Cleaning your smoker cabinet??

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

wiseguy

Newbie
Original poster
Dec 8, 2012
25
10
St. Marys, Ga.
New to this forum and saw several posts regarding cleaning Smoky Mountain cabinets.  Why?  Is your petina  growing unwanted science experiments?

Seriously, new question.  I have had a couple of bad experiences regarding temperature.  Information ... First one was resolved by Amerigas telling me that you need to open the gas valve "SLOOOWLY" to avoid shocking the regulator.  If I don't open slowly, sure enough I get limited range with the gas control.

Second, I have a nice coating of petina on the door mounted thermometer probe.  Seems like it would only affect the thermometer reaction time, not the raw temperature.  Do I need to clean it ... If wo with what?  Vinegar?  Hate to put cleaning chemicals inside my cabinet.
 
Wiseguy,

First , welcome to the Forum. Please stop in at our RollCall and introduce your self so we can give you a "Proper" 
welcome1.gif
.

Now, as for your problem...

Cleaning the cabinet is a choice , IMHO . I have Woodburners and tend to use a Weedburner to "clean" the grates and bottom. Then I do , say a fattie , to re-season what I've done.

Unless you keep the Smoker in a 'funky' place, Experiments should not be a problem .

As for Thermometers , I take mine off the Smoker from time to time and use those "Green Scrubbies" and dish soap to clean them. Yes , I too feel the build-up of "patina" affects the readings.Now , if your threms. are the "stock" therms....get a good probe set and disregard the ones on the unit.They are renowned for mis-readings.The soap won't hurt a thing.

Gas dealer gave good info. Open the Needle Valve slowly to enough to light the unit then turn it up , slowly .And also , when not actively using the Gas, turn the main valve off , this could save an expensive accident.

Other Gassers will be here shortly to help you more.

Have fun and...
 
pitch the stock therm there never right, lol   you can use it as a guide tho, theres alot of different therms on the market, like the wireless thurms that keep a reading of the temp inside and the temp of the meat your smoking, those are handy and well worth the price.

the regulator.issue comes up on alot of different forums  but speaking for myself ive never had a regulator.problem so i cant really help on that one.
 
I have had the regulator problem several times.

there have even been times when trying to run very low flame with a new tank that the tank would shut itself off.

I would have to switch tanks and run the new tank on my gas grill until some has been used up. then put it back on my smoker and it would be fine.
 
Gentlemen, I appreciate the replies.  Where to do you get a better thermometer?  Amazon?  Have to admit I have not explored the smoker & more link above.  Going there next.

I use the cabinet mounted one as a guide ... gas adjustments are what I'd call coarse, maybe 20 - 30 degrees F.  So I usually end up using charcoal & wood in the smoke box to to trim if I need an extra 5 or 10 degrees.  Meat is done when digital thermometer probe says it is the temp I want.  That last 5 to 10 degree rise in the meat can be maddening, without finishing in the oven or cranking the gas valve open.  Is that really any different than the oven?

Amerigas and Blue Rhino reps I have talked to attribute the sensitivity to the new float systems.  I have had some Blue Rhino tanks that would not work.  Float system was stuck or tank was overfilled.  GGGGrrrrrr.  That's why we keep spares.  One is use, 1 waiting for the BellSouth call to the bull pen and 1 deep reserve.
 
I think you nailed it...The OPD (overfill protection device) installed on all the smaller tanks also has a leak protection system. On my grill, there are times that the valve decides to only give me half or no flow. Turn off your tank, loosen the attachment, rattle it around while you are tightening it back up...should be good. I think it is there to prevent you from releasing too much gas with nothing attached..
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky