So no excell for me....yet.

OK - so I posted that I was getting the Excel20, but by the time I went back to freds music & bbq - I missed the combo excel+stacker sale!

Regroup, but do not like paying 600 including S&H for that rig (including me adding on an additional stacker, chimney and dual remote thermometer! )

So, talking with a buddy and thought he had a Bandera he would sell me for cheap......I love that config, and thought about commissioning a custom builder to build a good one, but $1K did not meet my budget, as I want a boat even more. anyway, I also like the Bandera, cause I used to live in Bandera! - OK, 5 miles out 173 towards Hondo - so it was kind of sentimental.

Anyway, after positive response, I called my buddy. Guess what. It is NOT a bandera. it is NOT lightly used. It is a Brinkman BSKD and it is still in the box. He moved to an apartment, and could not use it. He wants the square footage back in his apt, so he will just give it to me as long as I buy dinner when I am in town next...... I gave him my amex#, and he is dropping it off at pack-n-send tomorow.

We discussed the model, and he said it was better than the new bandera as the brinkman is made in the US as opposed to the Bandera now being made in China. I dont think there is a big difference. I also know OK Joe now works at brinkman, so this is his copy of his orig design. but mirror image.

Anyway, I know all the mods for the bandera, and will apply to the BSKD.

Will be interesting! I know it is not the best, but still better than what I have now - (nada)

Told him I will hunt him down and shoot him if I get any "interesting" charges on my AMEX! LOL......

I still would like to commission a clone of this in 1/4 steel with the popular mods built in....will still likely get a 20 for those overnight cooks....just defered a bit.

Hope you will still let a wanna-be hang out a bit..... also will be in the UK twice in the last quarter this year, so if any of you guys over there would like a pint or 10 of pride, or maybe some curry and cobras, I am buying! But you will need to make it to the square mile! LOL.....they do not let me out of town much!!


(my dates are about Oct 5-8 and probably two weeks later.)

I'd love to say a "smoker is a smoker" but I would be hunted down by forum members and neutralised. I hope the Brinkman addresses the short term need and I doubt very much anyone on this forum would give you the elbow Shrike, especially if you're buying the beers .

It may be worth asking around on the forum to see if there are any condiments that you could bring over (For a small fee) I know some of the good rubs are hard to get here.

Whilst I'm familiar with the Royal mile (Edinburgh), not sure where the square mile is (I'm assuming London). If you're anywhere near the North Midlands Sheffield, Nottingham, Leeds etc give us a shout.

Don't forget to post some snaps of your first cook, it's becoming a tradition on here.

Beerz

Adie

Let me know when you are closer to your arrival date and I'll try and get over to you.