22 vs 18.5, which to get?


 
Christopher H

Christopher H

TVWBB Fan
Which WSM should I get? I currently use a modified ECB that is about 18in so I was leaning towards just the 18.5 considering price as well. I see the 22 tends to run hot and it's difficult to keep steady under 275.

I would use this similar to my ECB which is just about every weekend May thru September. I do a lot of poultry, pork ribs and pork butt. I'm stepping into brisket more but I usually cook for 4-6 people with the exception of 4th of July tends to be more for 15+. I'm leaning heavily towards the 18.5 to purchase within 2 weeks.

What do you guys think about your personal experiences with the 18.5 vs the 22?
 
Close call based on your criteria. I have and love both. For pork butts and chicken, I usually use the 18.5, but for ribs, brisket, and tenderloins, I love the extra space on the 22.5. If I had to pick only one, I'd go with the 22.5. I just love having plenty of room on the top grate for a big packer brisket and being able to lay 3 slabs of ribs flat on the top grate. As you indicated, I have had more difficulty maintaining steady temps on the 22.5, but I think my main issue was a poorly fitting OEM door. I replaced the OEM door with a Cajun Bandit door and compression latch, and now have no trouble holding lower temps. Then again, I also just started using the CyberQ Wifi ATC, so I'm not sure how much credit goes to the door and how much goes to the ATC. With that combination, while experimenting with it, I was easily able to hold steady temps at 160F, 200F, 225F, 250F, and 275F.
 
A 14.5" would work for the numbers you quoted, just to add more confusion :confused: Although you won't get near the burn time as an 18
The main advantage to the 22 is being able to fit briskets and ribs more easily. The 18 is lighter and has a smaller footprint if space is an issue.
I can't really say that controlling temps is that much easier on one over another for me.
 
I went through the same thought process, decided on the 22.5, better to have the space and not need it than need it and not have it. It also looks impressive!

I also have a 14.5 and a SJ mini I built.

I had thought to sell the 22 and get an 18 but I do like being able to do 6 racks flat (8 in rib racks) uncut on the grates, I am working on a middle grate that would also hold 3 uncut racks, that would be 9 uncut laying flat.

Also I like being able to do an 18 pound turkey in a pan or flat on the grate. Plenty of room. You can always "make" it an 18, but in the 18 inch coal ring, yes you will use a little bit more coal heating the larger area but not really.

Once it is seasoned shutting down and saving coal is easy.
 
Money/cost no object - 22.5.

Will always have the capacity of the 18.5 but, when needed, the key advantage the 18.5 will never have - extra space means 6 racks of spares/babybacks (3 per rack) without racks or rolling, or twice that if using a rib rack; 15+ pound briskets per rack with no "tricking", bending or cutting. 4 8-10 lb pork butts per rack without them being jammed together - you get the picture. :cool:

People always mention wasted fuel or extra usage of the larger rig, but there are several ways to make coal use as efficient as possible - some purchase an 18.5 WSM ring for the bigger unit. I just acquired my third 22.5 unit last weekend for little-of-nothing price-wise. So with the additional savings I'm going to "mack it out" with a Cajun bandit door.
 
Christopher H said:
Which WSM should I get? I currently use a modified ECB that is about 18in so I was leaning towards just the 18.5 considering price as well. I see the 22 tends to run hot and it's difficult to keep steady under 275.

I would use this similar to my ECB which is just about every weekend May thru September. I do a lot of poultry, pork ribs and pork butt. I'm stepping into brisket more but I usually cook for 4-6 people with the exception of 4th of July tends to be more for 15+. I'm leaning heavily towards the 18.5 to purchase within 2 weeks.

What do you guys think about your personal experiences with the 18.5 vs the 22?
Click to expand...

It's not the size of the cooker that makes it run hot. It's how tight the fit is and what the meat load is. Do some searches to help make your mind up. Big 22 good for big briskets and big cooks.
 
I have, use, and love both the 18 & 22. They both get used, but I find I'm using the 18 more often for normal cooks. But, when I want the size of the 22 for a cook - I'm REALLY glad I have it. Just used it this weekend to smoke 29 pounds of boston butt and a huge pan of beans at the same time. It's a tough call as the 22 will take more charcoal as it's filling/heating a larger chamber. Get both and quit second guessing. :)
 
I have a mini and a 18.5, and these two really suit my needs. I've done butts, ribs, chicken, ABT's, PBS, etc. I've even done a brisket flat. But whenever I do ribs, I do sometimes wish I could just leave them whole and lay them down rather than having to cut and rack them. And I honestly don't know how I'd be able to fit a full size packer brisket in an 18.5 which I would like to do eventually. I may have to do it on my 22.5 kettle like I used to smoke with before I got my WSM's
 
Alan F said:
4-6 people? The 18.
Click to expand...

To me for 4-6 people I use my 14.5, used to use the mini. But then maybe I am not making enough food. But we had food left over.

To me for up to 6 it is the 14.5, then I can add my mini and then for parties it is the big boy, 22.5


This was on the 14.5 in one cook

PA260068_zps32f74767.jpg


P1190091_zps00fdcfe2.jpg


P2020104_zps4adc4647.jpg
 
Jeff;
That's a NICE illustration of the great capacity of even the 14.5 (or Mini). They are GREAT smokers and seem to have a greater capacity than at first glance.

Keep on smokin',
Dale53:wsm:
 
I'd been contemplating the 14.5 for a while - especially when they were available on Amazon a few months ago for as low as $170. But since I've found a used 22.5 the smaller WSM is way off the list (unless one shows on CL really cheap).
 
W Tyler
Keep looking on CL, I missed a 18.5 that was FREE 2 weeks ago because I wasn't watching often enough. I wish there was a way CL would send emails and texts based on searches like Ebay does!
 
I currently have an 18.5. I had two but sold one. I am thinking about selling the 18.5 and getting a 14.5 and a 22. I am hardly cooking for more than 6 people so I figure the smaller one would get used more, but then it would be nice to do a full brisket and not have to cut up ribs. Either way I don't think you can go wrong, but it is a tough decision

....and Jeff, I think there is a way to do that with craigslist (maybe an App), but I cant remember how
 
Thanks all! I decided I am going to go with a new 18.5"! Thanks for all your input. I'll be making the purchase within the next 2 weeks.
 
The only thing I miss about my 18, is that it was a little easier to take camping. Other than that, I notice zero difference with cooking. Only a little larger capacity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top