the Hotel Bradely is now open for business
The carcass of what I started with:
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0119.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0119.jpg)
The carcass takes its first trip oustide, insulation left and right, insulation on the rear panels, insulation in the floor of the cabinet
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0121.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0121.jpg)
Hotel Bradley welcomes its exclusive tennant:
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0123-1.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0123-1.jpg)
the roof needs a place for the sweet smoke to go, measure 6 times, cut once... LOL
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0125-1.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0125-1.jpg)
Baby its cold outside, give me a roof and some some doors please:
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0124-1.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0124-1.jpg)
Our ammenities:
The view from Hotel Bradley:
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0127-2.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0127-2.jpg)
Our ammenities:
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0126-1.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0126-1.jpg)
Test time now. Its 20 degrees F outside, nice sunny day
I fired up old Bessie and it hit a 240 pre heat out there in about 45 minutes
Temps seems to be holding good and recovery has significantly improved
Smoke is going where its supposed to go, I am off now to go get a chimeny
Tere are some side ribs in there and Bessie is working her magic on them right now
Way to go Oak! Looks great.
KyNola
The ammenities look to be for the polar bear club for now.
Nice job.
Is it difficult to open the door far enough to get the racks in an out?
Don't forget the air intake on the left side of the smoke generator. Don't want the unit to slide over to the left and the intake vents get blocked.
Looking Good OakSmoke!
Giz
Its a balmy 15 degrees F here right now
Just wondered out into the frozed tundra in my bare feet and shorts, pulled the cover open and had a soak
i will be back in after dinner
No issues with opening the doors or rack pulling, lots of room for that
Its tillholding a nice consistent temp of 220
My side ribs are sitting in some AJ right now and should be done in 90 mins
The bottom of the cabinet has a rough texture to it and it seems tough to slide stuff around in there
The cabinet is bolted to the table its sitting on so it aint going anywhere
Just came back from the Home Depot and picked up a 4 inch flue and chimeny cap, fits perfect
Now I just have to work on an extension for the vent control
Next up,some vinyl lettering;
Hotel Bradley
Nice set up oakville.
please can you post photos with the smoke chimney when attached.
thinking of doing the same thing, and your my blueprint.
Will do that tonight.
I found a "flu" with a chimeny attached at Home Depot for 14 bucks
The other thing I am going to do this weekend is insulate the front doors as I forgot they had pockets that will accomodate insulation and nip a little access way for the cables at the back of the tower so the unit can slide further back into Hotel Bradley
That looks really slick, Oak!
I didn't insulate mine... Looking back, that would have been a good idea. I might add some this summer, when I put the exhaust fan in.
Can't wait to see it with the chimney on it. I bought the same cabinet and need to do the mods on it still. Do you have a PID? If so, where will it sit?
I have not gone the PID route yet. I say yet. Anything can and will happen
I think if I was going to put a PID in the cabinet, I would install a shelf between the tower and the cabinet wall above the smoke
generator. There is not a lot of room left in there but I think there is enough for a PID for sure.
Squirt: not sure why you need an exhaust fan. I just cut a hole above the vent and even without the chimney thig, the smoke was exiting directly out the hole. An exhaust fan might be overkill
My cabinet is the 6' version of yours.. The smoke needs some 'help' to get out. (and I want to vent out the side - easier to cut through)
Now I get it. Out the side could be interesting.
Quote from: oakville smoker on January 12, 2010, 09:10:09 AM
Now I get it. Out the side could be interesting.
I'm going to attach a cheap venting range hood to the 'ceiling', and vent straight sideways through a dryer vent. (to help keep out the elements, critters, etc.)
Then I can operate it with the doors locked shut.
I meant to do it before winter set in, but it didn't happen... I want to run power out to my little patio as well, and hook it all up nice and clean.
Lots of TODOs for this Spring!
OS, I am wondering if you are going to have issues with your "Hotel" I understand the insulation idea but with that being such a small confined space. Are you going to have moisture related issues from condensation that may damage the Smoke Generator? I don't know but something is sending up a red flag here for me. I might be and probably am wrong but something is nagging at me about this.
Wouldn't the condensation be worse on walls that are not insulated? Generally when the warm hits the cold wall you get condensation. The warmer moisture should stay evaporated until exhausting and cooling in the outside air.
This is a guess and by no means fact unless proven by some one in the know.
Very nice, been using one of those cabinets for the last couple weeks just with the doors open for now. Hoping to get a roof vent in before this weekend dur to an upcoming marathon smoke but we'll see if time permits. I did have a little black rain inside the one time I closed the doors too much, but what was I to do, it was about 0 degrees that day. I've also been thinking of some sort of extension rod for adjusting the vent, possibly a threaded shaft and a hole drilled in the tab on the vent. I was also thinking of some sort of press fit collar to go between the top of the smoker and the cabinet around the vent so the smoke and everything would have no where to go but up and out, then have the threaded rod for adjusting the vent through a slot on the collar with some indentations for closed/half/full open, etc. Also I do have a PID and plan on mounting a shelf above the smoke generator, it'll fit but may require a little bit of creativity but what doesn't!
