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Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 02 Jun 2013, 20:04
by Mj2k
Hi All,

Matt from Binfield here; been grilling for years but only discovered smoking in the last 2 years.

Currently running a Weber Spirit for weekday ease, a 22.5" kettle with smokenator mods & about to pull the trigger on a WSM.

Look forward to reading up on UK BBQ rather than all the US based forums

Cheers

Matt

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Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 03 Jun 2013, 05:30
by keith157
Welcome, read, induldge and enjoy....

Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 03 Jun 2013, 20:00
by The Foodtaster
Welcome to The Forum :D

Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 03 Jun 2013, 20:48
by Mj2k
Well the WSM is ordered & considering the bbqguru grommet, but the et-73 seems to be failing on signal over the last few months & considering the 732....which then doesn't fit through grommets so would need to drill...

That said, I can't drill for toffee which means I would be reliant on putting them under the lid. Can't stand through the vent based on smokenator experience, and assuming via the door will fry the wire.

Already found the Cajun bandit door & love it, just need to justify it now, may e by selling my smokenator.

Ho hum, decisions decisions!

Can't wait for it to arrive on Monday!

Matt


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Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 04 Jun 2013, 05:20
by keith157
Aren't the probes interchangeable or are they the problem? There shouldn't be much to take off the grommets so if you are cagey about using a drill try filing a gap rather than drilling. Or combine both and put the shank of the file in the drill chuck to speed it up.

Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 04 Jun 2013, 08:21
by Mj2k
Sorry, wasn't clear.

BBQ guru ones replace a bolt in the grill holders, but are too narrow to fit the 732 probes, the larger grommet is (I understand) too big for the grill holder bolt replacement & would need the middle section being drilled.

Happy to drill a grommet, but not my new smoker!

Does that make sense?

Matt


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Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 13 Jun 2013, 18:38
by ConorD
Ola from a fellow Q fan in Wokingham.

The WSM is the best investment that I made and run both a PartyQ and ET-732 probes just through the coal door at the from onto the grill - no messing around with drills or grommets. The only mistake I made was going for the 47cm WSM instead of the 57cm but have made it work with practice.

Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 13 Jun 2013, 19:51
by Mj2k
Hey Conor,

Just what I didn't want to hear having bought the 47cm too! Good to hear through the door works well, as this was next direction.

Be interested to hear your thoughts / decision process on the PartyQ as was leaning towards the IQ110 as no need for batteries & got an electrician over doing some work at the end of the month & can get an external socket fitted.

Just back from getting some ribs at Costco & will be back there next thurs for some pork shoulder for next weekend.

Used to live on Keephatch until we moved over to Binfield 5 yrs back

Matt


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Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 13 Jun 2013, 20:23
by RobinC
Don't regret your choice of the 47cm WSM. You can cook a lot of food on that and it is more economical on the fuel compared to the 57cm. I've got both and I only break out the 57 if cooking for really large groups

Re: Newbie from Binfield

PostPosted: 13 Jun 2013, 20:26
by ConorD
I did the same online research as I am sure we all do and was going to go the whole hog for a a CyberQ but the price was a little prohibitive (for my back garden Q anyway). I looked at the IQ110 but something about the long pipe from the fan to the vent put me off - prob just an aesthetics thing but seemed odd not to just have the fan pumping directly into the vent.

The mains power is a bonus but I run my WSM in sun, rain and even snow so wasn't sure that I wanted mains power over a water proofed battery caddie (plastic bag and some elastic bands :D ) which I put some golf hand warmers around when it was snowing.

I'm no purist but like the idea that I am doing most of the temp control myself so just wanted something to allow me the few hours sleep that I get a night with 3 young kids. I now just use the PartyQ to get it all started, then maintain the temp using the vents and from about midnight start the PartyQ up again to keep the temp through the night - then back to the vents as the morning warms up.

I did a couple of racks of beef rib last Friday for 20 hours using the above approach and didn't have to change out the batteries once.

I have used it continuously when I first got it and the batteries would die some time in the middle of the night so reverted to the above method and seems to work for me.

Also found that it blows a lot of ash around when the fan is constantly running rather then just relying on thermals.

I guess it depends on how you want to use it - we are not blessed with a great climate and so for long cooks 4xAA batteries will need to be changed out a few times if you rely on the PartyQ alone.