Recent content by David Vitale

I just completed my largest cook yet - 128lbs of pork butt for our annual church picnic. First I have to thank all of those that have posted about larger cooks. I could not have done it without you. Especially portioning and yeild. I used 3 WSM's with 5-6 butts in each. Each butt was about...

Tom, I have my WSM on my cedar deck on which I made a pad by placing a series of left over pavers from my sidewalk. The pavers are 2 1/2" thick and I made the pad big enough that I can use my chimney starter on it. If I ever need more room, I can add more pavers. Works great. Also, the...

Thanks for the feedback. I q'd a brisket a couple of weeks ago using oak. I thought it tasted great. The family thought it was way too strong. I have been mixing woods lately. I've mixed apple and cheery with a little hickory. This gave me pretty good results, but nothing lke the...

I Q'd two 8lb Mr. Browns this weekend on the WSM and used pecan wood for the first time. I am hooked. This is absolutely the best smoke that I have tasted. I cut it with two small hickory chunks, but the majority was pecan. Has anyone else used pecan and what were your experiences?

John, I did go for drilling the top vent for a candy thermometer mod. Now in my own engineering way I feel like Weber couldn't have done it without my help. By the way - the first smoke was beyound all of my expectations. I think I ate a whole shoulder myself.

Keri, Again, I may have posted my lament too soon. I did a 13 hr Mr. Brown cook over the weekend. I did the drilled top vent rivet mod and used a candy thermometer. Worked like a champ. What you say about learning the feel of the lid temp sounds good. As I cook I will try that. One...

Go to www.grilldoctor.com, he had six in stock last week, but they were going fast. He did say that more would be in in a couple of weeks. I kind of wondered after I opended my box if he is carrying scratch and dent at the $179.00 price. I'd be interested in knowing how other member's WSMs...

First, I want to thank everyone at this site who posts their wit and wisdom about BBQ and inspired me to purchase the WSM - If I could I'd buy you all a round. I purchased my WSM at the Grilldoctor for $179.00. When the WSM arrived, it had a very minor crease dent in the body and one of the...

Chris, Thanks for a very common sense reply. Well made points. I am an engineer and kind of look at everything that improves a product and think - Why is it not there already? But as you have pointed out, the mods are easy and there is no marketing value add for Weber to make them ahead of...

I just received and put together my WSM last night. My question is, with everybody here modifying their WSM - mostly out of necessity - Does Weber even look at this site. R&D could get some great ideas from the very inventive stuff you guys are doing. Why not ship it with a thermometer built...

Thanks Tom. I will check it out.

I just came across this web site. They sell used white oak whisky barrels and they advertise smoking chunks made from them. You can buy a whole rough barrel for $40.00, shipping is $15.00 to Michigan. I have ordered one. I will post how it worked out. http://www.kentuckybarrels.com