Darren72 wrote:Scroll up three posts.

The earlier posts were much older. I must have missed the date on the one you reference. Thanks for your help!

Jyoti

Ace on Montrose has WSMs in stock ready for pick up at $189.

Ace Hardware
5848 W Montrose
Chicago
773-777-2606
WSMs, lump charcoal
Ask for Greg

Thanks for the advice with respect to smoking on a wood deck. I have an old round grill pad and I'm adding a rectangular one. I'm used to using the WSM on concrete so the deck situation is going to be interesting, but I figure the 2nd pad will help out with the smoker and the starter and a few loose chunks. Since my only real concern is a fire on my deck, I'll just keep a fire extinguisher handy and I'm sure I'll be checking on the smoker a little more often than in the past.

Be sure and check out "Livebaconblogging" "I smoke meat every day" and "BBQ Survival Guide" in this section. You will find lots more information related to this thread.

BR wrote:Thanks for the advice with respect to smoking on a wood deck. I have an old round grill pad and I'm adding a rectangular one. I'm used to using the WSM on concrete so the deck situation is going to be interesting, but I figure the 2nd pad will help out with the smoker and the starter and a few loose chunks. Since my only real concern is a fire on my deck, I'll just keep a fire extinguisher handy and I'm sure I'll be checking on the smoker a little more often than in the past.

You can also build a small area out of brick pavers and put the WSM on that.

The way the bottom vent holes are positioned above the coals will generally prevent any embers from falling out the bottom. I'd just make sure you have enough area to cover any strays from when you dump lit coals into the ring.

I generally use minion method for firing my coals, so I simply light my chimney on top of the full ring on unit. Otherwise I light them in my Weber Kettle.

Jamie

We got a big old sheet of concrete backer board for the ground of the deck, and put one up on the wall of the house (over the siding, which I accidentally melted 2 years ago before we had the backer board up)

A big sheet, approx 8x4 ft was something like $10 at Home Depot.

leek wrote:We got a big old sheet of concrete backer board for the ground of the deck, and put one up on the wall of the house (over the siding, which I accidentally melted 2 years ago before we had the backer board up)

A big sheet, approx 8x4 ft was something like $10 at Home Depot.

Leek,

How does the backer board hold up in the weather over time?

stevez wrote:

leek wrote:We got a big old sheet of concrete backer board for the ground of the deck, and put one up on the wall of the house (over the siding, which I accidentally melted 2 years ago before we had the backer board up)

A big sheet, approx 8x4 ft was something like $10 at Home Depot.

Leek,

How does the backer board hold up in the weather over time?

Seems fine. The edges are a little frayed, a touch, but I try not to walk on it much. Plus, at $10 or so a sheet, I won't mind replacing it in a couple of years (I think we've had it for 2 years, and it's stayed outside that whole time, since we grill and smoke year round)

Amazon has the WSM right now for 199.99 with free shipping.

http://tinyurl.com/5q6ry7

How effective is the WSM used as a substitute for a grill?

Virtual Weber Bullet has tips for using it that way.

If you had to decide between buying a WSM and using it for grilling and buying a Weber kettle and using it for smoking, which would be the best choice?

I'm also wondering what the barbecue mavens here think of the Smokenator and the Cobb.

imsscott wrote:Amazon has the WSM right now for 199.99 with free shipping.

http://tinyurl.com/5q6ry7

Unfortunately, I did not see this price. It was listed at $243.

Jyoti

jygach wrote:

imsscott wrote:Amazon has the WSM right now for 199.99 with free shipping.

http://tinyurl.com/5q6ry7

Unfortunately, I did not see this price. It was listed at $243.

Jyoti

You're right, it's back to $231 today. I guess I'm just lucky to have seen it yesterday while going through my wish list for the $199.99 price. I'm glad I didn't hesitate and ordered it right away. There's still the Ace Hardware store that Gary mentioned in an earlier post for $189. I would have done that option but I'd probably use more than $10 in gas to get there from Lake Zurich. It would be nice if they had some feature that would notify people of price changes for items on their wish lists.

