Hi Guys,
I am smoking a pork loin as I write for a friend of mine and he has a Cookshack smoker that he uses which is a little more than my Stainless BS. We have talked about the BS for some time and as we both are concerned about the lifespan of these smokers?
I will say with the limited experence I have had with baby backs and a pork roast I am IMPRESSED! I just want to know from you guys how long it will "live" and any care and up keeping I need to know about to get the longest life possible.
I am currently looking at becoming a dealer for Bradley and I want as much feedback as possible so I will know if this thing will keep working with some normal care?
I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Mav
Quote from: mavrickone on January 27, 2007, 06:49:24 PM
I am currently looking at becoming a dealer for Bradley and I want as much feedback as possible so I will know if this thing will keep working with some normal care?
Need to ask someone like Chez Bubba....
Sparkler
Thanks, Will do
Mav
Quote from: mavrickone on January 27, 2007, 06:49:24 PM
Hi Guys,
I am smoking a pork loin as I write for a friend of mine and he has a Cookshack smoker that he uses which is a little more than my Stainless BS. We have talked about the BS for some time and as we both are concerned about the lifespan of these smokers?
I will say with the limited experence I have had with baby backs and a pork roast I am IMPRESSED! I just want to know from you guys how long it will "live" and any care and up keeping I need to know about to get the longest life possible.
I am currently looking at becoming a dealer for Bradley and I want as much feedback as possible so I will know if this thing will keep working with some normal care?
I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Mav
I have a few of the originals that are over 6 years old and still working fine. I have 8 or 10 generators and all are working fine baring a couple of advance motor failures all my fault for leaving them out at 20 below or more. I use the generators almost every week on my larger smokers that I built. I have to say that I am impressed with the life span. Chez can also vouch for reliability I think. Hope your dealership works out.
Thanks Ice,
I run an indoor shooting range and pro shop here in Tulsa and I had looked at taking on the line a couple of years ago but since Bass Pro carries them I decided not to,however when I got mine at Christmas I went to get some bisquettes and they did not have any and have not had for some time so after doing some checking they really don't seem to have anyone to "sell" them and really nobody there can even really talk about them so I am rethinking it.
I do have another question off the subject concerning the smoke generator.I cleaned mine today and all the buildup was about 1/2 way down the shute? Is the burner at the very end?If so my bisquettes seem to be burning at 1/2 way. I am using the special blend and not getting as much smoke as I did the times with the alder ??? Any Thoughts?
Thanks
Mav
Big stores (Bass Pro, Cabellas,etc) and internet sales are primary distirbution. I think it would be tough to turn enough units to make it worth doing. I think Chez Bubba is an out side the box situation with some sales lots of contacts and knows smoking so builds loyality by helping people.
Mavrickone;
I also wish you good luck in developing your dealership.
Some bisquettes produce more smoke than others. I haven't used special blend in a long time, but I generally use maple, pecan, apple, and hickory. They all smoke differently. If you compare the different bisquettes to each other, especially maple to mesquite you will see a noticeable difference in texture. The maple particles are very fine, and flake off easily, but the mesquite has larger particles and hardly flakes. I generally use a mesquite on top of my two bubba pucks, because they hold up better.
If you are not using bubba pucks, there will be a more noticeable build up of residue at the area where the heating plate connects to the rest of the bisquettes ramp. This is caused by the contact of the bisquettes that is on the heating plate with the next bisquettes. The contact causes some smoldering of the second bisquettes before it is pushed on to the heating plate.
Hi mavrickone,
The commonest problem historically with the BS appeared to be the puck advance motor on the smoke generator which seems more common on the original rather than digital models and is usually evident on delivery or very soon after. However, this issue does not appear on the forum as often as it has in the past.
Other (isolated) issues have crept up from time to time on the forum but there certainly does not seem to be an inherant reliability issue at all and plenty of people have had their smokers for a while now.
One thing that will affect the lifespan of the smoker is lack of some TLC, a bit of appropriate care such as cleaning the puck heater plate from time to time, cleaning the door seal, blowing bits of unburnt puck dust out of the generator, storing it in dry conditions etc but you have already alluded to that in your post.
In my experience when there is a problem on new units:
a. they appear to manifest themselves very soon after purchase.
b. Bradley Smoker back up and Customer Care seems second to none, with advice and/or replacement parts sent out quickly if and when there is a problem.
c. For units outside the warranty period a reasonably comprehensive spare parts list seems to be available, although not that many dealers seem to carry them. (Chez Bubba in US, Grakka in UK) Would be worth checking availability.
d. once any initial issues have been resolved the BS's appear to go on and have long and happy smoke fuelled lives. ;)
Good luck. :)
That sums things up nice Manx. Ditto on your quote. ;)
The last time I did my rant on COOKSHACK I found my self with black helicopters and strange people running up and down my road...I think you are doing the right thing by going to the Bradly...there is no way you have the consistency with the COOKSHACK. But one thing I will add is that they a BIG WINNER with their pellet smoker...if I had the room AND the cash I would get one.
