Hey everyone.
Ive wanted to get a Bradley for some time and I think Im finally gonna break down and buy one. Owns a brinkmann but hasnt used it much. Always seemed to be such a pain.
anyway Ive got that same ol newbie question... Digital or Original. I already own a Maverick ET-73. money isnt any issue I just wanna get the easier to use machine.
Can you cold smoke in both types?
any thoughts will be helpful
thanks, Kane
Both are great units. I have the original in Stainless.
Hey Kane- welcome to the forum from another relatively new Bradley customer. I had a Brinkmann too before I bought my 6 rack Digital.. I went with that as I wanted the added space... I think that both types allow you to cold smoke but I'll let the more experienced members of this forum answer that. There's a bunch of great info on this site that should help before-- and after-- you buy your Bradley!
Ed
Hi Kane and welcome!
WC is right, you can't go wrong with either one. I have the DBS.
The OBS has a temp slider on it and maybe has a slight learning curve but from what I hear not bad. The OBS is a little easier to setup for cold smoking because it doesn't have a temp probe wire running from the smoke generator to the tower. Because the OBS is worth less money you can always add a PID or a BBQ Guru to it to control the temps for you.
The DBS does have the advantage of being able to maintain a temp with in 10 or 15 degrees. The only drawback is the timer has a maximum time of 9 hours & 40 Minutes. Some view this as a problem however I really don't see it as one because even if you are doing an overnighter all you have to do is reset the timer before you go to bed. To setup for cold smoking you do need to extend the length of the temp sensor wire. Again not that big of deal.
You will be happy with either..... If price is not a factor I would go with an OBS and add a DigiQ II by BBQ Guru.
Mike
how hard is it to hook up this Digi Q to the OBS and what advantagages does that give me?
It's pretty much plug & play. I don't have one... yet! I built a PID which I have connected to my DBS and it controls my temps + or - 1 degree. The DigiQ is a nice looking unit for sure and has some added features such as a ramp feature. Here is a link to their site.
http://www.thebbqguru.com/bbqDigiQ.cfm
Here is another link to my current setup.
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=6075.0
Mike
Hey Kane...just pull the trigger...both units are great!!! We have the OBS and are good with it. If you want to get a digi...just do it! We went with the less exspensive model, at first, to make sure we liked it...Bradley's... whatever model you buy, are awesome!!
Hi Kane;
Welcome to the forum.
I have the Raptor/DigiQ II, and the hook up is very easy. If you already have the DigiQ II, you will need to purchase the Raptor. Before you purchase the Raptor you may want to wait until the early part of next year. Shotgun Fred is coming out with a new version of the Raptor and it may cost less because the new version cuts down his production cost.
The advantage of the DigiQ II is that it will control your cabinet to + 2°F. You can pretty much set it and forget it. Here is a link to a thread that pretty much covers everything.
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=5859.0
You will certainly be happy with whichever unit you choose. I have the OBS and have add the Guru/Raptor. I personally would wait on the new Guru unit, but that is merely personal opinion. It is nice to have you on the forum.
thanks for all the replys. Im even more confused on what to get. laughs
wont I have all the same abilities with the DBS and a Maverick Et-73 as I would with a OBS with DigiQ/Raptor? right now I want simple and easy to use with the ability to do some cold smokes from time to time.
I mean if its really thought by you guys that the OBS with DigiQ will be my best option longterm than Ill have to seriously consider that. its just a lil overwhelming being Im new without the knowledge
Whichever you choose will be the right choice. Make it easy on yourself, Heads it's the Original, Tails it's the Digital...flip the coin and if you're wishing one way or the other, go with it regardless of what comes out of the flip, otherwise abide by the flip.
Kane
You could do what I did when I started and that is with the DBS (no add ons). You will be able to hot smoke right away with pretty decent temp regulation. I would still use a temp probe such as the Maverick ET73. Like I said you will have to lengthen the temp probe wire in order to cold smoke, but nothing wrong with that and it's not a big job to do.
I like to tinker, so.... I pretty much modify everything! ::)
Mike
Since money is not an issue get both (his and hers). :D
just ordered a DBS in Black. Im sure Ill be happy with it. thanks for the help! Ill be around with more questions.
Kane
Im all anxious to receive my smoker. sounds like Ill get it 12-19. Im already working up plans to create a nice setup in the garage. something similar to Mr Walleye. My garage is the hangout anyway so thats where it has to go.
My question to Mike - Im most likely gonna set up a range hood like your setup. I have 2 vents already in place at the peak of my roof. I took some rough measurements trying to figure out how I wanna vent the hood to outside. Im lookin at about a 3 foot pipe run with a slight bend to run the pitch of the roof, than about a 12 foot run to the roof peak and out. does this sound like it will be good? I really dont wanna cut into My garage. Id like to utilize the opening thats already there.
thanks, Kane
My vent hood is located on a exterior wall so the vent just passes through a 2 x 6 wall. I'm not sure I fully understand the run your talking about. Is it mostly vertical? I would think if the run was mostly vertical opposed to horizontal it should be ok. I do think the longer the run the more restricted it will be though. Hopefully others will comment on this as well.
Mike
hey Mike
basically Im looking at maybe 2 feet of vertical pipe from the Bradley smoker vent to the range hood and than vent pipe out of the range hood on about a 45 degree angle 12 feet to the vent opening at My roof peak.
Kane
I don't see why it wouldn't work. It may take a little tinkering to fine tune it. You may want a damper in the pipe to have the ability to close it when not in use, otherwise, depending on your climate you may have heat escaping from your garage. Do you know what the CFM rating is on the range hood? I believe mine is around 250 CFM. Mine works fine but if I did it again I would look for one with 300 CFM especially with your extra long run.
At first I had some smoke in the garage (not much) until I realized that a range hood with a standard fan (not a drum style blower) actually only sucks air from the very centre. So I added a piece of 4" PVC pipe and that just sits on top of the BS over the vent. It worked very well but tended to draw too much air through the unit causing it to cool down. My solution was to notch the 4" pipe at the bottom to allow it to draw room air as well. I have found that I tend to have the vent slightly more closed now due to the assisted draw on it but I have no problem maintaining temps.
Mike
Ive noticed the lil details of your setup. Im not exactly sure what hood Im gonna get yet. these plans of mine came together after a case of Miller lite. laughs, but this is gonna be My next weekend project.
Good luck Kane. Make sure you keep us posted as it proceeds.
Mike
oh yea. Ill take pics for sure
cool. got my Bradley today. all set up in the garage. starts building a shelf to get it in position for venting
Congratulations Kane!
Let the fun begin and the smoke roll! ;)
Mike
Im seasoning my smoker as I type. smells good! I ran a temp probe from my Maverick down and from the center of the cabinet its reading about 20 to 25 degrees hotter than what the digital reading says.
I assume the Mav is gonna be the more accurate reading? I just wouldve thought the temp swing wouldve went the other way.
When you have a load of food in there, it very well could be the other direction.
thank for the reply. so basically your saying to trust the ET73
Yes it usually does!
I wonder if it's just because you are seasoning it and the tower is empty right now.
I know typically around the meat on a rack the temp will slightly lower than on the display. I think this is simply caused by the sensor picking the heat up from the back of the smoker. As the meat starts to get up to your target temp, the variations in temp will become less.
At least that's how I have found it to work.
Mike
Quote from: Kane on December 20, 2007, 11:36:03 AM
thank for the reply. so basically your saying to trust the ET73
Yes and no. The oven temp doesn't matter as much as the finished Internal Temp of the meat. The Maverick will give you a better reading of what temp the meat is actually seeing, provided the probe is near the level of the meat.