Cold or hot. Whatever floats your boat.

A good friend that is welder says he will build me an un-insulated smoker IF I can find chunk of 18" pipe and a chunk of 12". Basically one you wouldn't want to move much. lmao

Hell you can use a flower pot if you want

or a cardboard box, even

Or I can do a masonry one as I laid brick, block and stone for a few years and haves the tools.

I like the idea of the cold/hot setup. The reason for the BGE or the like's is it's portable, insulated, and fairly small. The ceramic lining helps the temp to stay more constant, correct?

Less tending the fire.

Between the large thermal mass of the ceramic and the very tight seal between the lid & base there's very little tending.

The whole thing is ceramic, no lining.

The ceramic helps to insulate and has great heat properties for keeping the heat even.

The shap of the egg is also huge. Min maxing the entire process.

I would HIGHLY recommend buying an egg or exact style knock off rather than DIY. Especially since we deal with cold and wind, it will be miles ahead in being user friendly.

Thus why I was looking at cheaper alternatives, but feel I would be happiest with the build quality of the BGE. So will most likely keep saving my penny's.

I did find a few though, let me see if I can find a link.

BGEs and other ceramic grills aren't very insulative; rather, they have a high amount of thermal mass.

but I'm nitpicking

http://www.amazon.com/Char-Griller-26720-Kamado-Charcoal-Barbecue/dp/B00GJEPU3S/ref=dp_ob_title_garden

http://www.amazon.com/Char-Griller-26720-Kamado-Charcoal-Barbecue/dp/B00GJEPU3S/ref=dp_ob_title_garden

 

Edited

Edited February 27, 201411 yr by Penguin4x4

There a quite a few Kamado model's. What's the inside D of the BGE? 18" or so correct?

Medium uses 15" grates, Larges use 18.25" grates, XL's use 24" grates.

Neither are built solely in the US or it would be a no brainier. The BGE ceramic is cast in Mexico and they are assembled with quite a few parts from the states. and the Kamado I believe is solely built in China. 

A bigger model. 

http://www.amazon.com/Char-Griller-16619-Charcoal-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B005ELWI7S/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1393487483&sr=1-2&keywords=kamado+smoker

Primo's are the only Made in USA ceramic grills that I'm aware of.

The large BGE has a cooking area of 262 sq in and weigh's 162 lbs. The Kamado has 306 sq in but only weigh's 90 lbs. So that tells me the BGE has more thermal mass.

The large BGE has a cooking area of 262 sq in and weigh's 162 lbs. The Kamado has 306 sq in but only weigh's 90 lbs. So that tells me the BGE has more thermal mass.

 

You are correct. I read wrong

You can also DIY a gravity feed style.

 

http://www.phpbbserver.com/smokinjim/viewforum.php?f=27

When it comes to ceramic grills, heavier is better.