Page 1 of 1

Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 05 Mar 2015, 15:06
by KieranBrady
Hi everyone,

So i was gifted one of those £80 cheap offsets apparently everyone hates, but as my only means to learn on how can i improve it?

It seems really leaky and the metal is only about 1.2mm thick so i'm guessing i'm going to run into problems.

Anyone on here than can help me out?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2015, 08:05
by BraaiMeesterWannabe
Do you have a pic?

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2015, 14:32
by KieranBrady
BraaiMeesterWannabe wrote:Do you have a pic?



I'm not sure how to post them to be honest?

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2015, 15:05
by derekmiller
KieranBrady wrote:I'm not sure how to post them to be honest?


You cant upload them, but you should be able to link them.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2015, 16:29
by Tiny
Old Chum,
I started with an cheap offset smoker, sadly I purchased mine. My advice would be to ebay it, add the money you will waste on sealant fire rope and hi temp paint and buy a weber kettle. To chase a cheap offset will take you to the brink of madness.

Cheers
Tiny

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 10 Mar 2015, 14:55
by KieranBrady
Tiny wrote:Old Chum,
I started with an cheap offset smoker, sadly I purchased mine. My advice would be to ebay it, add the money you will waste on sealant fire rope and hi temp paint and buy a weber kettle. To chase a cheap offset will take you to the brink of madness.

Cheers
Tiny



I was afraid of that. Unfortunately I can't see me having enough spare money to pick myself up one anytime soon. Bad times.

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 10 Mar 2015, 23:03
by BraaiMeesterWannabe
Perhaps e-bay the cheap offset and use the proceeds to make yourself a UDS?

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2015, 15:04
by Verminskti
Seal the gaps you don't want, direct the heat where you want it and add some thermal ballast.

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2015, 16:35
by PyroBoris
BraaiMeesterWannabe wrote:Perhaps e-bay the cheap offset and use the proceeds to make yourself a UDS?


What he said!

Re: Improving cheap offset smokers (It was free)

PostPosted: 19 Mar 2015, 12:40
by PDC7
Why not just give it a try? it might be alright, it might be great, it might be rubbish, worst case scenario is you use it for grilling, and in my opinion if it was free and it grills, you got a bargain. You don't want to end up doing loads to it and then finding out you don't like being outside in rubbish weather, my first BBQ was a pile of trash from the range, but I had a lot of fun with it