Hi all,
I've been using a hot smoker for some years now and have played around with the idea of cold smoking for a while.
Doing the research I've been really impressed with the design and simplicity of the BS but there's one question that's just eluded me even searching through this forum...
Minimum temperature: I understand that ambient temperature will influence this but I just can't find out if the BS original or BS digital will drop down low enough to do 'proper' cold smoking due to the heating element being too close to the food. I really want to achieve something like ambient temp +3-5 degrees Celsius.
The leaflet from Bradley UK hints at a modification which can be done which separates the heating element from the food cabinet. I can't find it on here (although I'm sure it's here somewhere :P )
My concern is that if I do this mod, I won't be able to use it as a hot smoker and I may be better off buying the smoke generator and making my own cabinet.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance 8)
See this link: http://susan.rminor.com/forums/showthread.php?p=42#post42
This seems to be what most do. There are some pics of the set-up.
Malc
Hi sparkplug and welcome to the forum,
Bradley smoker makes an ideal hot and cold smoker, the cold smoking set up I use is:
http://www.foodsmoker.co.uk/equipment/bradleycold.htm
This will keep the temperature to within a couple of degrees C of ambient.
I have done all sorts of cold smoking from cheese through to herring, garlic, salt for example on the Bradley, when you want to hot smoke you just dispense with the box and tumple dryer hose and set it up as per the Bradley instruction manual.
The original model perhaps lends itself better to cold smoking although there is a workaround for cold smoking with the digital model on one of the threads here.
So yes, the BS can be used for hot and cold smoking without a problem. :)
Thank you both for your prompt and clear replies.
These look like simple and neat solutions and I'm sure I could make a variation on the theme very easily.
A final couple of questions if I may - does it take long to 'unconvert' back to the hot smoking set up? Is it really just four bolts as it appears?
Thanks again
QuoteA final couple of questions if I may - does it take long to 'unconvert' back to the hot smoking set up? Is it really just four bolts as it appears?
Using the cardboard box method I posted there aren't even any bolts.
When cold smoking the smoke generator sits on the ground with the heater plate, which sticks out from one side, placed into an appropriate sized hole cut into the side of the cardboard box, which is pushed up against the smoke generator as per the picture in my post.
Above the heater plate a hole is cut into the top of the cardboard box to match the size of the tumble dryer hose exactly to reduce smoke leakage, I also use a damp cloth around this join to further reduce leakage.
The other end of the tumble dryer hose sits in the circular hole in the side of the bradley smoker cabinet, which sits on a bench/table of some sort. I fixed the hose itself to the piece of plastic piping which came with the hose for "through wall" fixing, this seal is further enhanced by a piece of draft excluder fitted around the whole circumference of the pipe.
So basically when cold smoking everthing is just push fit, no bolts or anything. To set the BS up for cold smoking maybe takes a couple of minutes longer than setting up for hot smoking, to convert from cold smoking to hot smoking is simply a matter of pulling out the tumble dryer hose at both ends, removing the cardboard box, lifting and fitting the smoke generator to the side of the cabinet (matter of hanging it on two hooks) and attaching the power lead between the generator and cabinet which is not used when cold smoking and away you go.
So to "unconvert" again takes less than two minutes using the "cardboard box" method.
Setting yourself up initially to cold smoke using a cardboard box, some piping and tumble dryer hose takes about an hour....... the whole thing is really easy. 8)
I have also used the box method with great results and change over time with airconditioning duct tape is about 5 minutes. With the digital, you have to have a longer small cord as it is required to operate the smoke generator. Parts available from Radio Shack in the states.
;D The final doubt removed - thank you manxman.
Well, that's it - I'm off to trawl the net to see what the best deal is and will be ordering today - very excited now. I've got a ham and some bacon brining and curing in anticipation :) Next stop the cheese shop for my first cold smoke attempt
Good luck sparkplug, let us know how you get on. :)
Have fun sparkplug and don't forget this. When using a cardboard box for cold smoking you get to stand around the smoker with a really big mug of cold beer. Just in case of fire you know ;) Honest honey I'm on fire watch, could ya please fetch another cold one for me :D
;D I see where you get your name from Iceman - a nice cold beer sounds just the thing!
