Hi Guys, haven't been on the site for a while. Love the new look by the way! Been a bit busy of late but also had a ongoing problem with my excel 20.
Despite trying a few different things I can't get it to get above the 140-160f mark...subsequently its not doing a great job of cooking. Its okay but fall's well short of my old rusting Brinkmann gourmet bullet smoker. Real shame because its such a magnificent bit of kit in every way. Really well built and thought out far superior in term's of build and material to the Brinkmann but the fact remains the Brinkmann does a far better job of cooking with virtually zero effort. There is a big temperature gauge on the Brinkmann without actual temperature figures just a basic cold, ideal and hot marking. It was always simple to get it to ideal and just leave it to do its thing and come back to perfectly cooked food.
I do prefer the greater involvement with the excel but try as I may just can't get it up to temperature. Tried with full loads of briquettes and full loads of this great stuff, huge blocks of charcoal http://www.wickedgoodcharcoal.com/ But no joy. Always use hot water in bowl. I have yet to try heat beads which I have run out of and need to re-order.
Any ideas guys? I know a lot of you get great results with your excels and I take no joy in posting that I am not happy with mine and am sure the fault lies with me rather than the unit...