Just seasoned my smoker put 5 pucks in seemed to work fine but next day I found I only had half a puck left is there a reason for this? The unit is in an outbuilding well ventitated but not subject to strong wind.
I note from the forum metal pucks are available in the USA but cannot see them on the UK site. I gathered that it was normal for the puck next to the end to half burn but had not expected it to do thisto the last one actually in the smoke generator. Although this is the first time the unit has been run it was bought a few years ago all the wood pucks are sealed in polythene and I broke open a new pack.
The smoke generator arm is currently tight on the water bowl but cannot see this would effect the burning extent of the pucks.
With 5 pucks the third fourth and fifth puck are going to be there for the duration. Unless you shut the heat off from the smoke generator it will continue to heat the third puck and that heat will transfer to the fourth and finally the fifth puck.
I see so it does not switch the heating plate off when there are no more pucks left. Is it normal then to run the unit through a time switch to automate the porocess?
Hi HB I am trying to understand what you mean when you say "the smoke generator arm is currently tight on the water bowl". This is confusing as the water bowl sits under the smoke generator and does not touch the bowl. Could you post a pic so we can see what you mean.
If you want to spare the cost of the bubba pucks you can get away with just using 2 metal pucks and then put a wood one on top of the 2 metal pucks as the 3rd. This is what I do.
Oh yeah welcome to the forum.
Hi harvestbarn (HB);
Welcome to the forum.
Many leave the burner on for extra heat, if you don't have bubba pucks you can knock the last bisquette off if you want to. If you are looking to add a timer switch, you could not just plug the generator into a timer, because the time would also shut down the heat. Some PID's (an external temperature controller) can do that operation for you. Another option, you would have to internally wire the timer to the motor.
If your drive rail, actually the burner, is touching the bowl something is not aligned correctly. The rail is either bent, or you do not have the generator properly hooked to the side of the cabinet. It should not cause any problems during a short smoke, but for a long smoke the burnt puck may begin to stack against the burner.
Quarlow; I believe HB is referring to the Drive Rail; the section that the bisquette slide on to get to the burner.
HI HB
it seems that you have received ample advice for the problem and therefore I just wanted to say welcome to the forum.
HR
Quote from: harvestbarn on May 23, 2011, 08:13:00 PM
I see so it does not switch the heating plate off when there are no more pucks left. Is it normal then to run the unit through a time switch to automate the porocess?
You need to have three 'pusher' pucks at the end to feed all of the Bradley pucks through the system. There are several pricey options for this or you can make your own for a lot less. Find some scrap 2-inch thick wall pipe and cut it into 1/2" lengths. Bevel the edges so they do not catch on the slider and there ya go. Doesn't have to be sealed pipe, just thick wall. Works for me. ;)
As far as a timer I have an OBS and when I'm doing a long 15-20 hour smoke butt I just look in the feeder tube to see when the last of the pusher pucks has advanced. Then I know all of my smoker pucks is in the water and I turn the smoke generator off. It probably wouldn't hurt to leave it on but with two 500W elements the additional 125W of heat from the smoke generator isn't needed. That, and I probably save 10 cents worth of electricity. ;D
I seem to remember another post from a member who had the same problem with the water bowl touching the smoke generator and it turn out to be bent. Can't remember if he called bradely to get a replacement or bent it back.
Quote from: Habanero Smoker on May 24, 2011, 02:31:20 AM
If your drive rail, actually the burner, is touching the bowl something is not aligned correctly. The rail is either bent, or you do not have the generator properly hooked to the side of the cabinet. It should not cause any problems during a short smoke, but for a long smoke the burnt puck may begin to stack against the burner.
Habs has given you good info here. There is one other possibility about the drive rail being tight against the bowl. Remove the puck stacker tube. Take a look where the pucks are stacked prior to being dropped to the pusher plate. That should be centered. When I received my Bradley it was shifted to the right and consequently my drive rail was cocked down towards the bowl. If that is the case put your fingers down into where the pucks fall to be pushed towards the burner plate and gently pull back to the left. Seems I recall someone else experiencing the exact same issue and that was the problem.
Hi all, Thank you for your help, I found on the forum a comment from Bradley`s that some units get bent down in shipping I think this happened to me and can be bent back up this has cured the problem. Picture before bending attached. I checked with the UK importers but they do not sell Budda Pucks so if anyone knows of a reasonable source that will ship to the UK please let me know otherwise I shall make some.
I bought this unit to have a go at cold smoking have just finished the set up but not yet tried it. Have there been any cases of the cardboard box catching fire?
Garth
(http://www.cotswoldsport.co.uk/Smoker/Before%20bending.JPG)
(http://www.cotswoldsport.co.uk/Smoker/Cold_Smoke.JPG)
Send begolf25 a PM I'm sure he ships up there. ;D
Check this out.
http://www.yardandpool.com/Bubba-Pucks-Bradley-Smoker-Woodsaver-p/bubbapuck-p.htm?1=1&CartID=0
Your drive rail is definitely bent. It is bent more then most I have seen that were posted, but you may be able to straighten it out by carefully bending it upwards.
I'm not aware of any one having a cardboard box catching fire. I have used the cardboard box method for several years; prior to getting the Bradley cold smoke adapter.
Here is a link to how to build a cardboard cold smoker. Also if you click on the Bradley Smoker link at the beginning of the article, that you take you to the British/European representative/distributor.
