Hab, since you have made many comments and I think you have the regular system of guru and raptor I will ask. I am leaning strongly to get the system can't swing the $600 system. So I was looking for an opinion on how the initial sytem worked for you and things I should be aware of. Please anyone else PLEASE chime in on your experiences. Does this completely replace the Maverick dual probe? Thanks in advance!!
BigRed
BigRED
I feel the Guru does an excellent job of controlling the temperature. At 4:00 AM I put 32 lbs of butt in the Bradley, left for work and returned at 12:00. I did not have to worry about the temp at all. With out the Guru I would not have been able to leave because I would have had to stay to adjust the temp. A strong vote for the Guru.
Brad
The Competitor allows you to set both of the temps, the cabinet, or pit temp and the food or meat temp. It is not remote. When I had the Competitor, it worked great. I kept the Maverick running concurrently so could tell how things were doing remotely.
The Procom4 does the same, except with bells and whistles out the door. It's digital readout is very user friendly, you can monitor from afar. It is like comparing the VW and a Porsche. Both quite dependable, but it does a lot more things better, and the development costs of it have to be paid for.
Is it worth it? I think so, but I was pretty happy with the Competitor until I saw the Procom4. I wanted it, it did everything I wanted it to do, and I got offered a great deal. I can only equate the time I drove into an Acura dealer in 1991 in my wife's Porsche Carrera Cabriolet....she was in Florida. She stuck me with the darn thing when she took over my little GMC Syclone because the Porsche was hard to drive.
I saw a black Acura NSX, took a test drive and drove home in a new car. I have had the Acura since then. It has 225,000 miles on it, and it still with blow the doors off almost anything on the road. Was the boss happy with my decision? Heck no! I have never regretted the trade. Did it cost a lot? Yes! But if the Competitor will do what you want it to do, it is the one for you.
Truly, it is a darn fine controller. I would still have it and would be using it regularly if I didn't get the Procom4 Raptor combo. Both of the units will work on other pits. I fully intend to buy the knock-down Caldera Shotgun Fred sells on his website...he is The BBQ Guru .
Like I said before the extra costs will be forgotten with one use. If not in the budget, get the Competitor. Great control and worth the price!
Bill
As Car54 says the Raptor/Guru does an excellent job in keeping the cabinet and meat temperature at your settings. You don't have to worry about what is going on, you can concentrate and do other things. Dials make it very easy to set the meat and temperature range, and/or change them at any time. Alarms will alert you when any of the temps. are out of range. Though the Raptor/Guru is not a remote unit, they suggest using a baby monitor if you are out of hearing range. I love it and feel you won't be disappointed. That being said and you have read all my previous positive posts, these are the things you should be aware of.
Cons: Once you set your temperatures by the dials, there are no gauges or read outs to tell you what the actual temperature is. For the meat temperature there are LEDs that will let you know when you are more than 40 degrees less then your set range, then it goes in 5 degree increments form -40 to +5(5 degrees over your meat temperature), and of course 0 degrees when the desired temp. is reached. For the cabinet the LEDs let you know what temperature range the cabinet is in, and those lights run in 25 degree increments. I don't feel this is important, because the Raptor/Guru is very accurate in maintaining the cabinet temperature, and even more precise with the meat temperature. My personal gripe is that the wires for the temperature probes are too short for the BS, and lack of documentation that comes with it. Just refer to Bill's post on how to set it up.
Would I like the have the Procom4, of course, but that may be for another time? The Raptor/Guru exceeds my current needs.
I used my Maverick the first couple of times, because I was not comfortable not knowing the exact temperature. Once I found the Raptor/Guru to be accurate, I don't use the Maverick that often with the smoker. If I do use the Maverick and Raptor/Guru together, it is to monitor the temperature of different meats. I was thinking about buying another meat probe for the Maverick. I found out that the meat probe also works when you plug it into the smoker outlet of your Maverick. So this will give my Maverick the ability to monitor two meat temperatures (instead of the smoker and meat). This comes in handy when smoking different cuts of meat at the same time; for example chicken parts that should be cooked to different meat temps.
Thanks Hab!!
I am ready to buy!! Appreciate everyone's help!! I will let you know what "thumbs" can do in hooking it up!
