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Home Depot Ratings and Reviews

Customer reviews for Square Vertical Smoker

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Square Vertical Smoker

Add great smoke flavor to your meat with this affordable, heavy-duty steel charcoal smoker. Able to hold up to 50 lbs. Of meat, this smoker has a space-saving vertical design with two locking front doors for easy access to food, water and charcoal pans. With four adjustable air vents to control heat and smoke, plus a professional temperature gauge. The smoker has sturdy chrome wire handles that stays cool to the touch, porcelain-coated water and charcoal pans that slide out for easy clean-up. Finished in a durable black textured paint that will last for years.
Overall rating:
2.886 / 5
2.9
 / 
5
(35 reviews) 35
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating breakdown 35 reviews
5 stars
5
4 stars
11
3 stars
4
2 stars
5
1 star
10
20 out of 35(57%)customers recommend this product.
Customer reviews for Square Vertical Smoker
Review 1 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
5 / 5
5 / 5

Brinkman Smoker

,
PostedJuly 5, 2010
Customer avatar
forestkaat
from Phoenix, AZ
 
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I just purchased this & really like it. Easy to put together & the versitile design makes it easier to smoke meats. It's also lighweight, so I may take it camping with me.
Much better than the cylinder type smokers.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 2 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
4 / 5
4 / 5

Good smoker for the price

,
PostedJune 28, 2010
Customer avatar
gilly05
from La Verne, CA
 
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I am not sure if the smoker has been improved since earlier reviews, but I have not had any issue getting the temp above 200 for extended periods of time. I cured the smoker with a few pounds of charcoal and it stayed above 200 for 3 hours.
It has plenty of space for several meats. Coupled with a remote thermometer, is a great tool for summer cookouts.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 3 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
4 / 5
4 / 5

great small size smoker

,
PostedJune 5, 2010
Customer avatar
awsomeribs
from New Castle, DE
 
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I read the reviews and was hesitent on buying this smoker. The model pictured and the one on display in the store were the same. When I got home the one in the box was a newer and improved modle. Thank God! I think they listened to all the reviews and I didn't need to make any of the sugested alterations. The newer model has a large square fire trey with a rack. I used a chimney to start my coals and was ready to smoke! The smoker keeps a good even temp of 250 if you use wood along with your coals, remember coals are for grilling wood is for smokeing. The hot coals got the wood burning very quickly, I used wood I had saved from an apple tree I cut down last summer. Use the wood of your choice, but use wood. The fire will be hotter and last longer plus the food will have that smoke flavor you want. This is a GREAT little smoker I'm glad I got it. I cooked ribs and smoked a turkey breast at the same time and they were the best I've ever cooked!
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 4 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
2 / 5
2 / 5

Can't hold heat

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PostedApril 29, 2010
Customer avatar
JustSmokie
from Georgia
 
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As most of the other reviews state, the main problem is that this smoker cannot hold heat. I have made many of the mods that have been suggested and am able to hold the temp between 195 and 225 BUT with a lot of WORK. I purchased a digital thermometer to measure the temp of the grate not the chamber(which is always off from the thermometer on the door by 10-50 degrees), I still needed a small fan to circulate air in the chamber to maintain the temperature. I have smoked twice on this thing and the results have both been sub par compared to other smokers that I have used. I got this as a gift but unfortunately I am going to have to return it. I am considering purchasing the brinkman offset smoker.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 5 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
2 / 5
2 / 5

Can be made to work

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PostedApril 3, 2010
Customer avatar
quemaster
from Nevada City, CA
 
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I bought this last week and gave it a test run. Like most people I could not get it to hold any heat. Very disappointing at first. However unlike most people Ive done something about it and so can you.
The major culprit is the leaky doors and the lack of thermal mass (or thin gauge metal).
Fill the bottom with thin fire brick, (thermal mass) add brick to the top of the bbq as well, seal the doors with a high temp gasket sealer and there it is. It now holds decent temps and smokes food very well.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 6 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
2 / 5
2 / 5

Not what I was hoping it would be

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PostedMarch 21, 2010
Customer avatar
BBQBill
from Lagrange, GA
 
