BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The Digital Smokers (BTDS76P & BTDS108P) => Topic started by: ffrcoupe on August 10, 2011, 04:31:53 AM

Title: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 10, 2011, 04:31:53 AM
For those of you who have a 6 rack DBS, how often do you use all 6 racks?

For those of you who have a 4 rack smoker, how often do you wish you had more space?

I'm trying to figure out which to buy.

TIA. (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/cheers.gif)
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: standles on August 10, 2011, 06:19:02 AM
I rarely use all six rack unless I am doing jerky.   However, I do like the extra space when I am doing multiple butts or chicken.   

I bought the 6 rack DBS..   I like the six rack but do not like the digital.  After a season I ditched the digital controls on the Bradley and use a PID now.   Might be worth a call to Bradley to see if they would sell a 6rack with the non-digital smoke controller.

Steven
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ghost9mm on August 10, 2011, 07:20:08 AM
ffrcoupe... while I haven't done it yet, several people here on the forum have added  shelves to their smokers, they doubled the shelves in their smokers...and I am sure some where here on the forum there are some pictures...someone will come along that knows where they are...
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: beefmann on August 10, 2011, 08:59:23 AM
out of the 5 plus years i have owned a 4 rack I only stuffed it 3 or 4 times and that is the only time i wished i owned a larger Smoker. I typically smoke for my family and small groups of 10 to 15 people at a time.

The most i have smoked was 40 lbs of Tri Tip a few years back for a large picnic of 70 people where  everyone brought dishes so it turned out  quite well and came home with a few lbs  left.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Quarlow on August 10, 2011, 07:35:44 PM
I have a a 4 rack OBS. Everytime I do nuts or salmon or jerky I wish I could have a 6 rack OBS. But forget it it ain;t gonna happen. I gots that from a fairly reliable source (Brian) that they won't be doing it. Quiute often I fill mine, but there is a solution to this. You can get a 12 rack kit from Yard and Pool which will add 8 racks to your 4 rack cabinet.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: classicrockgriller on August 10, 2011, 07:55:07 PM
Take a peek at this:

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=14951.0

I also have an OBS that is set up the same as the 6 rack.

Like Q said you can make it a 12 racker.

It helps quite a bit in spacing of you smokes.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Habanero Smoker on August 11, 2011, 02:53:52 AM
I have the OBS. I often run 2 or 3 racks. But it is not how many rack I can put into it, I often wish the inside height was greater.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 06:48:30 AM
Quote from: Habanero Smoker on August 11, 2011, 02:53:52 AM
I have the OBS. I often run 2 or 3 racks. But it is not how many rack I can put into it, I often wish the inside height was greater.

That's what I'm thinking. It's not that I would fill it up but rather than I would have more space to let's say smoke three turkeys or somthin'.

There is a $180.00 difference between an OBS & a 6 rack DBS which over the life of the product is NBD.

It's too bad that Bradley doesn't make a 6 rack (height wise) OBS.

Not trying to hijack my own thread but what is the purpose of adding a fan or two? Is it to circulate the air/smoke to make it like a convection oven?
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: OU812 on August 11, 2011, 07:53:36 AM
Thats the main reason I got the 6 rack,,,,,,for the height when makin sausage.
(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/OU812_bucket/sausage/100_1338.jpg)

It is now an 18 rack and with that many shelfs I can place what ever I'm cookin where ever I want.
(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/OU812_bucket/pork/100_0252.jpg)

Not to mention that with 18 racks I can do a 20 lb batch of snack sticks.
(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/OU812_bucket/sausage/100_0717.jpg)

I also have the duel element set up along with 2 fans.
(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/OU812_bucket/sides/PICT0097.jpg)

The fans help allot with evening out the temp of the smoker.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 10:45:28 AM
Gotta agree with OU812. I have the 6 rack because I can hang long summer sausage.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 12:41:18 PM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on August 10, 2011, 07:55:07 PM
Take a peek at this:

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=14951.0

I also have an OBS that is set up the same as the 6 rack.

Like Q said you can make it a 12 racker.

It helps quite a bit in spacing of you smokes.

That is a beastie. (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/cheers.gif)
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 12:44:59 PM
Quote from: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 10:45:28 AM
Gotta agree with OU812. I have the 6 rack because I can hang long summer sausage.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/signwurd.gif)

Not only that, with the racks kits (which I have yet to find on Y&P) I could set it up so I can move racks around at will.

I guess it boils down to how much interior space you want.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: OU812 on August 11, 2011, 12:59:25 PM
Quote from: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 12:44:59 PM
Quote from: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 10:45:28 AM
Gotta agree with OU812. I have the 6 rack because I can hang long summer sausage.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/signwurd.gif)

Not only that, with the racks kits (which I have yet to find on Y&P) I could set it up so I can move racks around at will.

I guess it boils down to how much interior space you want.

Heres a link to the rack kit.

http://www.smokeandstuff.com/

If you got a hack saw, drill and the time you can make the shelf outta 1/2 aluminum angle.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 01:18:04 PM
Quote from: OU812 on August 11, 2011, 12:59:25 PM
Heres a link to the rack kit.

http://www.smokeandstuff.com/

If you got a hack saw, drill and the time you can make the shelf outta 1/2 aluminum angle.

