Newb - Pro Q or WSM ?

[BRUN]

ive never had a smoker before, and i was going to build a UDS, but my birthday is coming up and im thinking of buying one, dont really want to spend over £300 so ive been looking at Pro Q and the Weber SM

im wondering what are the positives and negatives of each unit

can both of them do a long enough cook without requrining extra charcoal to be added, also how easy is that to do mid cook, do you lose all your heat ?.....i dont really want to burn myself poking my hand through a small gap, or trying to get coal under the water pan and tipping the water out

ill be researching both a bit more in the coming weeks but thought on here was a good place to ask

[ConorD]

They are both capable of long cooks but that is more dependent on the fuel you use. I am a WSM (47") with heat beads advocate and have done >20hr cooks off a single basket of coals in the snow - most of the time I will do an overnight cook and have coals left to start the next one.

Other advice would be to buy some decent flame retardant gloves

[AlanL]

Hi Brun,

I have no experience of the Pro Q and very little of the WSM as only used it the once but I am really pleased with it as without too much fuss it worked straight away and gave me good results. (as you saw in my post).

When I was doing my research I got the impression that the ProQ is a good bit of kit but people mainly went for it offer better value and they couldn't justify the cost of the WSM (no doubt at full price it isn't cheap). If you've not already seen this thread there are some good deals for WSM's at the moment http://www.bbbqs.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=4472 and will fall within budget.

I can't find it at the moment but I did find quite a good comparison of the two smokers on youtube.

Hopefully one of the more experienced chaps will be along to give a more informed and balanced view.

Alan.

[keith157]

It's not just that the ProQ is cheaper than a WSM, by the adding or removing of stackers it is IMHO more versatile than the single stack WSM, although maybe it won't last the same number of decades as the stronger built WSM. So saying I'd be very surprised if the family isn't still using it 30-40 years down the line, hopefully under my tutelage

[BRUN]

I really dont think id be cooking multiple things at the same time, i tend to favour a large joint of meat like a brisket or shoulder, although i guess if doing ribs multiple grills would be very useful

[BRUN]

this seems a really good price actually for the WSM

http://www.birstall.co.uk/products/webe ... 47cm_.html

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what to do ?

[Pompey Dinlo]

this seems a really good price actually for the WSM

http://www.birstall.co.uk/products/webe ... 47cm_.html

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what to do ?

But this is better.....http://www.riversidegardencentre.co.uk/ ... ntain.html

[robgunby]

Oil barrels are only £15.... just saying

[Toby]

315 here http://www.socal.co.uk/barbecues/barbec ... weber.html

[BRUN]

damn, the other day when I posted that link, the price for the 47 was £280 !