I do have a 4 inch dia,meter hole cut in the top of the cabinet
I had er going for about 6 hours on Sunday and did not notice any condensation anywhere
Its really meant as a wind block and for holding in heat
I am going to do some more surgery on the back panel for the cables so I can push the smoker deeper in the cabinet
But now you will have me wondering about condensation and I will be watching like a hawk. maybe more of an issue in the summer than the winter
Did you spray foam the inside guts of the doors.
I'm curious to know if the spray expands to the point were it might warp the panels.
Lumpy
I did not spray foam the door frames but I will be adding styrofoam to the
door cavitites. There is a cavity on both doors that will easily handle the styrofoam
Here are the chimney picks I promised
A close up the 4 inch chimney
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0133.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0133.jpg)
And a wide angle shot ( it looks like my BDS is putting on weight !
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0132.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0132.jpg)
That is pretty cool
Looks like your hotel is coming along nicely.
So whats that white stuff all over the place? ::)
Teh white stuff is from my last smoke !
It turned to liquid and fell to the ground
Quote from: oakville smoker on January 12, 2010, 03:43:13 PM
Teh white stuff is from my last smoke !
It turned to liquid and fell to the ground
I'm gettin real tied of lookin at that white stuff over 3 1/2 feet of that crap here
Quote from: oakville smoker on January 10, 2010, 10:19:53 AM
the Hotel Bradely is now open for business
Our ammenities:
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/th_HPIM0126-1.jpg) (http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/rickrick949/?action=view¤t=HPIM0126-1.jpg)
How's the water?
Mine is 102F. It is -13C or 8F out there and I just came in.No wind tonight, beautiful out there.
Paddlin
I like 104, its was nice out there tonight
About Minus 9 or 10, no wind
My beer glass did not ice up tonight, first time in a while
it will feel good tomorrow night, ski day tomorrow
I got my skis shined up and a stick of smokey meat ..............
Quote from: Tenpoint5 on January 12, 2010, 10:42:39 AM
OS, I am wondering if you are going to have issues with your "Hotel" I understand the insulation idea but with that being such a small confined space. Are you going to have moisture related issues from condensation that may damage the Smoke Generator? I don't know but something is sending up a red flag here for me. I might be and probably am wrong but something is nagging at me about this.
I have the same setup and the moisture ALL seems to end up outside my smoker. I have a 5in vent on the top of mine directly above the damper on the bradley and nothing stays inside. I was expecting that the first time i opened the door, i would have a cloud of smoke come out at me. Well i openend the door and it was clear as day. And then i noticed all the ice on the roof of my smoker. So far for the last month or so it has been moisture free.
Quote from: oakville smoker on January 12, 2010, 06:07:50 PM
Paddlin
I like 104, its was nice out there tonight
About Minus 9 or 10, no wind
My beer glass did not ice up tonight, first time in a while
it will feel good tomorrow night, ski day tomorrow
I got my skis shined up and a stick of smokey meat ..............
"The taste is great when you pop it in your mouth"
Quote from: Northern_Smoke on January 12, 2010, 07:10:48 PM
Quote from: Tenpoint5 on January 12, 2010, 10:42:39 AM
OS, I am wondering if you are going to have issues with your "Hotel" I understand the insulation idea but with that being such a small confined space. Are you going to have moisture related issues from condensation that may damage the Smoke Generator? I don't know but something is sending up a red flag here for me. I might be and probably am wrong but something is nagging at me about this.
I have the same setup and the moisture ALL seems to end up outside my smoker. I have a 5in vent on the top of mine directly above the damper on the bradley and nothing stays inside. I was expecting that the first time i opened the door, i would have a cloud of smoke come out at me. Well i openend the door and it was clear as day. And then i noticed all the ice on the roof of my smoker. So far for the last month or so it has been moisture free.
That is what I am thinking how much of that moisture is collecting and freezing in the smoke generator? Just being cautious here
oakville
I am with 10.5 on this. Cabinet will protect your smoker from the elements but IMHO there is not enough room for circulation. I do believe your going to have condensation issues on the lid and smoker, not enough draw for the smoke and small amount of steam to escape. However a well placed CCR 4" pc fan would work, sorta like the power vent i use at times.
Not dissing your setup, You have the right idea just not big enough. Allot of us been there done that and learned the hard way, just passing our help and info onto our friends.
nepas
All of the ice that was on the roof of the smoker was actually on the outside that had dripped off the chimney. I don't doubt that there is a lot of moisture but there is no condensation on the walls or any part of the smoker or cabinet itself. I have mine under my gazebo to help keep me out of the snow and i notice the condensation dripping off the gazebo roof too. I think i might get a moisture meter and see what the inside of the cabinet is doing when the door is closed.
On a side note, Oakville that is the same chimney i used but i got the 5in version. Did you get the hole drilled directly above the vent? I have my chimney dropped down so it is only half an inch above the vent. That way almost everything goes straight up and it leaves enough room to adjust the vent.
