Deciding on the smoker.

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ugdlocal13

Newbie
Original poster
Nov 22, 2016
1
10
I need help deciding on I would smoker, I am trying to decide between a Bradley or a Traeger which one is better and which one holds the heat.

Thank you
 
I don't own either one of them so I can't help with your question.

At your leisure would you swing by Roll Call & introduce yourself.

Then we can all give you a proper welcome.

Al
 
 
I need help deciding on I would smoker, I am trying to decide between a Bradley or a Traeger which one is better and which one holds the heat.

Thank you
Don't own either one because I chose not to buy either one. With Bradleys you're required to use their proprietary bisquettes that are delivered to the heating element by an electric motor thing. I like to choose my own smoke source, which are wood pellets in an AMNPS. As for Traeger, from a bro-in-law's experience and from what some owners have posted here they are not airtight at all and so temp fluctuations are a major problem. My bro-in-law curses his Traeger a lot and already had to replace a major part on it, and he bought it during early summer.

I own a Masterbuilt 30" digital electric smoker, a generation 1 model. Got it for under $200 and sometimes you can find it for between $130-175.
 
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My 2 cents: get a Smokin-it. No moving parts. Fully insulated, all stainless inside and out. Three year warranty on the smoker and if you get a digital model 1 year on the digital controller.
 
 
I need help deciding on I would smoker, I am trying to decide between a Bradley or a Traeger which one is better and which one holds the heat.

Thank you
The insulated one is going to "hold the heat" of course. I don't own either, either. But admittedly I am biased, but I wouldn't want either one of those for specific reasons to me. A lot depends on what you actually will be using it for and your budget. A Treager is going to get you higher heat if you want it for grilling (sort of)- not so much on the Bradley. As mentioned I don't like the use of the proprietary pucks of the Bradleys either, but there are a lot of folks that like them. Rec-Tec would be my choice for a pellet pooper over the Treager. Masterbuilt over the Bradley or a Smokin-it if you can afford a high-end unit.
 
My 2 cents: get a Smokin-it. No moving parts. Fully insulated, all stainless inside and out. Three year warranty on the smoker and if you get a digital model 1 year on the digital controller.
If I had both the money and porch or someplace to store it outside, I might opt for a Smokin-it, too, but I also lean toward Cookshack. But I forget, didn't you buy a dinged Cookshack AmeriQue at a great price a few years ago? Even if you didn't, again if I had the bucks and the storage room I'd go for a Cookshack.
 
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Not sure if you're interested in a propane smoker, but my 24" "Smoke Vault" by Camp Chef is a great unit. It's well built and easy to use although the temp gauge is a good 25 degrees off like most others. Price wise....it's in the $250+ category.
 
 
Not sure if you're interested in a propane smoker, but my 24" "Smoke Vault" by Camp Chef is a great unit. It's well built and easy to use although the temp gauge is a good 25 degrees off like most others. Price wise....it's in the $250+ category.
Very interesting that you mentioned the Smoke Vault. My wife runs a home daycare and one of the moms recently surprised hubby with this very smoker, the 24 in. propane model. I've read many positive reviews on it. The biggest complaint? Just like the Smoke Hollow it's frequently delivered damaged. The hubby told us his looked fine. Since he knows I'm an avid smoker he'll report back on how he likes it.
 
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Yes I bought a refurb or scratch and dent. And I could not find any scratch or dent or sign of use. I moved it to my son's home a couple hours away so I can enjoy Q there. I use the SI 3D at my home. No regrets on either unit. And they are pricier than much of what is out there but there are no moving parts to break as there are with pellet or biscuit smokers. Sometimes less is more.
 
Yes I bought a refurb or scratch and dent. And I could not find any scratch or dent or sign of use. I moved it to my son's home a couple hours away so I can enjoy Q there. I use the SI 3D at my home. No regrets on either unit. And they are pricier than much of what is out there but there are no moving parts to break as there are with pellet or biscuit smokers. Sometimes less is more.
All I gotta say, Old Sarge, is..you sure know your smokers. The 3D is one fine electric smoker.
 
My brother and I bought the same unit from different sources and they were both delivered in good condition. Good Luck!
 
daRicksta,

There is a very slight, nearly non-existent learning curve with the controller on the SI units.  It is a fully programmable PID but is easy to master.  On the CS, the only 'programming' you can do is set the cook temp and time or cook temp and meat internal temp. While the SI/Auber requires you to program in a keep warm temp (any temp you want) that kicks in when your time is up or the meat has reached the desired IT, the CS does it automatically at a fixed pre-set 140 degrees.  I am really enjoying the SI. 
 
 
daRicksta,

There is a very slight, nearly non-existent learning curve with the controller on the SI units.  It is a fully programmable PID but is easy to master.  On the CS, the only 'programming' you can do is set the cook temp and time or cook temp and meat internal temp. While the SI/Auber requires you to program in a keep warm temp (any temp you want) that kicks in when your time is up or the meat has reached the desired IT, the CS does it automatically at a fixed pre-set 140 degrees.  I am really enjoying the SI. 
That's an important difference, Sarge. Maybe someday I'll be able to afford an SI and build some kind of permanent covered outdoor cooking space for it.
 
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