BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The Digital Smokers (BTDS76P & BTDS108P) => Topic started by: Pic-N-Stick on January 23, 2014, 06:47:31 AM

Title: Insulation??
Post by: Pic-N-Stick on January 23, 2014, 06:47:31 AM
I've got another question.  Has anyone made a slip-over insulation wrap for their smoker?  I've seen some high-temp double-sided stuff on Amazon.  I was thinking of shaping it like the box using foil HVAC tape and/or velcro.  Any ideas??
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: NorthShoreMN on January 23, 2014, 07:24:17 AM
I made one last year out of double aluminum foil faced bubble wrap, duct tape and Velcro straps.
Just don't cover vent or smoke generator. It worked well. Not most durable but ok for my needs. My smoker sits inside a cabinet which cuts wind.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: TedEbear on January 23, 2014, 07:24:29 AM
I've heard of some people cutting  a water heater insulation blanket to the same size as the exterior walls on the Bradley and then attaching it to the sides with double-sided tape.  One person who did this said it could maintain 250*F in the chamber with an ambient temp below freezing.

When/if it gets cold out... (http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=23906.0)
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on January 23, 2014, 09:12:17 PM
This is a highly insulated unit. There's no reason why you should have to insulate it. Its not going to keep you much better temps. Elders, please defrock my statement.

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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: TedEbear on January 23, 2014, 09:39:07 PM
Quote from: Smokesmore on January 23, 2014, 09:12:17 PM
This is a highly insulated unit. There's no reason why you should have to insulate it. Its not going to keep you much better temps. Elders, please defrock my statement.

If you will click on the link I posted right above your message it talks about where people have added insulation and are able to maintain 250*F temps in sub freezing weather.  With mine, I added a second element and a PID controller in the SG.  No problem with reaching the higher temps and keeping them steady with this setup.

If you have a new Bradley doing mods like mine will void the warranty.  Adding insulation to the outer walls is probably safe.


Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on January 23, 2014, 09:55:02 PM
Bradley needs to adjust their unit. I can guarantee you (being a insurance underwriter) that Bradley does not want you to do that (add insulation).  Any additions to the unit opens a possible liability for Bradley.  Any disclaimer or warning can be broken down by a lawyer.  The unit can be improved the way it is. It is a great unit, just needs tweaks.

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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on January 23, 2014, 09:59:56 PM
Just to give you an idea... I insure rodeos. I would never insure a building that has a Bradley indoors (without a proper fire protection system/ANSUL). Now you are confined to outdoors and it needs to be competent in weather below 40° fahrenheit. My experience, not possible.

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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: TedEbear on January 24, 2014, 04:31:15 AM
In that case, it appears that you should only smoke foods in the summer months.  Many of the rest of us use ours Bradleys year-round.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on January 24, 2014, 06:52:10 AM
In a garage TedEbear?

Edit: heated garage?

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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tailfeathers on January 24, 2014, 06:57:36 AM
My feeling is this. At the hottest I have ever had my Bradley I could still place my hand anywhere on the tower without any discomfort. This tells me that there is little if any heat being lost through the top or sides. That being the case I fail to see how added insulation would help. Slow to reach temp? Yup. Slow to recover? Yup. Subject to temp swings? Yup. Due to being poorly insulated? NOPE!


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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: NorthShoreMN on January 24, 2014, 08:18:44 AM
I understand Bradley's concerns. Mine is no longer on warranty and to use it in the winter sitting outside
The light insulation I wrap it in keeps the wind away. I have not added second or high watt element.  Works fine.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: TedEbear on January 24, 2014, 09:25:13 AM
Quote from: Smokesmore on January 24, 2014, 06:52:10 AM
In a garage TedEbear?

Edit: heated garage?

Back yard, just outside my walkout basement door.  This 10*F weather is great for cold smoking cheese.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tailfeathers on January 24, 2014, 10:19:01 AM
Here's where I have mine set up. I'm in SoDak and I smoke year round.(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/25/nyje3uhe.jpg)I have an opening between the awning and wall to allow smoke to escape(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/25/4yzagazu.jpg)The roof overhang prevents precip from being able to reach the smoker, grill, etc.(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/25/aqa5y8eh.jpg)Works good for me, stays out all winter. I do, however keep my pid inside unless being used. The wall with the door in it faces east and the other south, so I'm pretty sheltered from prevailing winter wind as a rule. If it's nasty the wind is generally west, north or some combination thereof so I'm good. (http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/25/mu9u6e7u.jpg)


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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tailfeathers on January 24, 2014, 10:36:44 AM
Oops. Meant to say doggie door faces east. Another note, the black stand my smoker is on is a nightstand from goodwill that cost me a whopping $6. The drawers are the perfect size for jerky racks, frog mats, and other smoker related items. There is an outlet right behind the other little stand so it works perfect.


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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Saber 4 on January 24, 2014, 10:54:49 AM
Looks like a good setup and close to the door for checking on things.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tailfeathers on January 24, 2014, 02:08:00 PM
Unfortunately all that particular door leads to is the dogs' partitioned off area in the back end of the garage!


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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on January 25, 2014, 05:41:51 PM
Nice setup tailfeathers.  A bit jealous as my rigs only option is on my back deck which is on the north side of my house. As you know this can be a problem. I'm starting to think a garage setup us the only option.  Is your Bradley factory?