Hey mavrickone
I have a cookshack smokette, It is a good cooker/smoker i wont argue that. However since getting my OBS the cookshack has got but one smoking since. Ths CS has that tiny vent hole which IMO dont do nothing all that great, yeah the CS has the bottom drain too but.
If i were to rate the OBS to the CS.
BS CS
9.5 4.5 Lots of problems keeping the temp correct, 2/4oz of wood dont really give a good smoke IMO
Why 9.5?
I think Bradley could make the smoke generator motor assy better.
nepas
Very interesting compare by someone with both. NePa the smokette is the smaller size unit with about the same price as the bradley?
I do like the looks of the CS $3k model and sounds like temp control is guru style with the temp hold. But then I could finish my GTO Project if I had another $3,000. Never seen one in person though.
NPS,
You hit the nail on the head...the vent on the smokette is non-existent...you can check their forum for such things like "Black Goo" syndrome due to the fact of the humidity and the comments about the "Rubbery Chicken"...to me due to the fact of a lack of a good vent. Anybody that has done chicken, you knows yuze gotta hav a vent...AND the biggest thing the Bradley has going for is the consistency you get with the pucks and smoke generator...ya I know they will bite back..."don't you know those wood pucks cost"...as you found out the little cost involved is well worth it. Also the comments that they are built like a tank...my thoughts...you don't smoke with a tank. Another observation is the drip tray...to me the Bradley has it over the cs in this issue also.
CS site i visited the other day really slams Bradley in a link. Having a Bradley i must say it is not a realistic write up. Bradley has its share of out of the box issues but customer service stays with you until the issues are resolved.
I was interested in the comments above from owners of both - hard to beat that kind of feedback.
Yeah MW
The vent sux on my CS. I made a diverter out of aluminium to the side so it drips down the hole kinda solved the goo prob. I even used a homemade rig with a 3" pc fan flipped over so it draws the smoke out. It works pretty good. I dont use my cs much anymore maybe i will sell it to finance a 6 rack BS.
Its all my wifes fault ;D , she took me from the calif desert and showed me Amish country where i took up smokin.
nepas
Quote from: West Coast Kansan on February 04, 2007, 05:37:18 PM
CS site i visited the other day really slams Bradley in a link. ....
I have gone over to cs forum and have defended he BS, it gets pretty heated at times, after I defended it they came over hear and found me, got PM's the whole bit, it got so bad the only thing to do was to delete my posts over there. They don't have it on the smaller end of the smoker but I will tell you this they do have it going on the commercial end. If you have questions or just want to know what it will take to run a BBQ business they have some great folks on that end of the forum. Even if you not in the BBQ business it is great reading. Smokin OKey is the big cheese there, he watches things like hawk, to me treats the board as a sacred burial grounds. By far most of the folks over there are just like us, they love to smoke but they have a large enough contingent of that hard noses that will keep me at a good distance. Which is fine..."love the one you're with" and I will also say that quality of folks here on this forum, time after time always amaze me. Not that I am big forum guy but I live at few and without exception, these people here are the best hearted and most gracious to help anyone.
After paying $900.00 this a comment from one of their new owners about CS customer service.
QuotePosted January 11, 2007 03:30 PM
I read here about the great customer support cookshack has.. I sure haven't found it..maybe you can point me in the right direction...I just got my smo55s smoker..I am having trouble with the temp. so Iexplained ( in my email) that the lowest temp. I can get out of it is 240 degrees..this is trying all the settings (100 150 ect} I had read on here about the temp swings so I monitored it for 3 hrs. every 15 min. like you guys suggested. It consistently read 240 degrees. (there were no swings) which is why I also asked him, could there be a problem with the thermostat. I explained that I was mostly interested in using this for jerky and venison sticks and sausage..which you have to be able to maintain a 100 temp , then 150 ect.HIs reply to me was..this oven does have about a 40 degree fluctuation. However we do have a lot of customers that use them for jerky. Have you posted on the forum to see what process our other customers are using.. that was the extent to his email back..no answer to my question on the thermostat..obviously didn't really even read my email..(240 degrees consistently!there were no swings.. when I had it set at 150) almost a hundred degrees..not 40.. . I think that for the $879 dollars I paid he would have taken a little bit of interest in helping me.( If I was the company, I wouldn't want a used smoker of mine sitting in the back room of Cabelas at a discount price..not a real good advertisement)...instead of sending me over here.. (don't get me wrong..I love this forum..and would appreciate any help I can get }I really hate to return this smoker, but am at a loss as to what to do next...I also tried calling..but he is the only tech support I was told. sorry this is so long
Can't say I ever heard anything like this brom the BS customer service. In fairness, they did get help further later.
And another...