Laz,

You can easily make your own Smokenator using 2 fire brick splits ($3.50) and a cheap restaurant Pan.

Tim

LAZ wrote:How effective is the WSM used as a substitute for a grill?

Virtual Weber Bullet has tips for using it that way.

If you had to decide between buying a WSM and using it for grilling and buying a Weber kettle and using it for smoking, which would be the best choice?

I'm also wondering what the barbecue mavens here think of the Smokenator and the Cobb.

If that is the choice - WSM or grill - and the desire is to be able to both smoke and grill I'd say that the WSM is the better double-duty device of the two.

Oh great and mighty GWIV...I have taken your second step in your 5 step program to smoking happiness. This time using a blend of mequite and hickory, resulting in moist tender chicken with a flavor never experience by me before. I am your eternal servant!

razbry wrote:I am your eternal servant!

Can you come over next Thursday and paint our back bedroom?

Happy to hear the 5-Step is working out well for you.

Enjoy,
Gary

Ahh mighty GWIV, alas I cannot. Next week I am planting 800 raspberry plants (my vacation) for my U Pick raspberry business. I will reward you with raspberries when the time is right!

stevez wrote:

leek wrote:We got a big old sheet of concrete backer board for the ground of the deck, and put one up on the wall of the house (over the siding, which I accidentally melted 2 years ago before we had the backer board up)

A big sheet, approx 8x4 ft was something like $10 at Home Depot.

Leek,

How does the backer board hold up in the weather over time?

I have a similar set up - a cement board for nearly two years now and it's held up great. I do light the chimney on the portable grill.


click for larger

imsscott wrote:Amazon has the WSM right now for 199.99 with free shipping.

http://tinyurl.com/5q6ry7

It's at $199.99 again. Must be a Saturday only thing.

I ordered this last Saturday, and with the free shipping it arrived on Tuesday.

Made a great tri-tip on it Wednesday.

LAZ wrote:...I'm also wondering what the barbecue mavens here think of the ... Cobb.

Yes, anyone have the Cobb? Is it more than just a novelty?

WSM is $179.99 at Amazon right now. If you bought it for more within 30 days email them and they will credit you the difference.
Jamie

LAZ wrote:If you had to decide between buying a WSM and using it for grilling and buying a Weber kettle and using it for smoking, which would be the best choice?

LAZ,

Far as WSM vs kettle grill, by which I mean the standard 22.5-inch Weber, the answer really depends on space and what type of Barbecue/Grilling you are planning on doing. If your focus is going to be low and slow cookery then WSM for sure, if it's mostly after work or quick weekend burgers, steak and sausage (grilling) then I suggest a Weber 22.5-inch charcoal kettle grill.

The WSM can be adapted for grilling and the 22.5-kettle for low and slow, but it's easier to do small amounts of low and slow barbecue on a Weber kettle than straight ahead grilling on a WSM. The other factor is number of people you will be cooking for. You can cook large, and I mean large, amounts of food on a WSM in low and slow mode, low and slow mode on a Weber kettle is limited space wise.

In short, mostly grilling, Weber 22.5-inch charcoal kettle, mostly low and slow barbecue, WSM.

Or just buy both.


Enjoy,
Gary

Jamieson22 wrote:WSM is $179.99 at Amazon right now. If you bought it for more within 30 days email them and they will credit you the difference.
Jamie

Thanks so much for posting this! I emailed them and they responded already and have issued a $20 credit, so what was a good deal, is now a great deal!

Jamieson22 wrote:WSM is $179.99 at Amazon right now. If you bought it for more within 30 days email them and they will credit you the difference.

They seem to be changing the price on this up and down day by day. The WSM is up to $199 today, which would seem like a good deal if they hadn't had it $20 cheaper yesterday. Maybe we should institute a daily pricewatch.

