mods, cheats, and ideas

[teesquare]

No matter what kind of equipment you use - there is at least ONE thing that you would like to see the manufacturer change or improve. Or something that you have done, or are planning to do - or questions about what to do - and you would like some suggestions and input from others.

Let's hear about it!

[smokeasaurus]

Where do I start

30" CB Electric Smoker: put a handle on the smoker box and change the holder that holds the smoker box so it sits closer to the heating element.

Weber Smokey Mountain: charcoal ring should be attatched to the charcoal grate. Handles should be added to the main body ( not for the hot squat but for ease of cleaning when dissassembling)

Weber Kettle: higher arch on the lid for clearance for turkeys and ham

Good One Open Range: instead of the side loading ash tray, make it front loading.

OK I feel better now

[CaptJack]

I like my old (20yrs) NewBraunfels smoker - BUT!!

I like it a lot better now that I have the electric heating element in it.
I especially like the little steel wood chip pan that sits "directly" on the heating element.
I also like that it is made out of heavy gauge steel.

but it needs a wood chunk refill door cut into the bottom of the big door so I don't have to open the big door to add wood.
and I wish it was insulated, and it sealed better.
I also wish it would run hotter, up to around 275°
it runs at 200° now, but is not adjustable



but, it works & it is what it is....

[smokeasaurus]

You got a classic BBQ there Captain

[TMB]

OH boy did you open a good thread!

The new version of the SRG needs a few things.
First...  Close off the side vent (heat raises not flows sideways)  add a 4 to 5 in movable vent to the top of the lid (like mine)
Second..   Add an adjustable vent to the smoker box, the way it's made now the chips/pellets don't burn complete and you will not get enough smoke.     
Third make an easy out basket for the SRG not just TBE
The BEESR
Add an adjustable door to the smoker box so the chips/pellets will burn more complete.

DCBE...  OH that's my smoker      MAKE IT!

[teesquare]

All of these are good ideas that surely have come from frustrations and burnt fingers

One gripe I have is that no manufacturers put the thermometers where the cooking goes on, near the grate at "meat level". They all put them up high. Heat rises. So - those readings are never what the meat is experiencing.
I know we all use any one of a number of better type thermometers - but, if the oven temp was more accurate - it would be easier to predict our cooking times with less hassle.

Just sayin....

[smokeasaurus]

Good Luck finding a store bought off-set with the exhaust mounted more towards grate level.......

[teesquare]

Excellent point smoke!

[deestafford]

I have no mods but I am amazed.  Amazed that Tommy has an idea for a mod.   That's unbelievable.   Dee

[teesquare]

I am waiting for Tommy to paint NASA down the side, and add booster rockets to an SRG

[smoker pete]

I would love to see Bradley come out with a new smoker that has a built in Auber PID and a 900 - 1000 watt heating element.  Tweaking the Smoke Generator and puck advance mechanism wouldn't hurt either.  Many of us, myself included, have bought and use the Auber PID and have modified our units beyond the existing 500 watt element.

I once ran a poll on the Bradley forum asking how many owners would buy such a unit mentioned above and more than 80% of Bradley smokers owners that responded to that poll said they would turn around and buy one yesterday!!

[teesquare]

Would be nice if there were more manufacturers of the pucks too Pete.....
Just as cookin' pellets have finally become available in a few places locally - perhaps the pucks would too. That could only serve to help the Bradley cause.
T

[smokeasaurus]

It seems that Bradley kinda put themselves in a niche market by using only proprietary pucks.
From what I have seen and heard they sure are nice units and more local availability of the pucks would probably help them sell more units because the pucks scared me off........

[CaptJack]

the only place I have seen Bradley pucks in Houston is at Academy
and they are EXPENSIVE

[TwoPockets]

Good Luck finding a store bought off-set with the exhaust mounted more towards grate level.......

Academy Sports sells a line of smokers by Old Country our of Laredo TX that have their exhaust mounted down at grill level. These are heavy gauge steel smokers, all welded construction, no assembly to them and with care you can pass them down to your grandchildren. They don't market them as "grills/smokers" so they don't have a charcoal grate over in the cooking chamber. They are smokers. They are more pricey than the other offsets Academy sells, but are much much better built and actually guite reasonable for such a heavy guage smoker. This is one of their lower mid range smokers which is good for a home cook. Academy sells them up into the $1400 range and Old Country sells much higher end trailer competition smokers from their website.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_311401_-1?N=77985508