PK 100 Smoker

[Randy Rasmussen]

Was looking for a new smoker and saw the PK100. It uses sawdust but then noticed you can get pellet smokers which I always have pellets on hand and do like the idea of WiFi like the Louisiana vertical The PK100 is a lot higher priced but if its that much better then maybe I would like it better.Any thoughts? I thought I would call Waltons and ask but when I got the “technical dept” the guy had to type in PK100 and had only been there 3 months He did get back to me but told me I couldn’t use pellets in the PK100 which is not even what I ask him so I am looking for someone a little sharper about smokers

[Tex_77]

Jonathon processhead Austin

[processhead]

Randy Rasmussen said in PK 100 Smoker:

Was looking for a new smoker and saw the PK100. It uses sawdust but then noticed you can get pellet smokers which I always have pellets on hand and do like the idea of WiFi like the Louisiana vertical The PK100 is a lot higher priced but if its that much better then maybe I would like it better.Any thoughts? I thought I would call Waltons and ask but when I got the “technical dept” the guy had to type in PK100 and had only been there 3 months He did get back to me but told me I couldn’t use pellets in the PK100 which is not even what I ask him so I am looking for someone a little sharper about smokers.

Full disclosure, I do not own a PK 100, so this is based on my own experience with similar electric smoker designs and conversations with others who do own PK-100 smokers.

First, the PK 100 uses electricity for the heat source and a pan for sawdust to generate the smoke. As you noted, the manufacturer does not recommend using pellets, and to only use sawdust.

This is a time proven design and works, the only down side is you may have to add sawdust during a long smoke.

Electric smokers like the PK 100 generally do a better job of low temperature regulation so if you plan on cold smoking or making smoked sausage, cure smoked meats like ham or bacon, an electric smoker will probably be a better choice. They also work fine for hot smoking fresh cuts like brisket, ribs, and butts.

The advantages of this design is they are simple and generally are pretty reliable. The PK 100 is a quality unit that most users report as being better than other smokers of this type, and the cost reflects this.

The Louisiana Vertical that I found on line is their only vertical model and looks like an almost exact copy of the Pit Boss vertical smokers. Coincidence?

https://dansons-users-manuals.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/louisiana-grills/Vertical Smokers/7-Series-Wood-Pellet-Vertical-Smoker.pdf

Like most pellet smokers, it uses pellets for the fuel for the heat source and the smoke source.

This design has more moving parts than an electric smoker and the controls are a more complex since they regulate the temperature through a combination of pellet feed rate and burn rate, They also have more moving parts, a fan and a pellet auger.

Some pellet style smokers are not as good at regulating low temperature smoking needed for making sausage and cured smoked meats. The owners manual states that the Louisiana Vertical only regulates down to 150 degrees.

For me, this means I would be using it primarily for hot smoking/cooking fresh briskets, ribs, butts or fresh sausages.

[Denny O]

processhead said in PK 100 Smoker:

Coincidence?

Not at all, I believe PitBoss is owned and manfactured by Louisiana Smokers.

[Jonathon]

randy RASMUSSEN I have used the PK100 way more than I have used the Louisiana Vertical, but I have used them both. I find the convenience of the pellet smoker to make it a little easier to use but I think the PK100 is a better-built machine that is more reliable. I have had the vertical flame out on me, never had that happen with the PK10-0. It all comes down to preference really and trade-offs. You cannot use pellets in the PK100, just want to make that very clear, they burn with a different temperature and pressure and can actually blow the door off of the PK100.

If it’s up to me I would go with a PK100 and this is from someone who loves my pellet grill/smoker. Steadier at lower temps and no chance of a flame out. Plus, I don’t really care about all the blue tooth stuff.

[processhead]

Denny O said in PK 100 Smoker:

processhead said in PK 100 Smoker:

Coincidence?

Not at all, I believe PitBoss is owned and manfactured by Louisiana Smokers.

From what I am reading, both Louisiana and Pit Boss are subsidiaries of Dansons

[Austin]

Denny O processhead I can confirm that Louisiana and PitBoss are related. We sell their stuff and Lousiana is the high end while Pit Boss is the entry level. Pit Boss stuff can still be nice, but it is noticeably made cheaper than the Lousiana stuff. Everything Lousiana I have got my hands on is built very well and heavy duty.

I don’t have a Louisiana at home yet, but next time I trade around smokers, I will buy a Louisiana for home. They are top of my list right now.

Randy Rasmussen My personal opinion on the vertical smokers… I would probably go with a Louisiana over a PK 100, but that is because I am big on pellets. The PK 100 is hard to beat if you are good with electricity for a heat source and then added a bowl of sawdust for smoke. If you try to use pellets in the PK, you will end up with big, big problems. I don’t think you would be unhappy with either smoker. I’d mainly make the decision off of preferred heat source, and then add in insulation. The PK is well insulated, so if you live in a far north climate and deal with intense cold, the PK could be the better option there.

[Denny O]

Austin Ok,
Just a comparison between the two brothers, PitBoss and Louisiana,
Pros for the big brother and the cons for the little brother?

Do you think I could add big brother to my little brother for my advantage?
Big = Louisiana
Little = PitBoss

[cdavis]

processhead great writeup. I enjoyed that explanation. Thanks

[Tex_77]

Denny O the comparison would be like buying a Taurus pistol vs a Kimber. Both will do they job, but one is way better built.

[lkrfletcher]

Randy Rasmussen As a PK100 owner - I highly recommend only using sawdust. I also add water to the sawdust and it creates a nice dense smoke. Others do not add water. Regardless it is an incredible smoker.

[Denny O]

Tex_77 Then where are the differences and why do you believe said differences are better?
Just to say it is Chevy and Cadillac is not enough, ya got to back it up.

[Randy Rasmussen]

Ordered the PK100 online, can’t wait to try it. I wanted to order it from Walton’s but they showed it on google with free shipping and when I went to checkout it tried throwing $422 on the order for LTL shipping so had to order somewhere else. But I did order the rest of my stuff from Walton’s

[processhead]

Randy Rasmussen When things like that happen you are better off talking to a live person with the company.
If it is a legitimate advertisement showing free shipping, most companies including Walton’s will honor it.
Web site sales are prone to errors and when the terms of sale contradict an ad, it’s time to pick up the phone, Imo.

[Randy Rasmussen]

Picked up the phone,called them,they said no. But it’s fine