My cheap offset smoker rusted through after one wet summer in Portland

I bought a $250 offset from a big box store back in March, and by late September the firebox bottom had a hole the size of my fist. I patched it with a sheet metal screw and JB Weld, but it keeps burning through the same spot on long cooks. Has anyone else dealt with thin steel smokers falling apart, and is it worth paying double for a thicker gauge or just building your own out of an old propane tank?

2 comments

2 Comments

hannah40026d ago

Mine rusted out in one season too, total junk (but I still patched it).

jamie94026d ago

Honestly, I used to think people were just rough on their gear when they complained about rust. I figured they were leaving it out in the rain or something. Then I bought this same model and it barely made it through the winter, and I patched it too just like you said. It really opened my eyes to how cheap the metal is these days. I mean, you expect a little wear, but not full on flakes of rust after one season. So yeah, you changed my mind, it's not the user, it's just junk.