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I previously used a Brinkmann Smoke N Grill and loved it for the most part. Then I saw this one and loved the fact that it has the dual doors to easily access either the meat or the coals. But like many others have said, I can't get the thing over 200 degrees, and it doesn't hold the 200 degrees easily. I tried drilling holes in the coal pan and didn't find that it helped. I do use it, and by constant tinkering and adding coals about every 30 minutes, I do get a decent meal out of it. But I always finish it off in my oven. I'm going to try the suggestion of using a cooking grate to hold the coals to allow better air flow. I'm also going to try putting a small fan by one of the lower intake vents to see if that gives better air flow overall.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 7 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
1 / 5
1 / 5

Listen to the reviews, not the how to mak it works

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PostedMarch 16, 2010
Customer avatar
Michaelangello
from Colorado
 
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This smoker does only that, produces amoke, not heat. I unfortunatly did not read the reviews before buying this model. After never getting this smoker over 200 degrees for more than 15 minutes before the temp starts to TANK, I read the reviews and tried some of the suggested modifications. Drilling holes, no go. Chicken wire, got hot but coals fall through quickly and takes too much coal. My brother who is a professional BBQ'er had the one answer that worked. He had a spare unit that he used on his cookers. I consisted of sealing all the vents except one, an intake fan, and a micro computer controller. FInally keep temps at 225. SO, if you want this unit to work well, this $450 modification works flawlessly. Me personally, my brotheris getting his spare unit back, and I'm getting a gas smoker for my winter smoking. I love my Brinnman Smoke and Grill uni,t that also is not great with temp and took me 2 years how to smoke on. That is a great grill but smoking can only be done if outside temp is over 85.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 8 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
1 / 5
1 / 5

Do Not Purchase

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PostedFebruary 21, 2010
Customer avatar
Anonymous
from Eugene, OR
I purchased this smoker and was excited to use. I tried to smoke a pork butt and some St. Louis style Ribs - I tried for almost 3 hours to get the temp up to 210 degrees? Would not get above 100? Tried again today to smoke a Turkey Breast - same issue? It does not allow for any heat to build or maintain? I tried both using a chimney starter and starting the fire in the smoker - This is just a poor design and I would not recommend.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 9 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
2 / 5
2 / 5

BAD SMOKER BAD !!!!!!

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PostedDecember 25, 2009
Customer avatar
BIGDADDYP
from CERES, CA
 
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I BOUGHT THIS SMOKER AND IT IS NOT ANY GOOD. I WOULD KEEP SAVING AND GET SOMETHING OF MORE VALUE LIKE A WEBER. YOU WILL WAIST YOUR MONEY ON FOOD AND CHARCOAL. I TRIED TO SMOKE A TURKEY THIS MORNING AND I COULD NOT GET THE THING UP OVER 200 DEGREES. I KNOW SMOKERS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GET HOT BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT UP TO 250. BRINKMAN IS NO GOOD.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 10 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
5 / 5
5 / 5

A lot of flavor for little price

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PostedDecember 5, 2009
Customer avatar
KattheDreamer
from Aledo, TX
 
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We are down-sizing, replacing a huge smoker with a Square Verticle Smoker. My husband wasn't sure if it would accomodate our meats, but it did! We smoked 2 turkeys, a ham and rack of ribs at the same time and they all came our delicious, juicy, and tender enough to use a fork to cut with. The flavor was well worth the small price we paid. My daughter is going to get herself one for her terrace space, so she too can enjoy the smokey meat flavor all year long.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 11 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
1 / 5
1 / 5

Not What It Claims To Be

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PostedDecember 5, 2009
Customer avatar
MetairieMan
from Metairie LA
 
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I bought this because I thought that it was the best value for the dollar. Unfortunately, it does not work well; there are too many air "leaks" that affect both the fire and the smoke control. I would look to spending more money on a "tighter" system, if you would want to start smoking food.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 12 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
4 / 5
4 / 5

Thanks everyone!!!

