t-motheviking
New member
New to the forum though I have been lurking for quite some time while i secured funds for purchasing a smoker. This will be my first smoker. A bit about me I am an IT contractor who mostly works in a clinic in the small town of Morris, MN and am currently an online college student to further this career. I own my own little two bedroom house where it's me and my dog Si and occasionally my girlfriend. I take too many pictures of the mutt and have attached pics of him. I fish and also hunt pheasant, fowl, and deer religiously although if I could hunt only one thing it would be waterfowl as I am absolutely die hard in my chase of them no matter the weather.
Now about my cooking and how I got here. I love grilling and cooking in general. I own a cast iron charcoal grill that I use all the time when it's nice out. When it's winter I use my various cast iron skillets at least 5 times a week. I firmly believe in cooking with fire and iron and will admit that I was planning on my first smoker being a WSM. However between a full time job and online college I decided that a pellet grill or electric smoker would suit me better as I won't often have time to watch a charcoal cooker. For the longest time I thought electric smokers were poorly made and didn't last because I only knew about Masterbuilt and Bradley smokers and had read too many reviews about the heating elements going out. When I learned about Cookshack and discovered that electric smokers can in fact last and turn out quality food I decided to save the money for one. As I did more research I came across the smokin-it website and originally thought that since they were in a way "copies" of cookshack they were inferior. After more research I found this forum and started reading through it and decided I was definitely wrong about the quality of Smokin-It. Since I could get more space for less money I decided this MIGHT be money better spent then on a Cookshack. The folks on this forum seemed very helpful and positive and were honestly what helped me decide between Cookshack and Smokin-It. I will have the rest of the cash I need on Friday and will be most likely ordering a 3D. Still slightly on the fence between a 2D and 3D but everyone here seems to say if you can afford to that you should go bigger!
Sorry this was so long winded I'm a college student and frequently write more then I need to!
Now about my cooking and how I got here. I love grilling and cooking in general. I own a cast iron charcoal grill that I use all the time when it's nice out. When it's winter I use my various cast iron skillets at least 5 times a week. I firmly believe in cooking with fire and iron and will admit that I was planning on my first smoker being a WSM. However between a full time job and online college I decided that a pellet grill or electric smoker would suit me better as I won't often have time to watch a charcoal cooker. For the longest time I thought electric smokers were poorly made and didn't last because I only knew about Masterbuilt and Bradley smokers and had read too many reviews about the heating elements going out. When I learned about Cookshack and discovered that electric smokers can in fact last and turn out quality food I decided to save the money for one. As I did more research I came across the smokin-it website and originally thought that since they were in a way "copies" of cookshack they were inferior. After more research I found this forum and started reading through it and decided I was definitely wrong about the quality of Smokin-It. Since I could get more space for less money I decided this MIGHT be money better spent then on a Cookshack. The folks on this forum seemed very helpful and positive and were honestly what helped me decide between Cookshack and Smokin-It. I will have the rest of the cash I need on Friday and will be most likely ordering a 3D. Still slightly on the fence between a 2D and 3D but everyone here seems to say if you can afford to that you should go bigger!
Sorry this was so long winded I'm a college student and frequently write more then I need to!