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New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins!

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Post  ILBBQS.com Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:09 pm

As I was leaving for lunch today, I check the United Parcel Service website to see if it had any new information on the estimated arrival of the brand spankin' new ProQ Exel 20. "On Truck for Delivery" was all that was listed, which meant it could arrive during my lunch hour or it could arrive later this evening. D'oh!

Well, knowing that there wasn't much in the way of variety for lunch waiting for me at home, I decided to go out for a leisurely bite then get back to work. Something inside me told me to grab my camera on the way out of my office and before I made it to the restaurant, I decided to make a trip to the grocery to pick something up for lunch. Well, long story short, my bride called me while I was in line to check-out and asked if I was coming home for lunch. "Yes, I'm about 10 minutes away." I told her. She said, "I think you're in for a surprise."

It took me about 5 minutes to get there.

As I pulled into the driveway, this is what I saw...

New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 000_0016
New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 000_0017

A DOUBLE SURPRISE!!

Both the brand spankin' new ProQ Excel 20 (with an additional stacker) AND the shiney new WSM were waiting by my back door!

I hurried through lunch to get them inside where I was able to stand them up side-by-side for the initial comparison...

New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 000_0018
New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 000_0019
New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 000_0020

...and was very impressed by how good the condition was of both of the shipments. Score 2 points for UPS.

After contemplating calling in sick the rest of the day, I decided that I'd better get back to work and begin plotting my next move towards the Battle of the Century...the Battle for Bullet Smoker Supremacy (presented by our Illinois sponsor: The Backyard BBQ Store in Wilmette, Illinois).

The Official battle will take place on August the 9th, but I'm thinking that I may have to do some initial comparisons this weekend ( Twisted Evil ) just so we can get down to the nitty-gritty on August 9th...what do you guys think? Should I wait in tortured pain, or begin the comparisons as soon as possible??? (I will be sure to document everything from start to finish.)

Give me your thoughts!
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Post  Dr_KY Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:37 pm

here's a thought






































GET TA SMOKIN BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on both but I gotta tell ya you will love all the basic extras with the XL. What a Face
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Post  Dr_KY Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:14 pm

Show us a step by step of the unpacking process too. The XL is packed very well.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:25 pm

Dr_KY wrote:Show us a step by step of the unpacking process too. The XL is packed very well.
That's the plan. If I get into it this weekend, I'll take a bunch of photos...if I wait until next week, I should be able to get some video...have a new Flip Video camera on the way.
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Post  Daved Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:14 am

After doing much reading and learning on this forum I need a vertical water smoker, so Im looking forward to this battle.

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Post  jenks_24 Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:25 am

I agree! Plus you have the added benefit of having both units "seasoned" and ready for the cook-off.

I'm jealous Exclamation


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Post  ILBBQS.com Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:41 pm

Just found out that my new Flip Video camera is due to be delivered on Monday or Tuesday...I'm doing my best to not open the boxes until it gets here. I decided to come into work today so as not to be tempted...and if all goes well, will be going to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game tomorrow...that should help with the temptation.

Will let you guys know of the progress as it happens.
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Post  Dr_KY Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:04 pm

What number is on the side of the XL box? Mine was 27 of 227.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:33 pm

Dr_KY wrote:What number is on the side of the XL box? Mine was 27 of 227.
I'll check when I get back home from work, but in the picture above it doesn't look like the Excel has a number on it. The stacker looks to be 79 of 168. I'll check it later on.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:10 am

The ProQ Excel 20 box has been staring at me for days now. Taunting me. Sitting in my family room just begging me to break the box open so that it could get out, streatch it's handles, and breath free. Though I had been waiting for my new video camera to arrive (to well document the unpacking/building process); the camera has yet to arrive, but I just couldn't take it any longer. I had to open her up.

Within half an hour of arriving home from work, I armed myself with a knife, a screwdriver, a wrench, my camera, and a load of enthusiasm for freeing the ProQ Excel 20 from it's cardboard confines. Fewer than thirty minutes later the shiney new Excel was built and breathing fresh Midwestern U.S. air for the first time.

It would have taken less time, but there were a couple of issues (which I'll go into more with the final report in a few weeks) with figuring out the right nut/bolt/washer configuration. Nonetheless, it is finally together and ready for battle.

I'm gonna tease a little bit here by only offering a few pictures, but the full report will have MANY more pictures.

All the pieces...out of the box...
New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 100_3030

Out of the box standard...
New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 100_3036

With the added Stacker...
New Excel 20 vs. WSM...the Battle Begins! 100_3037

It's nearly alive...just need to add some heat...but it will have to wait until I get the WSM out of the box and put together. Hopefully this week.
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Post  Dr_KY Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:06 pm

That is one fine mechine right there!

First time I fired one up I closed all the botom vents and only opended one 3/4 of the way. The top vent remaimed fully open and she held 225 all night.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:48 pm

Dr_KY wrote:That is one fine mechine right there!

First time I fired one up I closed all the botom vents and only opended one 3/4 of the way. The top vent remaimed fully open and she held 225 all night.
I was wondering if it that would be the method of choice for best temp controls. When I was smoking on my Weber Kettle (it has 3 on bottom, 1 on top), that's pretty much what I did too.