Cold Smoking with the Bradley (http://www.johnwatkins.co.uk/personalpages/coldsmoking.htm)
Yes I found www.yardandpool.com but they only ship to the USA.
The drive rail straightened fairly easily and it is good to know the cardboard box method has proved reliable, thanks. I did line the box with aluminium foil tape where the drive rail enters .
Just need to go fly fishing now so it can be tested properly!
Thats good news HB, glad it worked out for you. On the cardboard box I made my hole for the SG the same size as the hole in the cabinet. I was concerned about catchig the box on fire also. It works great and is cheap too. If you want to order some bubba pucks you could have them shipped to my wifes aunt in Washington state and then I could pick them up from there and then ship them to you. On second thought that might get a little expensive. Give me a couple of days and I will see what I can do for you.
You can also order them from JTs place http://smokeandstuff.com/
I got mine from them and they shipped directly to me in Canada.
Ross
I remember that one forum member was making and selling his own version of the bubba pucks. I will try and locate the thread for you. I am not sure he still makes them or not, but will try.
HR
I ordered many times from Yard and pool and they ship to Canada without problem. Just send a email to their support service and tell them where you are, they will ship it to you with pleasure.
It seems that Auber Instruments are selling them now and they do ship out of the US, here is the link:
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=111
These look much lighter than the ones I purchased as they are actually hallow rings and not in actuality pucks. I would imagine that the shipping would not be much.
HR
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on May 27, 2011, 03:11:44 AM
It seems that Auber Instruments are selling them now and they do ship out of the US, here is the link:
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=111
These look much lighter than the ones I purchased as they are actually hallow rings and not in actuality pucks. I would imagine that the shipping would not be much.
HR
I got the rings from Auber and they work great. They shipped them to Canada no problem. I ordered them at the same time as my PID so not sure what the charges were for shipping.
Thanks all have ordered 3 puck savers from http://smokeandstuff.com/ in Canada, I did find covering the wooden ones with foil worked but think the extra weight will be a help.
The weather is warmer now the inside of the cabinet was 20degC before I started, I put some ice in the bottom this dropped it to 17degC but after an hour it was 23deg C. I am cold smoking trout the text book I have say 32deg C is maximum for fish does any one have ideas on this? I had excellent results with about 2 hours of smoke this is my second batch and was surprised how good the first came out.
The 32°C (90°F) I also use as the maximum; some sources will quote 38°C (100°F); not only for fish but all foods. I like to keep the cabinet temperature around 21°C (70°F).
The temperature range you were smoking in is ideal. If it gets higher you can open the door to allow the heat to escape or keep the door cracked open. Also keeping your smoker in the shade helps, as does waiting to smoke after sunset, or before sunrise. I always remove the drip tray, it helps the smoke circulate better.
Off setting your generator by building or buying a cold smoke box really helps. It can be made out of wood, metal or even cardboard.
Cold Smoking Adapter Box (http://www.johnwatkins.co.uk/personalpages/coldsmoking.htm)
Don't be afraid of the cardboard. I have used one for several years.
That was good to know, the maximum temperature measured at the top of the cabinet with a thermocouple and digital meter was 24.4deg C after about 2hours 7 burnt pucks. I have made a cardboard cold smoke box and it has been very successful. The only problem I have had is the pucks jambed up once and when left on for a while all burnt making a bit of a mess. After covering the last two pucks with aluminium foil the burning problem was solved and when the new puck savers arrive I think the extra weight will cure the jambing. Once I have these I shall use the time switch to smoke in the early hours when the ambient temperature is lower.
Do you use the third puck saver?
In the trial I did with the time clock I had a puck that was not well burnt at all and think it was the first one. I think it was a mistake to set it up with a wood puck on the hot plate! There were two in the water bowl black but with some form left.
QuoteIn the trial I did with the time clock I had a puck that was not well burnt at all and think it was the first one. I think it was a mistake to set it up with a wood puck on the hot plate! There were two in the water bowl black but with some form left.
If you let the smoke generator preheat for about twenty minutes the first puck should burn a lot better
Quote from: harvestbarn on June 06, 2011, 03:07:05 PMDo you use the third puck saver?
If you don't use three puck savers it will leave the last puck on the burner to char which could lead to a bad taste in whatever you're smoking.
Quote from: devo on June 06, 2011, 04:37:58 PM
QuoteIn the trial I did with the time clock I had a puck that was not well burnt at all and think it was the first one. I think it was a mistake to set it up with a wood puck on the hot plate! There were two in the water bowl black but with some form left.
If you let the smoke generator preheat for about twenty minutes the first puck should burn a lot better
When yoy fire up the smoke generator only advance 2 pucks, that'll give the hot plate time to heat up.
Quote from: TedEbear on June 06, 2011, 06:42:33 PM
Quote from: harvestbarn on June 06, 2011, 03:07:05 PMDo you use the third puck saver?
If you don't use three puck savers it will leave the last puck on the burner to char which could lead to a bad taste in whatever you're smoking.
Ditto. ;D
I use two Bubba Pucks (puck savers), then place a bisquette on top. If you have mesquite, use that as the last puck, they will hold up better then the others.
When I got my bubba pucks they only sold them 2 at a time so I took a branch from a walnut tree that was the same diameter as the puck and cut it the same thickness to make my third puck.
Still using the same hunk of walnut and its the last one in line.