North west BBQ wannabe

[crizmo]

Hi Guys,

Name: Chris McKean
Location: Warrington
Ocupation: Computer Network Engineer
Age: 29
Hobbies: Rugby league and gambling


Went to a few southern states in America a few months ago. Since then I've decided to buy a smoker. Looking at an Excel 20 or frontier (Still undecided but likely to lean to Excel). Hoping this smoker it might put an end to me not being able to drink or talk to anyone when I have a BBQ round mine.

Cheers

Chris

[RobinC]

Welcome to the forum. I'm also North West (ish) being located about 30 miles south of warrington

I used to communicate to Warrington daily until a few months ago - can't say I'm missing the M56!

[London Irish]

Welcome to the forum Chris,

The smoking guys and gals on here will give you all the advice you need re. choices etc.

See you're into rugby , fantastic sport although League is the wrong code for me but then again you're a northerner and I'm a southerner

John

[thebarbecuemaster]

welcome to this great forum you will learn alot . My recommendation is to get a weber rocky mountain smoker as a beginner-its the best for a beginner. Its easy to use and lasts. Mine are over 12 years old-as I get older i stop at 12 years but they are more like 15 years old take a look at the link where you can see how to use aweber smoker in the video its so easy. Ask your questions here in the forum we will do our best to get you bbwing like a pittmaster!



http://www.thebarbecuemaster.net/weber-smoker.html

[keith157]

If you go with the ProQ as opposed to the WSM (Weber Smokey Mountain) choose the Excel over the Frontier, it's bigger and appears to be made of thicker material. There are guys n gals on here who have both so they will be able to answer all your questions.

[crizmo]

Thanks for the advice guys.

It must be a southern thing London. The otherside of the code is for public school boys up here. I've played it for a season or 2 though and it's still a great game.

The only thing that bothers me about the 47cm WSM is that is's a fair bit more expensive and it doesn't even come with temp probe eyelets. I'd rather not have to make a mod to my new BBQ at the risk of voiding the warranty? I've also read that even then the hole is too small for some new probes like the maverick 732.

Cheers

Chris

[RobinC]

On my 18" WSM I put the temp probe wires through the top vent

[crizmo]

What do you do with the unit then Robin? Is is weatherproof in case there was a little shower or do you only smoke when it's dry?

Cheers

Chris

[keith157]

It is showerproof, as to the probes some delicate crimping will tighten it up enough to fit through the Excel grommets. If you are worried you could always build a smaller version of this;-http://www.bbbqs.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1518&hilit=ique+box&start=20

[RobinC]

If it rains I either pop the transmitter into a plastic bag placed on a table by the smoker or I use a parasol over the smoker.