Thanks for the tip!
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Post  lilham Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:05 pm

Dr_KY, was right own. The same day/might have been the next day, I fired mine up to get a feel for it. I did just what KY said, and so did the grill. After playing around with it for about and hour, I decide to cook something.I didn't have much time since it was about 7:00pm so I half a couple of chics and opened up two bottom vents temp went to around 300 in about 15 minutes. I then started slowing sclosing down one of the vents. Vent and a half got it b/w 260-275, and stayed that way for about two hours. Opened up all the vents, temp went to 325 in about 15-20, crispt the skin.

After I took the chicken off, I went back to one vent at 3/4. Temp dropped down to around 250. Cleaned up, took a shower, and about an hr later temp was at 275 without anything in it. Closed the vent a little more. Went to sleep. Woke up around 5:30am, Excel was still at 250. This is the first bullet smoker I've had in six years, since I got my offset. This thing is nice. Might need another.

Planning to loader up this weekend. Will take pics and post.

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Post  ILBBQS.com Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:19 pm

lilham wrote:Planning to loader up this weekend. Will take pics and post.
Thanks for the input. Will be looking forward to the pics!
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Post  jenks_24 Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:50 pm

Nice!

Do you plan on "seasoning" both before the contest? Totally sealed and ready to go sounds about right. It may be just my way of trying them out! Twisted Evil

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Post  ILBBQS.com Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:03 pm

jenks_24 wrote:Nice!

Do you plan on "seasoning" both before the contest? Totally sealed and ready to go sounds about right. It may be just my way of trying them out! Twisted Evil

Jenx
Hey Jenx,

Yeah, I plan on dry burning both of them before the contest. Will spray the inside of both with a little cooking spray, then smoke 'em out for a couple of hours to test temps at the different grate levels. Should be fun!
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Post  Dr_KY Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:17 am

These little baby's just humm along with no problem.

I didn't get a chance to season the one I used at the British BBQ Championships but it didn't matter and our results proved that. I am curious at to the results after a seasoning though.
Marco you have any input for us there big guy?

I couldn't be happier owning a XL I tell ya and the only mod I would consider is making a larger hole for the probes. For now I simply rounded out the crimped edges on the thermo probe that needed it as the others fit just fine.

Check yours and see if the probed go through the hole already provided.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:30 pm

Dr_KY wrote:These little baby's just humm along with no problem.

I didn't get a chance to season the one I used at the British BBQ Championships but it didn't matter and our results proved that. I am curious at to the results after a seasoning though.
Marco you have any input for us there big guy?

I couldn't be happier owning a XL I tell ya and the only mod I would consider is making a larger hole for the probes. For now I simply rounded out the crimped edges on the thermo probe that needed it as the others fit just fine.

Check yours and see if the probed go through the hole already provided.
Anymore, I dunno if it REALLY makes a difference on this type of smoker, but for my competition trailer smoker (not having the enamel coating) I season it this way because when the metal heats up, it expands and soaks up the oil...kinda like a good cast-iron skillet or pot.

I haven't fired it yet, so haven't tried inserting the probes yet...will include that in the full report.
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Post  bowhnter Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:02 pm

Congrats on the new addition, lookin forward to the full report Cool
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Post  ILBBQS.com Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:31 pm

Here's a teaser...the WSM and the ProQ Excel 20...side-by-side...

***LINK DELETED...JIM RHINO MESSED UP AND DELETED THE VIDEO...WILL HAVE A BETTER ONE POSTED SOON.***

This is just 37 seconds of nearly 15 minutes of video. More later.


Last edited by ILBBQS.com on Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Post  Roxy Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:20 pm

Youtube says the video is no longer available..??

From what I understand, because the inside of the cooker is painted it really does not need to be seasoned as any unpainted cooker does. You will find that the new units burn a bit hotter when they are new for some reason. I have found that with my WSM and the Frontiers. As you get that coating of stuff on the inside they will settle down into their grove.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:40 pm

Roxy wrote:Youtube says the video is no longer available..??

From what I understand, because the inside of the cooker is painted it really does not need to be seasoned as any unpainted cooker does. You will find that the new units burn a bit hotter when they are new for some reason. I have found that with my WSM and the Frontiers. As you get that coating of stuff on the inside they will settle down into their grove.
D'OH! I was cleaning up my YouTube videos and accidently deleted it...will re-do this afternoon and get a new link posted.

Don't know for sure, but my guess is that the new ones will burn hotter than a seasoned one due to the reflective properties of the the enameled finish...once they begin to build up, they are less reflective. Would be interesting to hear an official word, from someone who knows, as to why this happens.

Sorry for the dead link...will work on that this afternoon and reward with a better video than that one.
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Post  ILBBQS.com Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:31 pm

Well...the Battle for Bullet Smoker Supremacy is over. It was a magnificent battle...temps were monitored...both units were picked apart by a TRUE WSM Fan...the results are in and the verdict is...












...going to be coming soon. (D'OH, I'm such a tease!) Twisted Evil

Video clips were shot, opinions were formed, and the results are being organized for release. I'm trying to recouperate (complete with the first sunburn I've had in years) from from the day yesterday...catering the night before...setting up for my youngest son's birthday party today. Stay tuned!
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Post  Dr_KY Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:53 pm

AHh you can't do this to us we gotta know man! lol
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Post  jenks_24 Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:03 pm

Jim,

This sucks, but I understand. I think I know which one won.

I'm betting on the XL cheers

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