Possibly purchasing a Bradley

[Richierich]

Having seen me on my hands and knees messing about with my Heath Robinson contraption one too many times my Wife has suggested we invest in a Bradley.

I have a few questions -

Can it be left outside permanently, I notice a cover is available, but is this just designed to keep summer showers off?

Should I therefore build a cover over it and fit a showerproof socket outside in order to use it in inclement weather? Or is it a fair weather toy?

I would probably only use the unit for cold smoking, the BradleySmoker website seems to make too much of the fact that you might get a rise in temperature, suggesting that it is in fact unsuitable, they point to Arden Supplies website where they show a modification, why would I spend all that money and then go back to the Heath Robinson approach?

Anyone have any experience of actually using one?

[Gordon]

I have used one for quite a while now and am really happy with it, I had a small problem and Bradley replaced my smoke generator FOC. I can't praise their after sales enough. My brother-in-law was so impressed with my Bradley he bought the digital version a couple of weeks ago and he is also completely satisfied.

When you are cold smoking you will have to build yourself a "smoker box" so as to move the generator away from the actual smoker cabinet. The new smoker box and cabinet are connected together by some 4 inch aluminium ducting available from the DIY stores ( I got mine from Wicks ), there are lots of example through out this forum on this type of setup.

As far as leaving it out in all weathers I would invest in a small shed affair see Havens Kitchen on SKY TV ( he uses a small plastic tool chest ) and I believe Jenny Haddow has a realy nice solution based on a small wooden tool store, it looks really professional.

[deeps-23]

ive had a bradley for about five years a great smoker ,temp can rise when cold smoking,i used to open door till temp dropped it was for a couple of mins ,ive now made a cold smoke box,i run a extention cable to mine if wet keep plug dry with poly cover.i keep mine outside in home made shelter.ive smoked many different meats and fish both hot and cold with no problems,any questions i can help you with i will try my best.
deeps-23

[Richierich]

Thanks for the reply, I suppose if I position it out of sight then a smoke box isn't too bad to have to put in there. A small tool shed was what I was thinking of putting it in.

Does it have 2 seperate power supplies, one for the element and one for the smoke generator? Or do they daisy chain?

What did you use as a smoke box??

Has anyone seen the cold smoke adaptor that they mention on the BradleySmoker site, is it available yet??

[welsh wizard]

Hi there just to answer some of your questions:

The waterproof cover is well made and should be fine for out doors in all kinds of weather but I would raise the unit off the ground.

Regarding power supplies it is a one plug operation, you just conect your smoke generator to your smoking cabinet via a kettle type lead and that starts the heating element inside the smoker. For cold smoking you leave the lead off.

Cold smoking can be achieved by the use of a cardboard box and a length of piping. It is quite a simple operation and works very well. Re the Bradley smoking box, I have not seen one of these yet so cant really comment but I expect it to be like a metal cardboard box if you know what I mean...........Cold smoking can be done in warm weather by placing a few freezer packs in the bottom of the Bradley to take the temprature down. Rember the Bradley smokes at a much faster rate than a standard smoker so the blocks should be effective during the period of smoking. For example, sides of salmon take on average 3 hours to complete - but of course that is to my taste!

Cheers WW

[jenny_haddow]

I'm well pleased with my Bradley. I use it mainly for fish, and I've had some great kippers, haddock and salmon out of it. I posted some pictures of my set up in a small garden shed, with microwave casings as the smoke box. Works a treat.

Cheers

Jen

http://forum.sausagemaking.org/viewtopic.php?t=2890&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

[Richierich]

Thanks for the link Jenny, not sure the garden here would take something like that, maybe I should be a fair weather smoker.......

[Jaunty]

Hi all.

I just received a Bradley 4 rack digital smoker as a present. Thought I would just add to this thread that Bradley have now brought out their own adapter for cold smoking. Costs around �70.

[Richierich]

Thanks for the information, I had read somewhere that this was in the pipeline.

http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/acatalog/ ... -HK23.html

Better information and pictures here -

http://www.bradleysmoker.co.uk/products ... s/cold.php

Although it seems a lot of money for what you are getting, it does keep the aesthetics in line with the main chamber.

