re: If you could buy a new smoker?

quote:

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I have a cheap-o char-broil pit with the offset smoker on the side

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I used to have one and thought at the time it did a serviceable job.

I changed my mind and realized what a terrible job it did after I bought a pit barrel cooker.

The change made me realize how poorly the Char-Broil/Char-Griller pits are at retaining heat due to relatively thin metal used. It made getting meat up to proper temperature very time consuming, and made the task of maintaining a proper level of heat an even bigger challenge. That design probably works best with thicker metal.

My cheap one rusted out in about 3-4 years, probably because I overbasted some meats with bbq sauce, which dripped onto the metal below it. Since I didn’t clean it, the acidity probably accelerated the corrosion.

But getting the pit barrel cooker made me glad I made the change to a better design, and it was also about the same cost as the cheaper grill that rusted out.