BigRED
I ordered a Raptor/ProComm earlier this week and hope to have it next week. Today was a perfect example of why I wanted one: one daughter had a basketball game at 1:30, the other at 5:30. With travel to and from the gyms, I decided to start smoking 2 chickens and some chuckwagon beans just before the first game in order to eat it after the second game. I fired up the Bradley about an hour ahead of time to stabilize the temperature so I would feel confident leaving it for a couple of hours. Put the chickens in, left came back, temp was still a bit low. Raised it, checked it before the second game, it was high (about 250), lowered it a tad, went to the second game. In the meantime, the ambient temperature dropped about 20 degrees, and I came home to find the smoker at about 150 degrees. Took the chickens out and put them in the oven to finish and they were still perfect, but I didn't like the temperature swings.
By the way, I made a beer can chicken (very good) and the goat cheese/pesto/basil chicken in the S&S cookbook - outta this world! If you haven't tried it, you must. The smell alone was worth it - the smoked basil permeated the house and was wonderful. My youngest daughter, who chose beer can chicken on the grill for her birthday meal (prior to the Bradley) went head over heels for the new chicken. I guess I will use the second best beer can chicken for the white chili posted earlier. Life is so tough sometimes.[:D]
Hey all I don't care to get into a flame war here, but I'm quite frankly worry that someone is going to be looking for a smoker comes across one of these threads and does the math and says...I cannot afford 350.00 for a smoker and 600.00 addon item to control it. This is how it comes across.
This is not a true representation of the Bradley. Using the Bradley is not rocket science, and it does not take a long time to figure out how to use it.
I fully understand how this unit frees up some time. However, when I read another statement like this I have to finally step to the pump and say Whoa!!!
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">it was high (about 250), lowered it a tad, went to the second game. In the meantime, the ambient temperature dropped about 20 degrees, and I came home to find the smoker at about 150 degrees. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> That tade is a 80 degress drop with ambient air and frankly I'm having a hard time with this statement. It totally says the Bradley is unpredicable. Personally I call it operator's lack of understand of the Bradley. This is not the first time I've read statements in this gene.
I have a few questions I hope someone will answer. What happens to the newbie smoker who never learned how to smoke without this unit, and when it is out of warrenty it takes a dump? Do they purchase another one for another 600.00? Or do they move on to a different smoker? And then learn to how to smoke foods? Afterwards trash talking the Bradley?
Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with using one of these units, but smoking should include understanding the smoker. There is nothing that I and other members, here, can not do that those who use this unit can do. The last sauage I did after one hour I stopped checking the Bradley. If anything has to be on the money it is sauage making. Using the Bradley is like baking a ham. You know how many hours per pound. The Bradley is an oven that smokes. That is all. Simple. Either a person can bake or they can't. If a person can't or will not take the time to learn how to bake then this unit is for them.
As I said I don't want a flame war here, but some of the statements I've seen on these types of threads puts the Bradley in a bad light. This is not fair to the Bradley unit.
Olds
http://rminor.com
Delete
BINGO!!! I'm sure that these tools are worth their weight in pastrami-but this is supposed to be fun, man....If you got no time~~~~ go Raptor- if you have time to spare go to the fridge and get a frosty and enjoy the day!!
This is the small print-- Like Olds says - not intended to flame or make fire - we're all a bunch of Happy -go -smokin' -kind of adventurers.
Where there's smoke there's.....a full belly.
Cold Smoke
Cold Smoke
I agree to a point. I choose not to buy a Raptor because once I bought my Bradley, it was the easiest thing since sliced bread. I don't mind spending the 2 or 3 cooks it takes to learn how to make it predictable & repeatable.
Bill likes his Raptor & I would agree that it is a product that only makes the Bradley better. But you do not need one in order to cook excellent food effortlessly. If a newbie buys a unit expecting to cook perfect food with little or no effort & research, they are a dumbass. You can't buy a microwave for the first time and expect the results to be perfect the first time out without reading the directions.
Olds, I don't take this as Bradley-bashing, simply the uninformed trying to request answers to their problems.
Kirk
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
I feel that most of today's consumers are extremely sophisticated, do their homework before making a major purchase such as the BS, and understand that the Raptor/Guru is an accessory, and not a necessity. From my point of view this would encourage me to purchase a BS, knowing that there were accessories like this that I could add on if I wanted to. Also this type of accessory may encourage those who do not have time, to venture into smoking.
Potential smokers, rookies, novice and veteran smokers should know what is available to them, and how these add-ons perform, so they can make an informed decision. The Raptor/Guru is not for everyone, but if it fits into your lifestyle, and budget - it makes the BS perform better, with less "labor". I would compare it to buying a new car. You buy the basic model that works perfectly well, but you have the ability add on a variety of options.
