Bradley build quality

[stu]

Hi

I am thinking of asking Santa for a Bradley smoker for Christmas, I know it�s getting a bit late. I had settled on the Stainless Steel Original version and then read a couple of reviews last night, both indicated the build quality and robustness left a lot to be desired. I would appreciate any comments from Bradley owners about the construction of their Bradley either the SS or the Black one.

Cheers
Stu

[THING]

Hi Stu, a bit of advice if you don't mind, Contact the Bradley people direct thus cutting out the middle man, by doing this you will make a massive saving. The money I saved was enough to stock up on an abundance of ingredients. They also packaged together 48 bisquettes, a set of Jerky racks and a cover too.

As for the reviews ignore them, Stu, go for the SS. The proof is in the pudding (or the smoked goods the Bradley offers)

Hope this helps.

[stu]

Hi Thing

I don't mind the advise if it's to my advantage. Did you contact Bradley in the UK or the US?

Cheers
Stu

[THING]

Initially through an agent in the UK who then referred me to Head office in the US. Stu, I can see you are a UK resident like me, so you stand to make an impressive saving due to the US exchange rate.

Heres the clever bit, you pay online at US prices and to avoid shipping costs arrange to collect from the UK distribution outlet.

[Hobbitfeet]

I've had the Stainless version for a couple of years now...easier to keep clean. I can thoroughly recommend them as a top piece of kit.

[welsh wizard]

Hi Stu I act as an agent for Bradley and I can assure you the quality (although the unit is light) is excellent.

It does what it says on the tin!

Cheers WW...............

[stu]

Hi Thing

I assume the distribution centre was fairly local or you travel regularly to that part of the country. I am not sure this will work for me as I cannot travel during normal working hours, I have a desk job.

Hi Hobbitfeet & WW

Think for the feed back. I thought it would do what it said on the tin but these 2 reviews just made be a bit cautious.

Cheers
Stuart

[dougal]

It depends on what you might be comparing it with, surely?
The Bradley must seem very small and light in comparison to the whopping great horizontal barrel + chimney that seems to be the essence of US "bbq".

The Bradley is essentially two units. The smoke generator and the box.
As it stands, having a compact electrically heated box close to the source of smoke, it must be a very convenient and compact means of achieving a "bbq" result, without having something the size of a small car permanantly parked at the bottom of the garden.

However, I suspect that if one were primarily interested in colder smoking, then the freedom from fuss of the smoke generator might be better used in conjunction with an old cupboard, or similar larger enclosure, rather than shelling out for a compact nifty metal box with a heater.
That said, its the prospective running costs that put me off.

[welsh wizard]

I am not here to defend the Bradley but after spending many years cold and hot smoking, the freedom the Bradley gives from checking the temp and the time, is worth the extra cost - the burner unit can be purchased and than a box built to act as smoke storage, but for me, and it is a personal opinion, for the extra the box is worth it.

Cheers WW.

[saucisson]

If you can afford it I would go for the full package in stainless steel, unless you are a DIY tinkerer like me who would just get the generator on its own.

Dave

[Heather]

We have a black Bradley, modified with an additional stainless steel box in between the smoke generator and smoker cabinet to allow for better cold-smoking. We have had a lot of use out of it, it lives in the shed and is easy to run and keep clean. The convenience of being able to put food in, load it up and turn it on, and perhaps check on it periodically is a big plus. We usually run an 8-hour cold smoke, and get good results with bacon, fish, cheese, butter, salt, garlic, etc.

Considering my Kenwood Chef cost almost as much as a Bradley, go for it!

[hoodoobluesman]

hello hello,

how does the bradley rate when it comes to a large piece of meat???
such as a 12 lb brisket or turkey..

do you have to run smoke generator to keep 250 f in unit??

what is highest sustainable degree of heat??

larry

[Heather]

Hopefully others can answer this last question, as I have only used my Bradley to hot-smoke once, but this is what is says on their website : "Using the independently controlled internal heating element the Bradley Smoker will also hot smoke, or may be used simply as a slow cooker or slow roasting oven. The low temperature cooking environment is perfect for any smoking project and the infra red heater source is also particularly well suited for drying fruits"

[saucisson]

from their site:

The Bradley Smoker � is capable of hot smoking at temperatures up to 320 deg F . The infra red heater element is controlled by the slide controller at the front of the unit.

Dave

Edit: I don't know if this is with or without the smoke generator, but as that is 80W you could just mount a 100W light bulb inside for "oven use" to save wear and tear on the generator. Oh dear, I'm DIYing again

[stu]

Hi

I managed to see an Original Bradley in action today. I was told the SS version is only SS on the outside and the inner is the same as the Original Black Bradley, Aluminum. I also saw a cold smoking adapter made from a cardboard box and some Pheasant breast smoked using it, they looked and smelt good. My conclusion is that the difference in price does not justify the SS version therefore I have asked Santa for an Original Bradley and a cardboard box.

Thank you all for the advice.

Cheers
Stuart