Brinkman (ECB)

[woodfolks]

Just looking at the ECB El chepo Brinkmans
Wal world has one for about 39.00

Thnking of getting one
How bad are they.
Iv seen some mods peolpe have done to them
Anyone ever use one in a Comp.

I will get a WSM in a month or two
and Im just getting a UDS together.
wanted to look at the ECBs.

Want to work with 3 smokers at once to prctice for
comp. From what I have read I could get by with
the WSM and an UDS but a lot of people think 3 is a better
way to go

Any ideas on Mods would be great too.

Just trying to keep the budget down.

[1FUNVET]

ECB is better than nothing. IMHO i would use the money on a UDS.

[Vermin99]

I have a WSM and a UDS and I can't decide which one I like better.

[californiasmokin]

I personally wouldn't get one after seeing what my money bought me.I would check Craigslist for bargains daily if I was trying to watch my money.

[smokinok]

I have owned several ECB's over the years and have had a Brinckman Propane Water Smoker for 5 years or so and it is fine but the UDS is HANDS DOWN a far superior smoker (set it and ferget it) after you get the hang of it. Like I said I saw a post on a site where this Comp guy carried 5 or 6 ECB to do his COMP's and to feed the masses for the Peoples Choice Award. I think 3 or 4 were for Comp's and 2 for feeding.

[tomshoots]

Just looking at the ECB El chepo Brinkmans
Wal world has one for about 39.00

Thnking of getting one
How bad are they.
Iv seen some mods peolpe have done to them
Anyone ever use one in a Comp.

I will get a WSM in a month or two
and Im just getting a UDS together.
wanted to look at the ECBs.

Want to work with 3 smokers at once to prctice for
comp. From what I have read I could get by with
the WSM and an UDS but a lot of people think 3 is a better
way to go

Any ideas on Mods would be great too.

Just trying to keep the budget down.

Years ago, I had a Mr. Meat Smoker (ECB), and turned out many happy cooks. Not a bad way to go for me at the time. No regrets. But I know so much more now than I did then. Never been a comp cooker so I can't say. But as a fellow smokehead, I'd rather save the $39 and put it toward an extra drum. More bang for the buck.

[Toast]

I paid $75 for the "Gourmet" Brinkman Smoker. You can set the charcoal bottom on the top of barrel and it makes a great 22" charcoal pit.

It has a water pan with 2 SS racks. After attempting to smoke a couple of briskets and chickens, it did not take me long to learn that I had to hover over it just like I would on a grill. It would not maintain a constant 230* (Low and Sloooow) which is what I bought it for. I tried charcoal, lump, wood and all points in between. It could be my ignorance but life's too short.

I trashed a foreign made gasser and kept the thermometer and installed it in the lid of the of the Brinkman. That showed me the flaw with the design.

Bottom line is that they start out real hot and then get real cold real quick. There are no vents to adjust air intake and exhaust. Don't get me wrong, I've had some good cooks on it and I'm not knocking it.

Going for the WSM when the wife works enough overtime to buy it. Until then, the mighty Weber gasser is doing a fine job.

Good Luck

[BluDawg]

About 20+ yrs ago I had an ECB it would turn out some decent Q buy it was a pain to keep at a good heat. IMO a UDS is th way to go look at it like this an ECB is a rusty bicycle with flat tires and no chain and a UDS is a New Ford P/U with cruise control.... If you decide to go down the ECB trail here is a link to a site with some Mods that will make it livable for you.http://www.randyq.addr.com/ecb/ecbmods.html

[SmokyOkie]

About 20+ yrs ago I had an ECB it would turn out some decent Q buy it was a pain to keep at a good heat. IMO a UDS is th way to go look at it like this an ECB is a rusty bicycle with flat tires and no chain and a UDS is a New Ford P/U with cruise control.... If you decide to go down the ECB trail here is a link to a site with some Mods that will make it livable for you.http://www.randyq.addr.com/ecb/ecbmods.html

Only if it has a Guru on it.

[Pagordy]

the wife bought me one last christmas just because it was on sale at wally world , my dad used them for years and swore by them..... but after seasoning mine and I have done absolutely no mods to it at all it does do some pretty good q but the issue is for longer smokes such as past 3 or four hours better strap in because one of two things happen either your fire goes completely out because of the ash build up and you have to relight and that is a huge pain especially if both racks are occupied. the second thing that could happen is its still hot but not hot enough and you cant recover and you eventually have to relight anyway. but if you just wanna smoke for three to four hours worth the things from the factory does great im sure the mods would help but I personally havent done them yet