HS,
Great analogy! You said it better than I could.[:)]
Kirk
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
Well said HS. I love my Bradley.
I love it even more by being able to control it better, especially from afar. I consider the BS a continual source of pleasure and enjoyment. The ability to enhance that experience with some bling bling like a Stainless Steel facade, or a rolling cart, and the subject of this post, the guru, are all on the plus side for me.
A Historical perspective. The raptor came to being with an inquiry by me to TheBBQGuru to make something for us electric smokers. I wanted more than a converted oven thermostat to dial in the temp. Approaching this temperature control issue is important to me because I am a lazy person.
You know that lazy people are always looking for an easier way of doing things! The Guru far surpasssed any of my expectations for control, but just wasn't yet able to control an electric smoker.
My interest in controlling the temp all came originally from a post by MSiler who had rigged up an oven thermostat to control temps. Then I think it was Jeff who talked about having the Competitor and posted up the website address.
It tweaked my interest as an alternative to control the smoker temps. Fred, the owner of the company and I had a couple of long bi-coastal phone conversations and he said he thought he could build an accessory to plug into the fan side of the controller and actually got pretty excited about the prospect of a new customer base and that he even had a little stainless box to mount the controller. The Raptor was born.
Fred tried it out first on his Meco smoker, and then he sent it to me to try on the BS. I loved it, and he started building them. The Procom4 came later. I bought it when it was first offered. Ultimately, I could see Bradley integrating something like this to their unit as a stock item.
The focus now returns to the smoker. We all approach the task with a desire to improve the end product, "Burnt offerings" as opposed to tasty grub. We do it with different rubs, brines, marinades and recipes generic to one task.... Great smoked food. There are many paths to get to that end. From my perspective... there would be a lot more "Burnt Offerings" without my Guru.
The accessories are available... what works for me might not be something that works for someone else, but we all have that one thing in common; our interest in the Bradley Smoker. Whether it be Black or Stainless, accessorized or plain; hovering over it like a purist, or drinking a beer by the pool and pushing buttons to control and monitor the smoker from afar.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Look at Smokehouse Rob. He is now building racks to hang stuff from and to set the shelves on. Chez is marketing Bubba pucks aside from all the other stuff he sells. They do change the smoking experience for me, but the accessories arn't for everyone.
For me it makes the smoking experience more enjoyable.
Bill
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nsxbill</i>
"...temperature control issue is important to me because I am a lazy person."
Bill
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I'm lazy too, but I prefer to use the term "less labor". [:D]
FELLOW SMOKERS!
Wow I really didn't mean to start a philisophical war so to speak. My main reason for looking at the Guru/ raptor system is the continued issues I have with the slide control. I am about to put the third one in all replaced by Bradley. So I wanted to simply turn it up all the way and control with this system. Am I on the right track with this thinking?? This also would help me not peak into the BS casue I know things are going right.
BigRED
Yes, you are on the right track. My slide switch has never moved from the full on position since I bought a Guru controller.
Bill
Don't get me wrong. I have had the BS for about 5 weeks now and have smoked ham, chicken, brisket, butt, chicken breasts, and 2 full chickens again. I continue to gain experience and understanding of its nuances (not to imply it is difficult). I have NEVER had a bad smoke yet - everything has turned out great, and with minimal effort (I also appreciate the easy cleanup). However, I have some expendable income, and the Raptor sounded good to me. I am not filthy rich, but a few hundred dollars to solve some of my problems (addressed earlier in this thread) is not a major consideration. I think the question is whether the Raptor (if it is in your price range) might be worth it. For me, without even having it yet, the answer is yes. I had an old Brinkman smoker about 15 years ago and struggled with it. I had to keep adding coals, adding water, adding wood. My brother got the electric coils and we thought it was genius, but you still had to get up several times a night to change the water and add wood. Several years ago we both quit smoking because of the hassle. I even threw out my Brinkman. We both discovered the BS at the same time, independently, and have enthusiastically started smoking again. It is great, but if I can make it even easier, I will.
I am a fraid that if I go down this road I would probably be band. Olds said it best. The Bradley is a great Smoker.
Oh, let me see. Sam's sells a great Smoked, Sliced Brisket that tastes great. WOW, just heat it up in the oven and you are done.
<b><font color="blue">Again, "Rack'em Jay Stew; I'm out."</font id="blue"> </b>
SmokeOn,
(http://www.azbbqa.com/forum/phpbb2/images/avatars/gallery/AZBBQA/mallardsmall.gif)
mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie
If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...
Mallard.
What does this post mean? Is this some kind of slam?