What about the idea of having a collar or something between the top of the smoker and the inside of the top of the cabinet? That would basically extend the exhaust vent directly out to the outside world and not let any of that air and moisture into the cabinet itself.
I think dropping the vent down like you did was a good idea and with only a 1/2" of space I imagine you're doing essentially the same thing, I was just going to try and get that even closer and almost seal it off. Some sort of foam or flexible collar attached to the bottom of your vent that would seal up against the top of your smoker would be along the lines of what I am thinking. Then you just have to deal with the ability to adjust the vent on the smoker itself which I'm still trying to work out.
That's the only reason i didn't drop mine down till it touched the smoker. I wasn't sure how i would adjust the vent. For right now i need to be able to adjust it with the cold weather we get. I close the vent right off while i am warming the unit up and even then it takes 45-60 minutes to reach 275. Then i open the door and put cold meat in and the thermal shock brings it back down to 200 for an hour. So i need to be able to adjust that vent or my food would never cook haha. I thought about putting a pipe straight out and then putting the damper on the end of the pipe.
Might heat up faster if you keep the vent open...the warmed air expands and needs somewhere to go.
I have the same cabinet and was thinking of cutting a 6" X 6"square hole out of the top and hinging the square with a 4" round chimney in the trap door that will be created. The chimney will be set in to the height of the smoker with some kind of gasket to seal over the vent with pressure. Will probably use some sort of latch to hold down the trap door.As soon as the trap door is opened, the vent will be there to adjust. Follow?
Northern
I measured 10 times and cut once LOL Nailed the measurement as there was no second chance. The pipe part of the chimney is sitting about a half inch above the actual vent opening and seems to work well. No issues with a draft or draw regardless if the doors are opened or closed.
10.5 / nepas
I am giving the fan idea some consideration. I am also thinking that after a warm up, I might just leave the doors wedeged open to maiximize the air flow. My other thought is cut an additional vent hole beside the soke generator to allow for additional air flow. I dont want to wind up with so many holes and vents on thsi thing that they destroy the insulation value and the cabinet no longer provides value. At the same time I dont want to ruin my smoke generator. Damn these Canadian winters ! But it was a great ski day yesterday. LOL
I did not see any condensation at all during last weekends smoke and like a little kid i was checking the temp every 30 minutes and feeling around everything.
I have a pork leg I am going to smoke on Saturday. The temps should be just around 34 to 36 F here on Saturday. I think this will be about a 10 or 12 hour cook / project. I will be watching this baby like a hawk.
I welcome any and all ideas, comments, critiscim or whatever. No percepetion of dissing any ideas here. I really appreciate and value the feedback here. If the whole world was like this board, the world would be a better place.
it is interesting to see the heroic measures some of you folk take for the hobby! Here on the Upper Left Coast, the temp seldom dips below 40 degrees F for very long. Of course on the other hand it seldom rises above 65 degrees for very long either! And it rains a lot. If it weren't for the moss, I wouldn't have anything green in my lawn. Right now here in Fall City, I don't need a "Hotel Bradley" as my OBS sits on a butcher block in the garage with the Ranco mounted next to it on the wall. When I move permanently to Birch Bay in 3 years 11 months and 17 days (but who is counting? ;D), I will need a Hotel Bradley - but mainly for rain protection.
That's awsome that you got the chimney dead on. I got mine dead on as well. I do have a vent hole actually in my cabinet. I drilled a 1 1/2in hole through the side by the smoke generator to run my wires through. I drilled it over sized in case i need to take more wires out that side. So i know i have air coming in but a fan might be a good call if i do ever find moisture in it. I was actually thinking about getting a moisture meter to satisfy my curiosity now haha.
OK Here's the plan Stan
I am going to pull the DBS from Hotel Bradley this afternoon
I am going to find the largest diameter drill bit I have and drill a series fo holes through the cabinet, through the insulation where the
intake is for the smoke generator
I am hoping that will stop the smoke gemerator from being starved for air and any other catstaophies that could happen
Seems easier than trying to install a fan. I am good at destroying, not so good at designing LOL
Why not just install some type of air vent, maybe witha flapper that you can open only when smoking.
Instead of ruining Hotel Bradley with randomly drilled holes :(
Lump
What about installing a dryer vent and just siliconing the fins open a bit? It would almost look like it was meant to be there.
(http://www.samsiding.com/images/VinylSiding_SideBySide_DryerVentRight.jpg)
A dryer vent is a great idea and thanks much for the suggestion
I was going to try to drill the holes in some kind of pattern, only where the smoke generaqtor is
I will have to go search one out today
Stay tuned for upates
I just moved and am thinking about installing my smoker in a insulated box inside the shed. I was going to use a 4" dryer pipe to exit the smoke from the smoker. I was going to use a similar style cap for the top and have it exit the top of the shed but leave the pipe so I can push it up thru the hole for smoker removal.
I just need it for a few smokes such as superbowl, March Madness, NBA Championship..............and to keep myself in practise.