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

=== Assistant: Short answer: no—this is not ¼-inch steel, and the new ones are thinner than the older ones like your 2016 unit. ===
Short answer: no—this is not ¼-inch steel, and the new ones are thinner than the older ones like your 2016 unit.

===== What that smoker is =====

That looks like an Oklahoma Joe’s offset (Highland / Longhorn–style) sold through Home Depot.

===== Steel thickness reality =====
* ¼-inch steel (0.250") is extremely heavy and is found on custom or competition pits, not mass-market smokers under $500.
* Even the old “heavy” Oklahoma Joe’s were never ¼-inch.

===== Older (pre-2017-ish) Oklahoma Joe’s =====
* Typically 12-gauge steel → about 0.105" thick
* Much heavier
* Better heat retention
* Less warping
* This is why your 2016 unit feels noticeably heavy

===== Newer Oklahoma Joe’s (current production) =====
* Mostly 14-gauge steel → about 0.075" thick
* Around 30% thinner
* Lighter
* Loses heat faster
* More prone to lid leakage and temp swings

===== Why people think the old ones were ¼-inch =====

Because:
* They weigh a lot compared to modern box-store smokers
* They hold heat better
* The steel sounds and feels thicker …but true ¼-inch pits usually:
* Cost $1,500–$4,000+
* Weigh several hundred pounds
* Often need a trailer or multiple people to move

===== Bottom line =====
* ❌ Not ¼-inch steel
* ✅ Your 2016 smoker is thicker and better built than the new ones
* ⚠️ The current ~$397 version is thinner steel and not the same quality

If you want, I can:
* Help you measure your existing steel thickness
* Suggest mods to make the newer ones perform closer to the old models
* Compare your 2016 unit to true ¼-inch pits so you can feel the difference on paper

Just tell me 👍