Bill
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BigRed</i>
<br />FELLOW SMOKERS!
Wow I really didn't mean to start a philisophical war so to speak. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">Red,
No war, just emotional conversation amongst, like Bill said, a bunch of guys & gals that have the common passion of the Bradley unit.
I'm betting most regular contributors on this board would jump into a barfight, no questions asked, if another member needed it.[8D]
Kirk
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
I know I'd go to war with any of the guys and gals in this Forum--we might not win, but the food would be great!
More seriously, I can really see where everyone is coming from on this discussion. Olds is worried that some might misinterpret enthusiasm for the Raptor/Guru as a knock on the Bradley and not want to buy it. He's also worried that people won't really learn how to use their Bradley if they immediately load it up with the Raptor/Guru. Duck-man is wondering why one would bother using an "automated" smoker when you can buy the same food commercially. Bill, Habanero and others think the Guru/Raptor is an important addition to their cooking arsenal.
In reality, there is probably violent agreement on many more things than we disagree on. I think everyone agrees that the Bradley is a phenomenal product that makes smoking food much simpler than any other smoker--electric or otherwise--on the market.
I look at this discussion as a matter of "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts". In other words, the overall pleasure one derives from smoking one's own food is greater than the sum of the individual components that go into doing it: procuring the food, preparing the food, trying out different recipes, smoking the food, mastering the use of the smoker, and of course enjoying the food with friends and family. For some, a key part may be growing, catching or killing the food they smoke, while for others that's not important or even possible. A few of us may get more kicks out of creating new recipes, while others will prefer a "tried and true" approach. Most of us will prefer to share our creations with family and friends, but some of us will just as readily cook for ourselves. Some will want to master the skill and art of the smoker, while others will want to make that component as simple as possible. And so it goes . . .
The main point to be made here is that for whatever reasons, we all take great pleasure in making smoked food for a variety and combination of reasons. I personally agree with Olds and Kirk that I don't need a Raptor/Guru, but I could imagine getting one in the future if it would give me more pleasure from my BS. That's the key--what will allow each individual BS owner to get the most pleasure from his or her smoker. For now, I enjoy learning how to use my BS because it's really easy and a huge step forward from my old bullet smoker.
BigRed, don't worry about getting philosophical. Whenever I get philosophical I do the same thing I do when I feel like going out for a run--I lie down on the couch until that feeling goes away.
Think I'll go enjoy a cold one on the couch now . . .
John
Newton MA
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nsxbill</i>
<br />Mallard.
What does this post mean? Is this some kind of slam?
Bill
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
No Bill,
Just a little passionate. The BS is such a great smoker that the thought of having to add something to it to make it work. It kind of befuzzles me.
If you are not a fan of or know of <u>Jim Rome and the Jungle</u>, the last statement won't make any sense.
Like Kirk said, Know body better get on the BS crowd I'd be like a hair on a bad dinner roll. Ask the <b><s><font color="red">[}:)]cookshack[}:)]</font id="red"> </s> </b> folks.
SmokeOn,
(http://www.azbbqa.com/forum/phpbb2/images/avatars/gallery/AZBBQA/mallardsmall.gif)
mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie
If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...
Mallard and all
I am glad that your comment wasn't a slam. I hope you weren't doing a "Rome." My perception of Jim Rome is that he stirs the pot for some type of personal gratification and financial gain. He highlights controversial subjects and gets people worked up and then stands back and watches people react one way or another - sometimes they go to blows and say hurtful things. He actually gets paid to piss people off. He is entertaining...not the entertainment I enjoy, but still entertainment.
Classic smoking isn't a Bradley Smoker. Historically it is a pit of one type or another using wet wood that permeates meat with smoke. The meat is placed in a remote chamber or in a box and heated one way or another indirectly while the smoke enhances the flavor and in some cases preserves food. Sometimes no heat is used.
"Purists" probably poo poo the Bradley as a toy - a convenience, and not a real smoker. This group enjoys this "toy" and extols its virtues daily here with their email posts. There are many approaches to the art of smoking, and I enjoy the contributions of so many different people from around the US, Canada and around the world.
Being critical of further enhancement of one's enjoyment of the art of smoking seems misplaced. It is just another path to perfect smoking and the end product... tasty food. I respect your desire to constantly monitor the Bradley while it smokes your food.
There are many roads between here in California, Alaska, Arkansas, or New York. Some roads are easily traveled-some are more involved, more difficult - less or more traveled-maybe more scenic. If you get to that destination by whatever road, the outcome is the same. I like being rested and able to drink lots of beer at the end of the road, not tired because I have been up all night manipulating an electrical slider switch.