G Wiv, I notice you have the Weber kettle Gold version ($139.33 at Amazon today) rather than the Silver ($84.70). Do you find the ash catcher important enough to be worth an extra $55? I don't have issues like keeping a deck or patio clean.

LAZ wrote:Do you find the ash catcher important enough to be worth an extra $55? I don't have issues like keeping a deck or patio clean.

LAZ,

The Weber kettle ash catcher does help keep deck or patio clean, plus the chance for a stray live coal dropping to the ground is near zero. Up to you whether that is worth an additional $55, though the difference was less when I last bought a Weber kettle.

One thing I do not like about the Weber kettle ash catcher is it makes checking lower vent position difficult.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:One thing I do not like about the Weber kettle ash catcher is it makes checking lower vent position difficult.

I wouldn't day difficult, however it is true that you have to use a different technique to check the vent position. There is an illustrated scale on the ash catcher assembly that shows how much the vents are open/closed. By moving the lever to the correct position, you can tell exactly the position of the vents. It's similar the the markings on the knobs of your stove. In real-world practice, however, I find that in short order, you instinctively know where the lever should be for a certain vent position. I have not looked at the markings on my kettle in several years.

stevez wrote:I wouldn't day difficult, however it is true that you have to use a different technique to check the vent position. There is an illustrated scale on the ash catcher assembly that shows how much the vents are open/closed. By moving the lever to the correct position, you can tell exactly the position of the vents. It's similar the the markings on the knobs of your stove. In real-world practice, however, I find that in short order, you instinctively know where the lever should be for a certain vent position. I have not looked at the markings on my kettle in several years.

Steve,

Seems I'm more of a belt and suspenders kind of guy as I have minimal faith in the accuracy of the markings. Far as being able to preform slight vent position changes on a Weber kettle with ash catcher attached by blind reflex, no can do, I prefer visual confirmation. You will have to fill me in on your Wax-on, Wax-off technique.

Enjoy,
Gary

I guess I'll have to start my own Weber Kettle.com 5 step website, but basically:

1. With an empty Weber kettle, set the bottom vents all the way open. With the vents set, take a look at where the vent lever is in relation to the markings on the ash basket assembly. You'll notice that the lever is nearly all the way to the right; near the full air flow icon.


2. Looking at the bottom vents from the top of the grill, close the lever until the vents are half closed. If all is well, you'll notice that the lever is pointing straight at you, approximately 2/3 of the way to the left.


3. Now close the vents. You'll notice that the lever is now all the way to the left; near the no air flow icon.

Once you have done this test for your grill, It's not to hard to remember where the lever has to be for whatever setting you want. I haven't looked at the actual markings since about a week after I got my kettle.

LAZ wrote:

Jamieson22 wrote:WSM is $179.99 at Amazon right now. If you bought it for more within 30 days email them and they will credit you the difference.

They seem to be changing the price on this up and down day by day. The WSM is up to $199 today, which would seem like a good deal if they hadn't had it $20 cheaper yesterday. Maybe we should institute a daily pricewatch.

Still $199.99 today.

LAZ wrote:

LAZ wrote:

Jamieson22 wrote:WSM is $179.99 at Amazon right now. If you bought it for more within 30 days email them and they will credit you the difference.

They seem to be changing the price on this up and down day by day. The WSM is up to $199 today, which would seem like a good deal if they hadn't had it $20 cheaper yesterday. Maybe we should institute a daily pricewatch.

Still $199.99 today.

Anytime I buy something at Amazon (which is a LOT), I enter it into the Amazon Price Watch page. This site will email you if the price drops within a certain amount of time, allowing you to get the difference back from Amazon. So if you want the WSM, buy it now and if the price drops within 30 days you will get the money back; if not you'll forget about the extra $20 or so after the first use...

Jamie