While I was shopping in town the other day I came across a New Braunfels offset smoker and got to thinking. Summer season is pretty much upon us and I really enjoy an all day BBQ event with family and friends. Tending a real lump charcoal BBQ can be a fun BBQ experience. Now don't get me wrong, I love the Bradley. Man, I have that thing smoking every weekend whatever the weather which is something you can't say about charcoal. But when the weather is nice, charcoal is king. I have a Charbroil Water Smoker but it doesn't have the look of that NB offset smoker. Of course my wife say's I don't need anymore smokers but she doesn't understand [;)]. Now...., has anyone had any experience with the New Braunfels product? I am tempted to buy it but I don't want to turn my garage into a smoker museum if it turns out to be crap if you know what I mean. Again, Love the Brad but also like trying different products for different events. Advice? thanks [:D]
MWS - Mike
mws,
Not fimiliar with that particular grill/smoker. I as well as several other members here use ceramic grills/smokers when not using our Bradleys. I just won a local chicken cookoff using my Primo Oval. Would have loved to have taken my Bradley as well but no power was avaliable[:(]. You can check the primo grills at my web site if you would like. Link is in my signature line[:D].
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Jeff100/000_0007.jpg)
Jeff
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Jeff100/shopping.gif)
(//www.bbqshopping.com)
Some say BBQ is in your blood, if thats true my blood must be BBQ sauce.
Jeff,
Congratulations. I'm also thinking of purchasing a charcoal smoker/grill. Just can't decide which one of five different types of smoker/grills; the Primo Oval is one of the brands I'm looking at.
Jeff,
So who is the handsome male model you had sit in on this picture for you? [:D][:D]
How much are the Ovals selling for now with shipping to California?
Bill
<i>There is room on earth for all God's creatures....on my plate next to the mashed potatoes.</i>
Just so you know that guy is me of course[8D]. My coifure(sp?) was out of sorts due to some high winds. The Oval lists for 659.00 plus the shipping. Never shipped one to Cali. A business address is cheaper than a residence for sure. I can run the #'s for you if you want[;)]. I want everyone to understand for sure if I want smoked food the Bradley rules[:D].
Habs,
If I had one to choose the Oval would be it. This comes from the guy that owns a large BGE, a Primo Oval and a small Grilldome[:D].
Jeff
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Jeff100/shopping.gif)
(//www.bbqshopping.com)
Some say BBQ is in your blood, if thats true my blood must be BBQ sauce.
Congrats, Jeff!
John
Newton MA
Good work Jeff,
Thanks for the advice on the oval. It's a little more than I would like to spend but that's what I said about my Bradley before I impulse shopped. And I do love the Bradley. Anyway, I will probably stick with the water smoker a little longer unless I find myself back in that shop. Could be dangerous.....[:D] cause the seed is planted now...[}:)]
Mike - Harrison Hot Springs B.C.
- Find true happiness, capture it and eat it -
Congratulations Jeff!
You the Man!!!
Lately I've been using the Weber Charcoal grill instead of our brand new Weber gas grill. Instead of using the usual charcoal, I picked up a bag of cowboy lump charcoal. This is a whole new ballgame for me. We have always just used the gas grill for the vast majority of our grilling needs, mainly for the ease of use. I've been having fun using charcoal recently and the food has been turning out really good.
I believe that I read somewhere that the Primo is made for the hotter burning lump charcoal. I know that I am going to be needing one of these before to long. I will be looking you up when I'm ready to go for it.
Here is a link on comparisons of lump charcoals.
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpindexpage.htm?bag
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm
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<font size="4"><b>Doug</b></font id="size4">
Doug,
I'm very fimiliar with TNW. I have even sent him some lump to test(South of the Border lump). He does a great job. His lump database is one of a kind. Try to find some Royal Oak lump. Much better quality and larger pieces than the Cowboy(lumber scraps). Any lump can be used in any of the ceramic cookers. If you can find it Ozark Oak and Wicked Good they are both really good lump charcoal. Our Canadian friends can look for Maple Leaf Lump. Rated the best lump charcoal[8D].
Jeff
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Jeff100/shopping.gif)
(//www.bbqshopping.com)
Some say BBQ is in your blood, if thats true my blood must be BBQ sauce.
Jeff,
Thanks for the info!
You are right about "lumber scraps". Oh well, I'll still finish the bag. I did see that one of the Royal Oak brands is sometimes sold at WallyWorlds. I try to avoid going in there as much as possible but I always end up in there for something eventually, I will see what they have available.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/xcelsmoke/FREEGIF.gif)
<font size="4"><b>Doug</b></font id="size4">
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BigSmoker</i>
<br />Our Canadian friends can look for Maple Leaf Lump. Rated the best lump charcoal[8D].
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I picked up some of the Maple Leaf Lump hardwood charcoal at the local hardware store today. I'll try it in my water smoker this weekend on a whole bunch of ribs. And while those are smoking I'll do a whole chicken in the Bradley. I feel a feast coming on....[:D]
Mike - Harrison Hot Springs B.C.
