQ classified section here at AZBarbeque.
There are a lot of Pro Q user's here on the forum, and there is even a separate discussion category just for the Pro Q product.
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We picked up our WSM 22.5 in December. Love it. Easy to control temp and can get a 10 hour burn on one load of charcoal. We have found the temp to be pretty accurate. The door is a little flimsy, but no problems so far. I highly recommend it.
Purchased it at BBQ Island and received a 50.00 discount because of the club sponsorship. They even assembled it for us.
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If you're going with the WSM, go to BBQ Island and get a $50.00 discount for being a member here. I have one of the original 18" WSM's that I bought in the 80's. The door works just fine, 20 years old and all original. As far as the temp Gage on my WSM 22.5, I don't depend on any thermometer that is supplied with a unit. I use a ET-73, gives me meat temp and smoker temp. Hope this helps, it's my two cents. ;D ;D
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Thanks for the responses! It is something I am definitely looking into!
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+1 on the ET-73. Great unit and we use it at home and at comps.
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I agree about the Maverick. And the Pro Q rivals the Weber, for sure.
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You may want to private message Tracy at BBQPHX. They have a ProQ and WSM 22.5, and they have some opinions on how they cook. They feel one has an advantage over the other.
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+1 on the ET-73. Great unit and we use it at home and at comps.
+2 on the ET-73. ^-^
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Just bought one of the new 22 1/2 WSMS for competition , I like it because can do 8 butts ( which comes out to 1 case) and have everythuing in one place. I plan to buy 2 more along and along. I like them because they hold more product , here in South Carolina most comps have you do a case of butts , 6 racks spare ribs , and chicken thighs ( for those I go to Sams an get a 24 pack that way I can have a good pick of what to turn in. We have gotten into briskets here but I am going to practice up , ya never can tell.
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You may want to private message Tracy at BBQPHX. They have a ProQ and WSM 22.5, and they have some opinions on how they cook. They feel one has an advantage over the other.
Yes, I can say that we are an all Weber team now as I picked up a second 22.5" WSM after the legs on our ProQ completely collapsed at the Chandler event (only our third competition). In my experience I was never able to get the ProQ up to temp no matter how much charcoal I fed it. Two of those comps were in pretty cold weather though. Crash's team has done very well with the ProQ's so perhaps I just got a lemon, but I personally would save up just a little bit longer and go with the WSM. As the saying goes 'buy the best and only cry once'.
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So, what's going to happen to the Pro Q Tracy? Did you pitch it, or is it in the yard sale bin?
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No, it's already found a loving home in the parts bin of Bark-n-Chickens
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Just bought a weber 22 bullet last night....... broke it in.... doing 8 pb this friday night for butcher bob's event on Sat.... brings me up to 12 smokers/grills/ plus one great italian brick oven..... eventually will catch jaybird.. in smokers that is......
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Just bought a weber 22 bullet last night....... broke it in.... doing 8 pb this friday night for butcher bob's event on Sat.... brings me up to 12 smokers/grills/ plus one great italian brick oven..... eventually will catch jaybird.. in smokers that is......
I need a bigger yard and no stinkin' HOA ;)
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And I thought I had far too many smokers;
Louisiana Grills pellet pooper
22.5 Weber Kettle/with rotisserie attachment
22.5 WSM
18.5 WSM
New Braunfel's Hondo Stick Burner
A Cheapo 2 Burner Grill
30# Electric Smoke House
20# Electric Smoke House
Big Chief Electric Smoker
I guess I need to go to BBQ Island tomorrow. ;D ;D
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Let me rephrase Mark.... trying to catch up with jaybird and stay ahead of you........ and I live in a HOA and have the 70's dp to boot......lol
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No HOA here, just the apartment managers. The rules say no, but they haven't bothered me yet. I think they like the smell of apple and hickory. ;D
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I just pick up one this week at Dixieline Lumber. There not stocking them anymore so there $100 off....Nice! Going to fire it up for the first time this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.
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I need a bigger yard and no stinkin' HOA ;)
I've got that! Plenty of housing for sale right here along Country Gables just west of the freeway... 9K square foot lots, with little tiny houses on 'em....the houses suck, but lots of room!
And I thought I had far too many smokers;
Louisiana Grills pellet pooper
22.5 Weber Kettle/with rotisserie attachment
22.5 WSM
18.5 WSM
New Braunfel's Hondo Stick Burner
A Cheapo 2 Burner Grill
30# Electric Smoke House
20# Electric Smoke House
Big Chief Electric Smoker
I guess I need to go to BBQ Island tomorrow. ;D ;D
Didn't you say you live in an apartment? I'll extend my storage offer to you, too, Mark. I've got plenty of room!
I had a friend's bass boat in the back yard for years for no charge...and I couldn't even exercise it for him. I'll keep your stuff "warmed up", as it were... ;) ;D
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I've got that! Plenty of housing for sale right here along Country Gables just west of the freeway... 9K square foot lots, with little tiny houses on 'em....the houses suck, but lots of room!
Didn't you say you live in an apartment? I'll extend my storage offer to you, too, Mark. I've got plenty of room!
I had a friend's bass boat in the back yard for years for no charge...and I couldn't even exercise it for him. I'll keep your stuff "warmed up", as it were... ;) ;D
I guess my neighbors enjoy the smells from my cooking. Complex policy is no BBQ's/fires on your patio. But they have never said a word about it. I've been here for about three years. And by the way, I added a oiless fryer today. Got to get ready for turkey day. ;D ;D
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I have found the lid thermometer to be fairly accurate, but sloooooow to reflect changes in temp. For instance, I have another pit thermometer that I put at grate level that I know is dead on accurate. I will get my pit going and the temp up to 250 degrees and keep it there according to my grate level probe. The lid thermometer will take about 5-10 minutes longer to get there/show that temp, but once it gets there it stays steady within just a few degrees of what my pit probe reads, which in my opinion is plenty accurate for BBQing. It's almost like its a very slow read thermometer, but its accurate. Also, I pulled it out of the lid and tested it in boiling water and it was within 1-2 degrees of where it should have been.
All I can say, is I bought my 22.5" WSM about 6 months ago and I love it overall. My next big purchase is a stoker.
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You'll love the WSM w/the Stoker. Good luck with it.
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Just bought a weber 22 bullet last night....... broke it in.... doing 8 pb this friday night for butcher bob's event on Sat.... brings me up to 12 smokers/grills/ plus one great italian brick oven..... eventually will catch jaybird.. in smokers that is......
I don't know Jaybid's situation, but you need help brotha! :D I got a total of 7 (and i'm jealous of the brick oven) and don't know what to do with them unless there is a comp.