Hello Mate,
Just to add some confusion (!) I have a Pro Q Excel 20 with a cold smoke generator so I can hot and cold smoke - no expert by any means but even in my ham fisted paws it turns out some good results.
This is a "Bullet" or "Water" smoker, the same style as the Weber (which I have heard nothing but good reviews on but was put off personally by the one access door) and it comes apart into 4 sections so you can smoke / BBQ a lot or not such a lot simply by adding or removing the 'stackers' or lid.
It contains a bar in the lid with five hooks so you can hang stuff in there, so far I've hung snags such as chorizo and some pepperoni. Also in the lid is a vent, just leave this wide open and you'll be alright along with a temperature gauge which seems to be fairly accurate (bear in mind I'm not precious and it lives outside come rain or shine).
The two main parts are the 'stackers' these contain the cooking grates and the lower one holds the water pan which is huge, they also each have an access door for chucking more fuel or wood (lower door) or peeking (upper door).
The lower part has three vents (I just leave these open) the charcoal basket and the three legs the whole she-bang stands on.
There are also probe holes for a temp. probe to go into the smoker.
All in all I have to say I'm pleased with it.
The most difficult part is the deliberation, let's face it smokers in the UK are pretty expensive bits of kit (that's the market forces working I guess) and I spent a LONG time thinking "Should I go for the E20, save the 70 odd quid more for a Weber, save even more for a Bradley (decided that that logic is the same as a gas 'BBQ' and should be cast into the (no doubt, gas fired) pits of hell for all eternity!) or say "Eff It!" and fabricate some kind of Heath Robinson contraption.....I took the easy, most sane option and I haven't looked back.
Oh, and the Guys 'n' Gals on here are pretty cool too!
Posted: 22 Jun 2011, 08:57