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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tailfeathers on January 25, 2014, 06:00:43 PM
I put in a 900 watt element and have a single probe Auber pid to control the temp. It only takes 15 minutes or do to preheat now and the pid keeps temps within a couple degrees of set temp. Recovery time after opening the door is very fast as well.


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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tailfeathers on January 25, 2014, 06:03:41 PM
Very windy here today but with my patio being on the south and the garage protecting the west it wasn't a problem. Strong wind from the south or southeast is the only time it bothers me.


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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: dubob on February 11, 2014, 05:54:58 AM
Quote from: Smokesmore on January 23, 2014, 09:12:17 PM
This is a highly insulated unit. There's no reason why you should have to insulate it. Its not going to keep you much better temps. Elders, please defrock my statement.
I'm certainly not an elder here and I mean no disrespect Smokesmore, but my experience is that my OBS will not reach or maintain 200 plus temperatures when the outside temperature is below 30 degrees.  I use the smoker outdoors on the north side of my garage to disperse the smoke outdoors and when I'm making pastrami I need 220 degrees of heat to finish the job in one day.  I use a 2-probe PID and smoke until the pastrami internal temp is 165.  The best I can do without insulation is a smoker temp of around 200 to 210.  When I wrap the unit in a moving company blanket I get the 220 I'm wanting and it maintains +/- 1 degree.

I smoked some trout yesterday with outside temps in the high 30s and the PID kept the unit dead on at 120, 140, and 175 without the blanket.  But last week when I made pastrami and the outside temps were in the 20s, the blanket was needed to get to and maintain 220 degrees.  I for one wish that Bradley or some after market company made an insulated cover the would slip over the unit with slots cut and trimmed to fit around the generator (not cover it) and around the vent hole on top.  A zipper that opened up the left side and top of the door would be a nice touch as well so removing the cover to rotate racks or check on things inside could be done easily.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on February 11, 2014, 06:33:14 AM
dubob... you probably are totally right and maybe the confusion is the model I'm talking about.  I have the BDS and it is extremely insulated. So insulated that it can be 225 inside and cool to the touch on the outside.  The only place I seem to lose heat is the vent. Otherwise it is sealed up as tight as a drum.

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Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: dubob on February 11, 2014, 08:07:41 AM
I'm also using a 4-rack BDS with an Auberins 2-probe PID Controller.  And I can touch the outside of my tower when it is 225 inside.  But when the ambient temp is below 30 I have to wrap it in a blanket to get my desired temp and maintain it.  Somehow, the outside temp/wind factors will suck out heat when the temps drop.  I can only relate it to one other thing and that would be my stainless steel thermos.  Coffee stays HOT for about 8 to 10 hours in the summer time and only about 4 hours when the outside temps are below freezing.  It is well insulated but still loses heat faster when its cold outside.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Pic-N-Stick on February 12, 2014, 04:44:20 AM
Well, I sure can feel that its warmer on the sg side!  Don't know if its the leaking around the sg opening, but wondering if it needs this small gap as an "intake" for the top vent.  BTW, I have the double element and dual PID.  I also bought a small smokestack that sits over the vent.  Seems to stop the breeze from pushing cool air into the vent. 8)
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: zueth on February 12, 2014, 03:39:45 PM
Quote from: Pic-N-Stick on February 12, 2014, 04:44:20 AM
Well, I sure can feel that its warmer on the sg side!  Don't know if its the leaking around the sg opening, but wondering if it needs this small gap as an "intake" for the top vent.  BTW, I have the double element and dual PID.  I also bought a small smokestack that sits over the vent.  Seems to stop the breeze from pushing cool air into the vent. 8)

When i tried a smoke stack over vent the condensation built up in cabinet and actually had a harder time keeping temps. Can you post a picture.
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: tskeeter on February 12, 2014, 03:42:07 PM
Quote from: dubob on February 11, 2014, 08:07:41 AM
I'm also using a 4-rack BDS with an Auberins 2-probe PID Controller.  And I can touch the outside of my tower when it is 225 inside.  But when the ambient temp is below 30 I have to wrap it in a blanket to get my desired temp and maintain it.  Somehow, the outside temp/wind factors will suck out heat when the temps drop.  I can only relate it to one other thing and that would be my stainless steel thermos.  Coffee stays HOT for about 8 to 10 hours in the summer time and only about 4 hours when the outside temps are below freezing.  It is well insulated but still loses heat faster when its cold outside.


Dubob, your comment regarding wind is consistent with my experience.  A bit of a breeze and you seem to lose a lot of heat, even when it is pretty warm outside.  I suspect that the breeze moving across the vent creates a vacuum that pulls the warm air out of the smoker.  As Pic-n-Stick's comments indicate, a short stack attached to the vent seems to reduce the effect of the breezes. 
Title: Re: Insulation??
Post by: Smokesmore on February 13, 2014, 11:52:40 AM
Quote from: zueth on February 12, 2014, 03:39:45 PM
Quote from: Pic-N-Stick on February 12, 2014, 04:44:20 AM
Well, I sure can feel that its warmer on the sg side!  Don't know if its the leaking around the sg opening, but wondering if it needs this small gap as an "intake" for the top vent.  BTW, I have the double element and dual PID.  I also bought a small smokestack that sits over the vent.  Seems to stop the breeze from pushing cool air into the vent. 8)

When i tried a smoke stack over vent the condensation built up in cabinet and actually had a harder time keeping temps. Can you post a picture.

This what I was thinking would happen... Black rain.

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