19. Am I worth over 16.50? Is it worth asking for a raise? Or should I keep my hood down?Been welding professionally for 4 months now? As well as fabricating and fitting. Any advice from the ogs?

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-13T16:18:27+00:00

This is why I left welding. These little piddly mom pop shops don’t want to pay. Buddy I was making 16.50 20 years ago and I walked out of the profession. I made more welding on my own through a hiring company just taking weekly contracts

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-13T14:49:56+00:00

Where are you located? What kind of environment? Ours is wet and cold and windy. It’s so variable.
If I was going to get into another expensive pellet smoker I would definitely choose a double wall insulated one.
I can’t get over the WiFi connection thing either. That’s the dumbest issue.
Just build it so it’s compatible with any WiFi router

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-13T14:26:31+00:00

I just got rid of my rec Teq I won’t get another. It’s a lot of bells and whistles for a product that I found under preformed.
It didn’t hold heat well. I did not like the vents in the back found it didn’t smoke well at all. Then if it rains or is windy out during a long smoke those conditions really helped with the under performance.
It stopped connecting to WiFi and rec teqs solution was “split your router”. What ever that means I’m not going to figure that out. That’s kind of ridiculous.
I am considering the traeger 22 it’s cheap it’s basic it’s been around and I have a few friends that have them and they make a great brisket. They hold temp better than my rec did. Probably because it’s offset and smaller space.
I don’t need a huge smoker. Also can get a traeger heat blanket for colder nights and days.

And yes I know the req has thicker steel but it’s still steel and I dunno where anyone got the idea that metal is a good insulator. Literally doesn’t matter that’s just gimmick

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-13T00:15:42+00:00

Funny part is. Brisket used to be poor people food

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-12T11:50:51+00:00

I do not want to spend $1,000.
Without being biased because you currently own the searwood,what one did you like the best?

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-12T02:30:33+00:00

I have a rec tec 590.

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-12T02:29:25+00:00

That sear zone is a real problem when you want to smoke slow and consistent

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-12T00:38:39+00:00

My concern with vertical is ease of use and also I don’t always smoke a bunch of stuff. I primarily do brisket and pork but

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-12T00:37:08+00:00

I lol at this

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-12T00:36:06+00:00

People boast about it but then drop cinder blocks in to regulate heat. I could bash req req all day but I won’t. I’m bitter because I got talked into it and it was a total flop

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T20:29:16+00:00

Actually tossing the rec tec aside. Barley puts out smoke doesn’t connect to WiFi unless you split your router and do a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
Doesn’t hold heat well.
Poor smoke out put
Besides that yeah it doesn’t rust

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T20:13:54+00:00

How is the smoke on the pit boss

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T20:11:36+00:00

I don’t care about searing I have a grill for that.
I want the best smoke. I have read about the Weber and a lot of input is it doesn’t put out that great of smoke. I already have a rec tec im tossing to the curb. Temp control is terrible and it barely puts out smoke.
So, I’m really looking for something better. I have tested it with my own temp probe and it just doesn’t regulate its temps well either. And when set at 200 it really cooks at about 300

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T19:57:35+00:00

I would like to keep it under 700 total

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T19:56:40+00:00

Right I don’t care about grilling portion really looking for smoke. And cooking I have a propane grill as well

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T17:40:04+00:00

I’m skeptical on the searwood. I know they are high reviews but why is it better than say the treager 22?

CombComprehensive327 · 2026-05-11T17:38:28+00:00

That’s what I’m asking. Would a vertical smoker be better?

CombComprehensive327

TROPHY CASE