Editing Openai/6946f01f-44c4-800e-8d76-ed6d3fe04fdd (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s what I could find about when Oklahoma Joe’s smokers shifted to thinner steel construction: ===
Here’s what I could find about when Oklahoma Joe’s smokers shifted to thinner steel construction:

===== 🕰️ Timeline of steel thickness changes =====

Before 1997–1998
* Original Oklahoma Joe’s smokers (the ones made by founder Joe Davidson in Oklahoma) were built with much thicker steel, often from heavy pipe and sometimes close to ¼-inch in places, and were all welded. Reiko Allen<ref>{{cite web|title=Reiko Allen|url=https://reikoallen.com/wrought-iron/how-much-is-an-original-oklahoma-joe-smoker-worth|publisher=Reiko Allen|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>

~1998 (after Char-Broil purchase)
* Char-Broil bought the Oklahoma Joe’s brand in 1998 and moved manufacturing overseas to China. Oklahoma Joe's BBQ<ref>{{cite web|title=Oklahoma Joe's BBQ|url=https://okjoes.com/about-us|publisher=Oklahoma Joe's BBQ|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>
* Around this time the construction shifted away from heavy pipe and fully welded bodies toward bolted components and thinner gauge stamped/rolled steel to hit lower price points. THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS<ref>{{cite web|title=THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS|url=https://www.bbq-brethren.com/threads/oklahoma-joes-smoker-original.230333/|publisher=THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>

===== 🧱 What this means for the “thick vs thin” change =====
* The heavy old USA-made units were basically phased out after 1998, with the steel getting thinner pretty much once Char-Broil began mass production for big-box retailers. Flavor365<ref>{{cite web|title=Flavor365|url=https://eathealthy365.com/the-truth-about-where-oklahoma-joe-s-grills-are-made/|publisher=eathealthy365.com|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>
* Your 2016 model was already part of that later, thinner era relative to the originals — but many people still think pre-Char-Broil / early Char-Broil models (2000s–early 2010s) had heavier gauge than more recent ones. User reports suggest that even since the mid-2010s, the metal gauge and overall build got a bit lighter/cheaper compared to older Char-Broil era models. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smoking/comments/1c4tjrw|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>

===== 📌 More detail from online chatter =====
* Some enthusiasts claim that when the company lost its original all-welded, heavy pipe construction and went to bolted panels under Char-Broil, the build quality dropped — meaning thinner steel and joints rather than thick welded barrels. THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS<ref>{{cite web|title=THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS|url=https://www.bbq-brethren.com/threads/oklahoma-joes-smoker-original.230333/|publisher=THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>

===== 💡 Summary =====
* Before ~1998: Thicker steel (often heavy pipe/closer to original design) — much heavier smokers. Reiko Allen<ref>{{cite web|title=Reiko Allen|url=https://reikoallen.com/wrought-iron/how-much-is-an-original-oklahoma-joe-smoker-worth|publisher=Reiko Allen|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>
* 1998 onward: Transition to thinner steel and mass manufacturing overseas — this is where the construction got lighter. Flavor365<ref>{{cite web|title=Flavor365|url=https://eathealthy365.com/the-truth-about-where-oklahoma-joe-s-grills-are-made/|publisher=eathealthy365.com|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>
* Mid-2010s to today: Continued trend toward lighter gauge steel in the current retail models compared to even older Char-Broil era units (but still heavier than many super-cheap smokers). Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smoking/comments/1c4tjrw|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref>

If you want, I can help you identify your smoker’s approximate year based on markings/serial details, which can clue you in on how heavy its steel should be. Just let me know!