- Find true happiness, capture it and eat it -
BigSmoker congrats for sure... even if you do look like a kid [:D]
Olds
(http://www.dow-mgc.org/smilies/Launch47.gif)
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Oldman</i>
<br />even if you do look like a kid<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">.....and a smoker geek![:D][:D] Welcome to the club![8D]
Kirk
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
Mike, I have a New Braunfels. I like this smoker. For the price, you can't beat it. However, when I was researching it years ago, I came across some mods that are definitely recommended. First, take some non-galvanized sheet metal & make more of a barrier between chamber & off-set box (close down hole by 4-5 inches if I remember). This will help w/ chamber from getting too hot and direct more heat towards bottom of cooking chamber. Next, take a little more metal & make the chimney a little longer inside, extended down towards the grates. Helps smoke flow & heat control. Lasly, install a boiler drain on far end to facilitate draining of grease & if you ever clean it, water.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Oldman</i>
<br />BigSmoker congrats for sure... even if you do look like a kid [:D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Always a kid at heart for sure. Even my 10 year old says I'm silly sometimes.
I actually will hit the big <font size="6">40</font id="size6"> in 22 days.
Jeff
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Jeff100/shopping.gif)
(//www.bbqshopping.com)
Some say BBQ is in your blood, if thats true my blood must be BBQ sauce.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by PAsmoker</i>
<br />Mike, I have a New Braunfels. I like this smoker. For the price, you can't beat it. However, when I was researching it years ago, I came across some mods that are definitely recommended. First, take some non-galvanized sheet metal & make more of a barrier between chamber & off-set box (close down hole by 4-5 inches if I remember). This will help w/ chamber from getting too hot and direct more heat towards bottom of cooking chamber. Next, take a little more metal & make the chimney a little longer inside, extended down towards the grates. Helps smoke flow & heat control. Lasly, install a boiler drain on far end to facilitate draining of grease & if you ever clean it, water.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Thanks for the advice and tips PA. I think I saw that same webpage. I think I'll stick with the Bradley and water smoker
Mike - Harrison Hot Springs B.C.
- Find true happiness, capture it and eat it -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Our Canadian friends can look for Maple Leaf Lump. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> I haven't seen that since the last NHL season!
Tom
I see you have some hockey withdrawls to.We should be watching the run to the cup right now.Well if all we got is our Bradley then that is better than nothing at all.
<b><font face="Comic Sans MS">KEEP ON SMOKIN</font id="Comic Sans MS"></b>
<b><font face="Comic Sans MS">Mike</font id="Comic Sans MS"></b>
Catch it,Kill it,Smoke it
[/quote]I actually will hit the big <font size="6">40</font id="size6"> in 22 days.
Jeff[/quote]
I remember when I turned 40.. lets see, it was about 11 months ago. Time flies.
Here is a good site if you want to compare different hardwood charcoals.
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm
I have used an off-set firebox smoker for a couple of years(and an water smoker for 8 before that) and it is a great thing if you like the process as much as the product. While you don't have to babysit them as much as some people say you do have to pay attention to them the whole time you are cooking. I plan on keeping mine and firing it up for big BBQ's when I have people over and we can stand around the smoker, drink beer and BS about what life was like before we all hit 40[:D]
The one I have is the New Braunfels and it has worked great for me. Here are a couple of little tips for it.
Get a chimney style charcoal lighter.
Use some type of drip tray under your food.
Ajust your heat with the chimney cover and the vent on the firebox. If you close the chimney cover too much you don't get enough air movement through the cooking area and the side next to the box will be much hotter than the far end.
If you use small wood chips always soak them first.
Try tossing some fresh herbs into the firebox.
Always have a good supply of your favorite beverage on hand. I make my own beer and wine so this is not usually not a problem for me.[:)]
Fermentation and civilization are inseperable-John Ciardi
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BigSmoker</i><br />I actually will hit the big <font size="6">40</font id="size6"> in 22 days.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Just did it in February, ain't no big deal if your mind's in the right place![8D]
Except for the fact that the doc is now gonna want to shove his finger up the one-way valve![;)][:0][V]
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by LFord</i>
<br />
Always have a good supply of your favorite beverage on hand. I make my own beer and wine so this is not usually not a problem for me.[:)]
Fermentation and civilization are inseperable-John Ciardi
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Lford,
Thanks for the reply, Welcome to the forum. Now I'm thinking about that New Braunfels I saw again......I like the idea of a good charcoal smoker for those summer afternoon sessions with friends. Hey... I too am an avid homebrewer (ales) and have used the Bradley to smoke grains (smoked porter). Homebrewing and barbecue......[;)]
Mike - Harrison Hot Springs B.C.
"Men like to barbecue, men will cook if danger is involved" -John Wayne
Homebrewing and barbecue......
They do make a great combo don't they?
I like to have one or two Brew-B-Q's each year where we get together, brew and have a BBQ at the same time.
Fermentation and civilization are inseperable-John Ciardi
So I did a BBQ session with my charcoal water smoker on the weekend. Like my signature line says, "Men like to Barbecue, men will cook if danger is involved", well, I stepped on a red hot piece charcoal in bare feet.[:0] Some coals dropped out of the bottom of my chimney starter onto the ground and unaware, I did a unsuccesful walk on hot coals. Do not wear bare feet around charcoal......[V]
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/mw_s/barbecue_man.gif)<i><font color="green"><b>Mike </i></font id="green"></b>
<i><font color="black">"Men like to barbecue, men will cook if danger is involved".</i></font id="black">
-John Wayne
I have been lusting after the Caldera Del Fuego from BBQGuru only because it will knock down for road trips, and it looks pretty darn versatile too.
Bill
<i>There is room on earth for all God's creatures....on my plate next to the mashed potatoes.</i>