Greetings from Portsmouth

[Pompey Dinlo]

Hello all, I'm new to this forum and a complete virgin in the BBQ / smoking scene however I've recently had some success with curing some hams and my interest in all things cured and smoked has been whetted. My main reason for searching through these forums was to learn a bit more about cold smoking cheese, bacon, sausages etc but then I discovered all these fantastic accounts of ribs, brisket etc that has made me itching to try it out. After some digging around I'm torn between a WSM and a ProQ Frontier, I want to be able to cold smoke and hot smoke but don't want to buy something that does either as an afterthought. Fortunately money isn't too much of an issue so the best performing one is what I'm looking for.

Any advice, opinion gratefully received.

[CyderPig]

Hi and Welcome
If money was not an option I would buy the WSM and a Cold smoke generator, both bases coverd.
Cheers
Si

[keith157]

Although I own a ProQ Excel I'd have to agree with Simon, the ProQ Cold Smoke generator. If money is no object then the WSM is the better buy, as you were asking about the Frontier I would assume (yes I know what it means ) you would be looking at the 47Cm rather than the bigger version?

[Pompey Dinlo]

Thanks for the replies. Am I to assume that the ProQ smoke generator simply sits at the bottom of the smoker and therefore can fit into the bottom of the WSM?

Can I hang food in the WSM? With the ProQ there are fish hooks for hanging fish and meat and whilst I'm no fisherman I do intend on making plenty of polish sausage which I would imagine would probably smoke better if it was hanging.

[ConorD]

WSM is the best investment I have made, although haven't cold smoked yet and would probably get a separate cold smoker to do that as the WSM is built to hold a decent bbq temps (even with small amounts of coal) and not the 70-80 degrees required for cold smoking. Check out this page as a means to convert but seems like a lot of fuss to me when you can just buy a separate unit.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/coldsmoker.html

[robgunby]

Have you considered a Bradley smoker? I don't like the idea of puck based machines personally, but if money is no object, a large Bradley will do hot or cold smoking, can be set up and left to do its thing and forgot about until the food is ready. I've never used one, but I've read a lot about them, and would have one if I could live with the expense of buying the wood pucks. The smokers themselves seem rather good value.

[Pompey Dinlo]

Have you considered a Bradley smoker? I don't like the idea of puck based machines personally, but if money is no object, a large Bradley will do hot or cold smoking, can be set up and left to do its thing and forgot about until the food is ready. I've never used one, but I've read a lot about them, and would have one if I could live with the expense of buying the wood pucks. The smokers themselves seem rather good value.

I did have a brief look at the Bradley but I wasn't too keen on the idea of being restricted to their wood pucks plus I'm a bit short on storage and they didn't look particularly suited to outdoor storage in the way that the WSM or ProQ do.

[Pompey Dinlo]

WSM is the best investment I have made, although haven't cold smoked yet and would probably get a separate cold smoker to do that as the WSM is built to hold a decent bbq temps (even with small amounts of coal) and not the 70-80 degrees required for cold smoking. Check out this page as a means to convert but seems like a lot of fuss to me when you can just buy a separate unit.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/coldsmoker.html

Would buying the ProQ smoker eliminate the problem of high temperatures with the WSM? I'm imagining smouldering sawdust doesn't generate much in the way of heat.

[Pooky]

You shouldn't have any problem with heat using the ProQ generator in a WSM - As you say, the smouldering dust generates minimal heat - Certainly not enough to fill that space.

Loving the name by the way - Still use the term Dinlo on a regular basis!

[CyderPig]

Hi
No problem using the Pro Q in a smoker like the WSM, still plenty of room to set up hooks and hang fish fillets or sausage if you wish by removing 2nd grate and water pan.
Hope this helps

Si