My smoker arrives today. I've already bought the tumble drier hose and it's going to be agony waiting until I get back from work to start seasoning it. I was thinking of leaving the hose inside the smoker while I do the initial seasoning. I don't know if it will do any good, but I figure it can't do any harm.
First proper smoke will be tomorrow and I think I'll start with a side of dry-cured bacon. Or maybe a hot smoked chicken. Decisions, decisions. ;)
It's arrived!
The guys at work have been looking at me funny as I've strapped it to the back of my motorbike :o
Can't wait to get it home...
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) Have fun sparkplug!!!
Quoteguys at work have been looking at me funny as I've strapped it to the back of my motorbike
Bet that's a first, got any pictures!! ;D ;D ;D
I second Iceman on the pictures and also after it is set up.
Ok here goes - as requested a couple of pics on the bike...
(http://www.ukgser.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56131&stc=1)
(http://www.ukgser.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56130&stc=1)
For those who haven't been keeping abreast of the weather in the UK - it has been really very windy. Houses in London were badly damaged by the storms which turned into a tornado. Given those conditions I was a bit concerned that the BS would cause me problems on two wheels but thankfully my journey is short and the wind had died down at just the right time for me so it was no problem at all.
Having seen how simple the whole thing was to set up I now feel embarassed to have asked the questions I did. I'd just never seen one of these 'in the flesh'. What a fabulously simple design! I decided to season my cold smoking tumble drier tube by using it as a chimney from the top vent on the BS so that the outer didn't get coated in smoke as it would have done if I'd placed it inside as I was originally going to.
No pics of the smoker set up as I've not done anything interesting with it or in it - it's just a seasoned BS original. I'm sure you've all seen those before!
QuoteHaving seen how simple the whole thing was to set up I now feel embarassed to have asked the questions I did.
Don't worry about that sparkplug, we've all been there and done that! ;)
Whereabouts in the UK are you?
Cambridge
:)
sparkplug
The reason your images do not show up is you are trying to link over a php attachment / upload. That is normally not possible.
If you like you can E-mail your images to me and I will host them for you so you can post them here.
Olds
I was just in Cambridge in October Sparkplug. It is absolutely beautiful there!! Went punting down the backs...
A good friend of my wife's just moved back to the states from there yesterday.
Quote from: Oldman on December 08, 2006, 05:11:57 PM
sparkplug
The reason your images do not show up is you are trying to link over a php attachment / upload. That is normally not possible.
If you like you can E-mail your images to me and I will host them for you so you can post them here.
Olds
They were working for me just a couple of days ago...
A very kind offer Oldman - I have sent you an email
SmokyJones - yes Cambridge is truly beautiful. It's easy to take it for granted when you live somewhere like this. The best 'job' I ever had was as a student doing chauffer punt tours on the backs. I did that stretch of river six times a day all summer and never once got bored of it. If you are ever back in the area let me know and I'll happily show you the secret bits on the river - or if there is time the upper river out towards Granchester. It's not on the tourist route and it's a great way to squander a day as long as you've got plenty of beers and a good picnic :)
Thanks to Oldman, here's those pictures...
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/Fil/brad1.jpg)
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/Fil/brad2.jpg)
:)
QuoteThey were working for me just a couple of days ago...
More and more sites today are put up hot link blockers, and this might have happened to you. Contact your Admin of that site and ask if this is the case and if so would they add this site to their "accept" sites for linking.
BTW You are welcome.
Olds
what is that... a vespa...
you gotts ride...
owrstrich
That is a great sight!!!
I can picture the portable strapped to the back for a nice mobile tailgate at the next Premiership.
I reckon I have seen tens of thousands of bikes over the years living here on the Isle of Man with the TT races and all that, I have seen dogs (four legged variety and two!!) blow up dolls, naked women, Vikings etc etc, you name it we have probably seen it but I must admit this is a first!! Well, you learn something every day!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
I can see the headlines now"0 to pulled pork in under 6" (hours that is). :D ;D ;)
(http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7472&stc=1)
owrstich - your picture has gone the way mine originally did.
I tried to look at the link but I'm no longer a member of BMWMOA - although I was for a couple of years.
any chance of emailing it?