Cool. Thanks for the linky. I build them myself but it would take too long and would look like s**t.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 06:04:00 PM
Quote from: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 12:44:59 PM
Quote from: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 10:45:28 AM
Gotta agree with OU812. I have the 6 rack because I can hang long summer sausage.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/signwurd.gif)

Not only that, with the racks kits (which I have yet to find on Y&P) I could set it up so I can move racks around at will.

I guess it boils down to how much interior space you want.
Uh, I don't get what your saying with the "smiley" face holding the "W". I guess I'm not up on the hip forum posting. Getting old you know. ::)
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 06:24:46 PM
Quote from: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 06:04:00 PM
Quote from: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 12:44:59 PM

(http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/signwurd.gif)

Not only that, with the racks kits (which I have yet to find on Y&P) I could set it up so I can move racks around at will.

I guess it boils down to how much interior space you want.
Uh, I don't get what your saying with the "smiley" face holding the "W". I guess I'm not up on the hip forum posting. Getting old you know. ::)

The W is the icon for MS Word and the smiley guy looks a little stoned so he's really saying "wurd" as in "wurd up" as in "I agree". (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/cheers.gif)
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Quarlow on August 11, 2011, 06:59:37 PM
Sorry guys, I am new here. I said yard and pool but meant Smoke"n" stuff. My bad.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Bigbirdoffroad on August 12, 2011, 05:39:47 AM
Quote from: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 06:24:46 PM
Quote from: Bigbirdoffroad on August 11, 2011, 06:04:00 PM
Quote from: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 12:44:59 PM

(http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/signwurd.gif)

Not only that, with the racks kits (which I have yet to find on Y&P) I could set it up so I can move racks around at will.

I guess it boils down to how much interior space you want.
Uh, I don't get what your saying with the "smiley" face holding the "W". I guess I'm not up on the hip forum posting. Getting old you know. ::)

The W is the icon for MS Word and the smiley guy looks a little stoned so he's really saying "wurd" as in "wurd up" as in "I agree". (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze11gpul/Smilies/cheers.gif)
Got it! ;D
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Ketch22 on August 12, 2011, 10:42:37 AM
HI 
     You can put one rack on top of the other just flip one over. They will slide right in. I have a 4 rack and the 6 rack. The 4 rack heats up faster. I wont to put the 900 watt heater with the fan in my 6 rack that will help a lot with the heat.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: OU812 on August 12, 2011, 10:50:14 AM
Quote from: Ketch22 on August 12, 2011, 10:42:37 AM
HI 
     You can put one rack on top of the other just flip one over. They will slide right in. I have a 4 rack and the 6 rack. The 4 rack heats up faster. I wont to put the 900 watt heater with the fan in my 6 rack that will help a lot with the heat.

Putting an inverted rack on top of another rack does work but its a real pain to rotate racks.  ;D
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: grnhs on August 12, 2011, 06:29:33 PM
do you still need to rotate racks with the fan kit?
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 12, 2011, 06:41:53 PM
I think what I've decided to do is buy the 6 rack DBS and get a 6 rack kit from Smoke 'n' Stuff just so I can move the racks around a bit if I want. I think I'm also going to install a 2nd 500w element w/ switch and get an Auber Dual Probe later on after I've smoked a few things.  ;D
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: classicrockgriller on August 12, 2011, 07:11:03 PM
This is JMO and I have two dual probe Aubers, If I did it again,

I would just buy the single probe and a good (Thermapen) meat thermometer.

I never use the meat probe and I could have saved $40.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: SouthernSmoked on August 12, 2011, 08:12:31 PM
Quote from: ffrcoupe on August 11, 2011, 01:18:04 PM
Quote from: OU812 on August 11, 2011, 12:59:25 PM
Heres a link to the rack kit.

http://www.smokeandstuff.com/

If you got a hack saw, drill and the time you can make the shelf outta 1/2 aluminum angle.

Cool. Thanks for the linky. I build them myself but it would take too long and would look like s**t.

No to hard, yesterday I stopped by Home depot and purchased 20 ft 1/2 aluminum angle.

A few hours later...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/185379_204637222928033_100001452716818_573352_2996917_n.jpg)
Now I have 18 racks.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: Quarlow on August 12, 2011, 08:14:31 PM
Nice work. Looks good.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: classicrockgriller on August 12, 2011, 08:22:30 PM
If you look closely, Mark also added a rack space below the bottom factory

rack to position his heat shield.

Looking forward to hearin how that works.

Great Job Mark.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 13, 2011, 02:22:25 AM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on August 12, 2011, 07:11:03 PM
This is JMO and I have two dual probe Aubers, If I did it again,

I would just buy the single probe and a good (Thermapen) meat thermometer.

I never use the meat probe and I could have saved $40.

Yeah, but if I get a dual probe then I can use meat temp to trigger a cycle in the PID.
Title: Re: How often do you use 6 racks or wish you had more space?
Post by: ffrcoupe on August 13, 2011, 02:26:33 AM
Quote from: SouthernSmoked on August 12, 2011, 08:12:31 PMNo to hard, yesterday I stopped by Home depot and purchased 20 ft 1/2 aluminum angle.

A few hours later...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/185379_204637222928033_100001452716818_573352_2996917_n.jpg)
Now I have 18 racks.

That looks good. :)

True. I might consider it but I don't have anything to cut it with, a vise, or a metal grinder.

A six rack kit from S&S is only $30.00.