This is sort of an abbreviated repeat of my second post to the Roll Call section. I didn't really receive any replies that answered any of my questions so I figure maybe it's just in the wrong forum.
I've been planning on building my own electric smoker that would be along the lines of the MES but a bit bigger and hopefully much more durable. Double wall and insulated about 2' wide x 1.5' deep x 3' or 4' tall. I found a couple of very decent looking digital thermostats online and I've even considered using a Smoke Daddy smoke generator. I'm semi-competent at fabricating so I'm not too concerned about that part. But then a few days ago my brother was visiting from out of town and told me about how great his WSM works...
Dang it! I didn't believe him at first because the ease of use he described sounded too good to be true. I did a little research online and found that everything he said and more was echoed on various websites. Ok, so then I started really giving that WSM a hard look. It's completely different from what I was planning to build but it looks to be almost as set-it-and-forget-it as the electric, it doesn't require an electric cord, and I won't have to hang my head in shame when I discuss my BBQ/Smoking techniques with the old school, hardcore crowd.
Seriously though, while I believe in using whatever gets the job done, (And I know from experience that an electric does just that) I also would like to start using the more traditional methods. I realize that buying a bullet smoker isn't exactly, "Old school" but at least it's using something akin to real wood and there isn't a propane tank or electric cord attached.
I'm very impressed with the WSM but the price is pretty steep in my opinion, especially for the 22" model that I'm eyeballing. I'm pretty poor right now and I can't really afford either the 18.5" or 22" WSM's. Is it a sin to bump up my credit card debt for the love of smoked pork, beef and chicken? Oh God I hope not.
Now for the main part of this post...I came across the ProQ Excel 20 bullet smoker. http://www.probbq.co.uk/Excel.html I read this review: http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/vi...ighlight=excel And watched numerous YouTube videos including these two: and (Parts 1 and 2). I even found a killer deal on Ebay for only $199 shipped! According to the two part video comparison between the ProQ and the WSM the ProQ really held it's own. But I've read very little about this smoker on the SMF forum, (Zero actually) and I'm not sure why. Is it just too new? Or do the good folks here know something bad about it and just aren't spilling the beans?
I did find a review about a different ProQ model, (Frontier) on this forum and it wasn't too favorable. But it's a cheaper and older model and what the reviewer said didn't match what the other info and videos I've seen at all when it comes to the quality of the ProQ Excel 20 model. Still, I'm a little skeptical and I'm hoping someone on this forum can offer some advice based on either first or second hand knowledge of this smoker.
It appears to be as well built as the WSM. It has several features that are lacking in the WSM that I really like. It's bigger than the 18.5" WSM, (Which is really the only size I can afford) and it's cheaper. It's also expandable with a 3rd level. It's bigger than I would need 90% of the time but I have been known to put out a lot of food on occasion. My theory with a lot of things is that it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I'm being drawn to this thing like a moth to a flame. Thanks for any and all advice.
Bruce
I've been planning on building my own electric smoker that would be along the lines of the MES but a bit bigger and hopefully much more durable. Double wall and insulated about 2' wide x 1.5' deep x 3' or 4' tall. I found a couple of very decent looking digital thermostats online and I've even considered using a Smoke Daddy smoke generator. I'm semi-competent at fabricating so I'm not too concerned about that part. But then a few days ago my brother was visiting from out of town and told me about how great his WSM works...
Dang it! I didn't believe him at first because the ease of use he described sounded too good to be true. I did a little research online and found that everything he said and more was echoed on various websites. Ok, so then I started really giving that WSM a hard look. It's completely different from what I was planning to build but it looks to be almost as set-it-and-forget-it as the electric, it doesn't require an electric cord, and I won't have to hang my head in shame when I discuss my BBQ/Smoking techniques with the old school, hardcore crowd.
I'm very impressed with the WSM but the price is pretty steep in my opinion, especially for the 22" model that I'm eyeballing. I'm pretty poor right now and I can't really afford either the 18.5" or 22" WSM's. Is it a sin to bump up my credit card debt for the love of smoked pork, beef and chicken? Oh God I hope not.
Now for the main part of this post...I came across the ProQ Excel 20 bullet smoker. http://www.probbq.co.uk/Excel.html I read this review: http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/vi...ighlight=excel And watched numerous YouTube videos including these two: and (Parts 1 and 2). I even found a killer deal on Ebay for only $199 shipped! According to the two part video comparison between the ProQ and the WSM the ProQ really held it's own. But I've read very little about this smoker on the SMF forum, (Zero actually) and I'm not sure why. Is it just too new? Or do the good folks here know something bad about it and just aren't spilling the beans?
I did find a review about a different ProQ model, (Frontier) on this forum and it wasn't too favorable. But it's a cheaper and older model and what the reviewer said didn't match what the other info and videos I've seen at all when it comes to the quality of the ProQ Excel 20 model. Still, I'm a little skeptical and I'm hoping someone on this forum can offer some advice based on either first or second hand knowledge of this smoker.
It appears to be as well built as the WSM. It has several features that are lacking in the WSM that I really like. It's bigger than the 18.5" WSM, (Which is really the only size I can afford) and it's cheaper. It's also expandable with a 3rd level. It's bigger than I would need 90% of the time but I have been known to put out a lot of food on occasion. My theory with a lot of things is that it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I'm being drawn to this thing like a moth to a flame. Thanks for any and all advice.
Bruce