,
PostedNovember 22, 2009
Customer avatar
RCraig
from Honolulu, HI
 
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I read many of the reviews on this site and made the decision to purchase this smoker. I decided to fashion a grate out of 1" chicken wire. The charcoal pan is being used as the catch pan for the ash. The smoker is curing as I type this and is holding 250 degrees with the bottom vents about 90-95% closed and the top vents completely closed. I am looking forward to smoking a turkey this week and think this smoker is going to be a great addition to the backyard.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 13 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
3 / 5
3 / 5

Works but needs adjustment

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PostedNovember 22, 2009
Customer avatar
smokeifyougotem
from Chicagoland, IL
 
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First time charcoal smoker this weekend and after reading reviews I felt pretty confident on how using the smoker was going to work. One thing you must do with this smoker is adjust/replace the charcoal tray (its really a bowl with no air holes). Just add a flat grill pan that has many holes where the pan would be and the temperature stays at a nice 250 degrees.
If you don't do this the smoker will never get above 200. To smoke a 10lb turkey I used a 5lb bag of apple chips and one 8lb bag of lump charcoal. Overall the process required a lot of handholding (adding water, charcoal etc.) but the result was worth it. A juicy and tasty bird, will definitely do this again.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 14 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
3 / 5
3 / 5

Almost There

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PostedJuly 20, 2009
Customer avatar
Anonymous
from New York
Okay, so I read the reviews went out and got this smoker. I like it so far. My only problem is that after making a suggested alteration (drilling holes in the charcoal pan) I can't seem to keep the heat for long. I fel like I'm going through alot of charcoal....Any other suggestions? Should I use anything else? The holes I made were 7/16 since that was the largest bit I had on hand...
Yes, I recommend this product.
+1point
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Review 15 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
1 / 5
1 / 5

poorly designed product

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PostedJuly 5, 2009
Customer avatar
VegasBBQ
from Las Vegas, NV
 
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Like many other reviewers I could not get this smoker to reach more than 150 degrees regardless of side air vents open, amount of charcoal or wood used, etc.
The fuel pan is of very poor design in that it does not allow air to circulate around the charcoal to aid in combustion. As such the charcoal tends to snuff itself out over a relatively quick period.
I had to drill many holes in the fuel pan to get the smoker to reach at least 200 degrees.
Would NOT recommend this product as there are other smokers out there at comparable prices that do a much better job.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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Review 16 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
4 / 5
4 / 5

,
PostedJuly 4, 2009
Customer avatar
Lariel
from Denton, Texas
 
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Thank you, thank you, thank you to all that told me how to modify this smoker...I made a few little tweaks (used the suggest of putting the charcoal on the bottom and cooking grate on top). Now my very first little smoker is awesome
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 17 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
5 / 5
5 / 5

Good Product for beginners

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PostedJune 28, 2009
Customer avatar
SmokinNKC
from Kansas City (THE BBQ Capital)
 
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I have owned this smoker for about 2 years now, and, since it is my first smoker, I wanted something that was nearly fool-proof. I shopped around looking for a charcoal smoker that would require minimal work, be within my price range (under 80.00) and cook just enough food for the family without wasting a lot of space in the garage. This product met all of those requirements, and I could not be happier. controlling the temperature is easy and requires very little adjustment to maintain 200 degrees. The food is always nice and moist thanks to its large water bowl. Since it requires so little watching-over, I can play with the kids, work on the cars or just lounge in a chair while the food smokes its way to perfection.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 18 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
5 / 5
5 / 5

SMOKIES

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PostedJune 15, 2009
Customer avatar
MALCOM4430
YOU DO NEED TO ADJUST IT SOME HOLES WORK GOOD FOR BOTTOM PAN DO NOT ADD YOUR WATER TO THE SECOND PAN UNTIL TEMP IS RIGHT FOR THE TIME YOU WANT TO SPEND COOKING I CAN REACH 300 TO 375 CHARCOAL USE & WOOD CHIPS IN METAL BOX.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 19 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
4 / 5
4 / 5

Great starter smoker for the $$

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PostedJune 7, 2009
Customer avatar
JWGTexas
from Dallas, Tx
 
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This is a good place to start your smoker experience. Yes, it takes some mods to get the most out of this unit but I paid $70 - other high end smokers will run $400-$2000. Don't panic. Spend $8 on a Weber small bottom grate, drill 8-10 1/2" holes in the bottom of the fire pan and I can keep temps up to 275 degrees without problem. If Brinkman did these mods and charged $90 I'd still buy this smoker and it would work perfectly.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Review 20 for Square Vertical Smoker
Overall rating 
4 / 5
4 / 5

My Brinkmann Smoker

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PostedMay 21, 2009
Customer avatar
Anonymous
from Cary NC
I love my little Brinkmann smoker. I have used other smokers in the past, including an Electric smoker. This model is very easy to use, and the model is perfect for the novice smoker.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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