The Guru makes my quest for excellent food easier. It makes me enjoy smoking more. I like the Bradley Smoker despite its shortcomings. I have addressed one of its shortcomings by the use of the Guru.
It isn't for everyone, but it works for me, and that personal relationship with this cooking tool is what we all relate to.
I apologize for the rant.
Happy Smoking!
Bill
Very eloquent all! Frankly, I don't think this much thought or discussion was put into the last presidential election...[:D][:D][:D]
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by bsolomon</i>
<br />Very eloquent all! Frankly, I don't think this much thought or discussion was put into the last presidential election...[:D][:D][:D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">[:D][:D][:D]
Peace in smokin'[8D],
Kirk
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
Nicely put John,
At the end of day may we all have fun and make more freinds. It will come down to the relationships we have that will count.
I may listen to the Jungle, but I am not apart of it. You are exactly correct about Rome, he is the most arogant man alive, if he can only say things once I might listen to him more often. But if you do listen: you know what "racke'm" means, it is usually in referance to some one that is worth saving his comment on. Bill you have always added good things to this forum, and if everyone was the same it would be not half as big as it now. I sometimes loose perspective, I forget what it may look like on the other side of the screen.
Peace, Smoke and Rock & Roll..............
SmokeOn,
(http://www.azbbqa.com/forum/phpbb2/images/avatars/gallery/AZBBQA/mallardsmall.gif)
mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie
If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by MallardWacker</i>
<br />Peace, Smoke and Rock & Roll..............<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">Why do I have the strange feeling that on any other board on the internet, that statement has a totally different meaning?[:D][:D][:D]
Kirk
http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?
The Bradley works fine...just don't like to keep adjusting it. Many have got it down pat, and know where to set it. I just set in on high and the controller does it for me. Matter of preference and pocketbook depth. I will be purchasing a charcoal pit from them too, and the Procom4 works on any pit.
With or without it, it does a fine job.
Bill
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by smokinrookie</i>
<br />OK.....NOW THAT MY HEAD IS TRULY SPINNING.
I HAVE A CHARCOAL SMOKER AT WHICH I AM STILL VERY MUCH A ROOKIE.
IVE DONE RIBS,BUTTS,TURKEYS AND CHICKEN.. THE REASON I AM LOOKING AT THE BRADLEY IS I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO COLD SMOKE FISH AND LEARN TO DO SOME SAUSAGES.
IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE A LOT EASIER TO KEEP A CONSTANT TEMP..
THIS ROUSING DISCUSSION HAS ME CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO KEEP A CONSTANT TEMP.
IS THE SLIDE TEMP CONTROL AN ISSUE?
remember.......all you can do is all you can do... then you are done!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Bill is right in his eminently pithy way . . . with or without the Guru the BS does a fine job! [:D]
I've had my BS for a little over a month, and with each use I have to adjust the temp slide less and less often. Once I hit the temp I want, it pretty much stays there. The Maverick ET-73 is all I need to alert me if the temps get out of bounds, and I don't get awakened from a night's sleep anymore unless the Mav meat probe tells me the meat is done. For me, the Guru/Raptor is a luxury that isn't in my budget right now, but it sure is a wonderful unit that does a great job!
Bottom line: don't hesitate to get the BS--the learning curve is easy and the smoker is versatile and reliable! [:D]
John
Newton MA
If your basic purpose is to cold smoke, then the slide temperature control will not be an issue. You will be either smoking with the heating element unplugged or the slider to the far left position.
I use to use, and at times still use my water smoker; but find the BS the easiest smoker to maintain temperature, but it is not maintenance free. For me the BS is the luxury, and the Raptor/Guru is a convenience.
As Bill states, many have the adjustments down pat, but I find that changes in the ambient temperature and other weather conditions has an effect on the internal temperature of the BS, which requires manual adjustments. I do stress the temperature adjustment requires a lot less maintenance than a charcoal smoker.
nsxbill-
Did you write that you can control the temp of the bs with the competitor, I have a competitor but cant figure out how to regulate temp on the bs or do I need a raptor? Thanks for any help
gotbbq (http://www.dow-mgc.org/smilies/Launch63.gif)
If you have the competitor you will only need to purchase the Raptor. If your current themocoupler is 4'; I suggest you purchase a 6' or 8' thermocoupler. Although the 4' is alright, the extra 2-4 feet will come in handy for use in the BS.