Going to build one.

BryanW · Post by **BryanW** » January 25th, 2021, 3:28 pm

Hello all, My name is Bryan. I live in SE Minnesota and I love awesome BBQ'd meats! I came across this site while trying to obtain information on building backyard BBQ pits. I am a complete noob at making great BBQ but pretty good at fabricating things. I am very confident I can build an awesome stick burner given enough information. I am leaning toward building a conventional offset smoker vs. a reverse flow offset unless literally everyone tells me that's a stupid idea. I plan to start here with learning all I can about quality pits and then learn from all of you as much as I can about making awesome food on the thing!

Cheers everybody!

Bryan

hogaboomer · Post by **hogaboomer** » January 25th, 2021, 3:51 pm

I’ve built four traditional offsets with tuning plates. Most guys here lean towards reverse, but I think tuning plates give you the best of both worlds.

Post by **Big T** » January 25th, 2021, 5:33 pm

Welcome aboard! I'm a fan of the RF but there's nothing wrong with a well built traditional offset. There are pros and cons to both imo but you can turn out great BBQ on either style.

BryanW · Post by **BryanW** » January 25th, 2021, 6:58 pm

Thanks guys! Will be back here a lot for info.

dacolson · Post by **dacolson** » January 25th, 2021, 9:47 pm

Welcome Bryan! I’m in Farmington. Where in SE MN are you at? Gotta support the locals. JKalchik is a local as well.

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Post by **Pete Mazz** » January 26th, 2021, 4:49 am

Welcome!

BryanW · Post by **BryanW** » January 26th, 2021, 10:32 am

Thanks guys! Cool site! Dacolson, live near Hayfield and work in Rochester.

Used to buzz through Farmington a lot, my brother lived in Lakeville for a while.

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » January 26th, 2021, 11:27 am

Whatever you decide to build, follow the calculations and take your time to do it right. I own a traditional offset and a RF. All I will say is I haven’t fired up the traditional offset in several years and the first guy to knock on my door can have it.

JKalchik · Post by **JKalchik** » January 26th, 2021, 11:38 am

Apparently, I'm in good company here. I'm halfway between Rochester & St. Paul.

Just to throw a monkey wrench in your works, I built a gravity fed charcoal smoker a couple of years, and I am quite happy with it. I fought a leaky cheap horizontal offset for a couple of years, and went in whole hog on the GF. If you're interested in seeing it, I'll have it fired up on Saturday this weekend (drop me a note.)

dacolson · Post by **dacolson** » January 26th, 2021, 2:08 pm

JKalchik, I still gotta find time to swing by. New job has me hopping. Some day soon I hope.

JKalchik · Post by **JKalchik** » January 26th, 2021, 3:38 pm

dacolson wrote: ↑
January 26th, 2021, 2:08 pm
JKalchik, I still gotta find time to swing by. New job has me hopping. Some day soon I hope.

Sort of a standing invite for anybody in this neck of the woods.

At least you're employed and busy. Well, so am I, but I need to find another job....

mp4 · Post by **mp4** » January 27th, 2021, 9:03 pm

My son and daughter-in-law just moved to Rochester. I live between Eau Claire and Wausau a couple hours east from you guys. Maybe some time we can schedule a Midwest gathering? I'm working in Maine right now, but maybe sometime the stars might align...

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dacolson · Post by **dacolson** » January 28th, 2021, 3:01 pm

Love it. I'm in. I have some buddies who are avid smokers and would love to get a group together.

JKalchik · Post by **JKalchik** » January 28th, 2021, 6:16 pm

I'm down.

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