I hope this is the right place...

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

..for this to be placed.


Okay folks,

First off sadly to say, I am not a Bradley owner. I own a Masterbuilt Smoker in the SS Digital model. I can't really cold smoke, but it works great so far in what I have been smoking (which leads me to another question I will ask at the end of this post). Box temperature seems accurate between the digital apparatus that came with the smoker and the Maverick ET-73 Redi-Chek Remote Smoker Thermometer that I purchased (thanks to the forums) and an "El cheap-O" oven thermometer for a three-point box check. Over all I am impressed on temperature accuracy.

So the problem I am having is in obtaining smoking wood chips other then Hickory and Mesquite. I have check the standard stores, Lowe's, Home Depot, W(al-mart)ally World, K(razy)–Mart and Sam's Club here in WV, to no avail.

I have found them on the Internet (apple, maple, alder, and a few others) but the cost on shipping is either the same price of the product or even more.

Now to my question's, (1) can the Bradley Smoking pucks be broken down and used the same way as the smoking wood chips? The soaking time recommended for the wood chips is a minimum of 30 minutes, drain and then place in the smoker burning plate, which is also the heating box element.

If I break up the Bradley puck(s), how long would be the suggested soak time, and will the Bradley puck turn into an oatmeal consistency and then having a problem getting them to produce smoke?

Now to Question 2..

Do you feel it would be feasible to purchase a Bradley Smoke generator to retro fit it into the Masterbuilt Smoker to do cold smokes only,(does the Bradley Generator produce the smoke, or does it just place it on a hot plate?) and then using the Masterbuilt Smoker main heater smoker for the hot smoke as it was originally made for, or use both in combination?

Sorry for taking up so much of your time. I just got tired of smoking in the Gas Grill Weber using the cast iron smoke box. I came across the Masterbuilt Smoker from a friend of mine, and found the Bradley forum doing a search looking for smoking forums and found this through the Bradley Smoker Website.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm

[Mr Walleye]

As far as using the Bradley Pucks and breaking them apart goes, I would think you could if you wanted but I don't think that it would be very cost effective. As far as soaking time goes... I would think it would be very similar or at least that's where I would start. Instead of doing that I would continue to try to source some various wood chips close to home. Here is a Thread on the SMF forum about where to buy chips from.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6620

Here is a thread on a cold smoking attachment a member over at the SMF forums made.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11744

Here is a link to the Electric Smoker part of the SMF forum. They refer to the Masterbuilt as "MES". There is a fair bit of information and tips regarding your Masterbuilt Smoker there.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24&pp=20&sort=lastpost&order=desc&daysprune=-1

The Bradley Generator is a self contained smoke generator. It does have it's own 150 watt heating element that causes the pucks to burn. It certianly can be retrofitted to just about anything.

Mike

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

Mike,

Thanks for the links. What do you feel or what is your opinion towards this, and your opinion as far as cost effective.

As I have stated earlier, shipping VS product price is cost prohibitive. The price for the Bradley pucks are cheaper then trying to order Chips on line. MY concern is the viability of smoke VS the soak time and or whether is will work.

I have ample of Granny Apple trees that are downed along with branches and limbs of Crab apple and cherry and Persimmon. What I don't know is what would be the required dry time of such wood chips prior to using them for smoking.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm

[Mr Walleye]

Here is another link to a pretty good discussion on various types of wood for smoking. It seems the general guide line for aging it is about 6 months.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1034

It also seems most prefer chunks vs saw dust. I wonder about pellets such as the ones they use in the Traeger grills? Here is a link to the Traeger site. There has to be a reasonable altenative to your situation.
http://www.traegergrills.com/shop/Results.cfm?category=11

Mike

[Mr Walleye]

Here is another option for you. Amazon has a free shipping option. I did a search on "smoker wood chips" and here are the results.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-4921784-8054527?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=smoker+chips

Mike

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

Here is another option for you. Amazon has a free shipping option. I did a search on "smoker wood chips" and here are the results.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-4921784-8054527?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=smoker+chips

Mike

Thanks for the links.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Fazrm

[NePaSmoKer]

Steve

Go to Cabelas in MV and get wood. Dont know how far a drive it is for you.

nepas

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

Steve

Go to Cabelas in MV and get wood. Dont know how far a drive it is for you.

nepas

nepas,

Are you talking about the Cabelas up in Wheeling,WV? If so that is about a two hour trip one way. I would have to call to make sure they had them in stock.

Thanks!

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm

[MoSmoke]

Here is another Amazon link with pretty good shipping ratesit seems.

http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&me=A1FJ1PJGIKSZ97

John