Out of interest, does the Bradley have vents in the main chamber to allow a flow through of smoke, I know there have been discussions surrounding issues with possible staleness created by too little flow through, I can't see from the photos on the Bradley site if there are such vents, can any owners offer help, I am more interested now that they have there own cold smoker.....

[saucisson]

http://www.bradleysmoker.co.uk/products ... _meat6.php



Where must I put the smoker and can it be used indoors?

The Bradley Smoker is a natural draft smoker which means that smoke rises through the cabinet and exits through the vent in the top. It would normally be used outdoors and is light enough to lift and carry easily from a place of permanent storage into the open air. That said, it would be perfectly possible to use the smoker indoors have arranged a method of smoke extraction. A normal extractor fan, above the smoker would cope easily.

How much smoke does it make?

Too much to use indoors in a confined space without specific ventilation - see above. But outside in the open , or under a lean to, the smoke rapidly dissipates . It does not make bonfires full of smoke. It will not disturb the neighbours!

[wheels]

Am I correct in thinking that the Bradley Smoker 'cold smokes' much more quickly than by 'trickle smoking'?

What sort of times are we talking about for (say) cold smoked streaky bacon?

Phil

[fremented]

I had a Bradley for several years, now. Cannot say enough how well the unit works. Even the shipping/packaging is thought out very nice. Cold smoking, do as other mentioned, build a remote box. It is very hard to cold smoke in if not impossible. You might be doing it in winter, and opening the door now and then to remove heat, maybe turn off periodically . Building the remote smoke box is the way to go for cold smoking.

My unit sits outside under a roof, they become rather smokey

My only complaint is the cost of smoke, a little over a 'falling/failing" buck per hour of smoke. Right now I have to order pucks online, my closest carrier of smoke pucks has stopped carrying them. There is not very much room in the smoker, if you get serious smoking. I am getting ready to build a smoker like wittdogs, maybe not that big

Having seen me on my hands and knees messing about with my Heath Robinson contraption one too many times my Wife has suggested we invest in a Bradley.

I have a few questions -

Can it be left outside permanently, I notice a cover is available, but is this just designed to keep summer showers off?

Should I therefore build a cover over it and fit a showerproof socket outside in order to use it in inclement weather? Or is it a fair weather toy?

I would probably only use the unit for cold smoking, the BradleySmoker website seems to make too much of the fact that you might get a rise in temperature, suggesting that it is in fact unsuitable, they point to Arden Supplies website where they show a modification, why would I spend all that money and then go back to the Heath Robinson approach?

Anyone have any experience of actually using one?

[Bad Flynch]

Not much to add at this point, except to say that I have kept my Bradley outdoors for years now. It is, however, covered with the plastic cover and under a roof, but not enclosed. It seems no worse for the wear.

I have the new cold smoker attachment, but have not had a chance to use it yet.

I did replace some of the use of my Bradley with the larger SmokinTex unit, simply because of size and the availability of chunk wood over those pucks. I just got the SmokinTex yesterday and do not even have it set up yet, so will have to let you know about this one later.

Get the larger digital model in stainless. I know that this makes the Bradley more expensive, but it is really more expensive to replace a whole machine to get capacity.

Hope that helps.

[Richierich]

Thanks for all the comments, looks like the Wife agrees we should buy a Bradley with the Cold Smoke adaptor, not sure about going stainless, not sure that capacity will be an issue, I don't intend to go into commercial production with this thing.

[Jaunty]

Although it [the Bradley cold smoke adapter] seems a lot of money for what you are getting, it does keep the aesthetics in line with the main chamber.

Another small point is that if you have a Digital model you still need to have the sensor 'connected' and you get a bypass sensor plug included. The way I look at it is you are paying quite a bit for a Bradley, but get convenience and quality. And it's exactly the same with their cold smoke adapter.

Out of interest, does the Bradley have vents in the main chamber to allow a flow through of smoke, I know there have been discussions surrounding issues with possible staleness created by too little flow through, I can't see from the photos on the Bradley site if there are such vents, can any owners offer help, I am more interested now that they have there own cold smoker.....

As mentioned, there is a manual vent on top of the smoker (a 'wheel' that you can open/close by degreees)