QuotePosted January 19, 2007 04:30 PM
I ordered a stand for my SM009 3 weeks ago as well as a cover, some rubs and a few other items and haven't heard boo from Cookshack since the order was placed....is this normal? Everything I read seems so positive but I sent an email a week ago asking what the status was and I got NO response. I love the smoker but the service seems to be lacking right now!
I know I am opening myself to much malining and dog turd throwing...I will edit the post if I need to.
Quote from: West Coast Kansan on February 04, 2007, 03:02:04 PM
Very interesting compare by someone with both. NePa the smokette is the smaller size unit with about the same price as the bradley?
I do like the looks of the CS $3k model and sounds like temp control is guru style with the temp hold. But then I could finish my GTO Project if I had another $3,000. Never seen one in person though.
Yeah the cs smokette is the smaller. When i bought it, it was $299 now they are more $499 for that much i could almost get a 6 rack bs and be ;D
nepas
Oh yeah, go with your GTO
MW and NePa's thanks, dont want to get anyone into a war ... the facts always come out anyway.
It was just a ??? kind of question I had. I will say the bradley link was gross - maybe true somehow - if your trying to smoke tons of meat a week but that is more than I and my family will eat the rest of our lives. Cant think of any other way to trash a unit like that one was...
I will do another homemade or conversion or ??? and hang bradley generators on it...someday. But no hurry for now.
Stay low, dont want troubles on this forum cuz it is too much fun and as you say have found nothing but very nice people here and nobody needs the :'(
Naaa
we aint getting into a turd slinging contest here. We all know that the BS & forum is great. Just some opinions being made is all about another smoker.
No worries ;D ;D ;D
nepas
A BIG Koom-By-Ya is in order....Shall we?
Quote from: MallardWacker on February 05, 2007, 06:30:47 AM
A BIG Koom-By-Ya is in order....Shall we?
Too funny MW. I thought I was the only one who got bit over on the cs site. I don't go to that playground any more. ;D
When SmokinOkie PM'd me I limited my time there.
Hi Guys!
I want to thank all of you for your feedback and I think this forum is great! I had bought a GOSM gas smoker before I got my BS and they have a forum as well and it just seems to be a major fuss between members with one guy kinda running the show. It got to the point that I just have all the post from there sent to spam and don't have to let all the bickering clog my email ;)
I have not decided whether to be a dealer but I am very pleased with the smoker and their people.I was told that they had a problem with the smoke generator having too small a motor which they told me was changed so I would guess its probably the same motor in all the units now.
The CS is made here io OK and they do have some good rubs and spices but in my opinion its over priced for what you get. I smoked some stuffed chicken and some chicken breast last week and they were a major hit.I took some breast to my friend that has the CS and he was impressed!
I guess they were good because I got my orders to smoke some more stuffed breast from my bride this evening when I got home and saw the breast thawing ::)!
Again THANKS! To all of you guys for the advice and help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mav
P.S. Ice , Just curious what you do that you have so many smokers?
P.S. Guys, I am going to try some of the "Atomic Bufollow sp! Turds just for fun and see if I can mess up my intestines ;) I am having a great time with my BS! I do think if they would add a little extra heat and a thermostate like a oven it would an even bigger hit.In cold weather the max temp seems to be about 225 or so which works good for slow smoking , but to have the ability to go higher would be nice. ;)
Mav
Quote from: mavrickone on February 10, 2007, 07:32:32 PM
Mav
P.S. Ice , Just curious what you do that you have so many smokers?
I hope it is eating.
If ICE is eating it all himself I want to meet him! ;D
P.S. Ice , Just curious what you do that you have so many smokers?
Around fishing and hunting season all the sudden I get overwhelmed with "friends" for some reason that want smoked fish. Kummok knows the feeling too. It's nothing to start running a few hundred pounds of salmon a weekend through them. I also due a couple hundred turkeys each year for the Moose Lodge folks. Ann becomes a smokers widow during those times but I still give her visiting privileges. Ha!!! Actually she does half the work with me. Between that and sausage making it makes for a busy fall. ;D But it's all great fun and good eats. Vampyr has got me on a pizza / stromboli kick now and I'm getting a gut. :o I have to shake that habit and get back in shape for summer. :D ;D
Geeeezzzzz Ice.... I wish you lived next door to me!
;D ;D ;D
Mike
To our CS onlookers....Please take time to do the math BS + The Forum = MMMMmmmmmmm
Translated , this simply means.....Better smoker + Great people = Better products ;D
Coyote
p.s. Don't ruffle the feathers of our MallardWacker ,Ya'll could be overcome by smoke. We vent. >:(
Quote from: coyote on February 12, 2007, 04:01:51 PM
.....p.s. Don't ruffle the feathers of our MallardWacker ,Ya'll could be overcome by smoke. We vent. >:(
That right there I got a funny out of.....O but true.
So after giving my opinion on the CS smokette I decided to ebay mine to a home that needs a CS. I know it will miss :'( the company of my superior gleaming black BS
nepas