Pipe feeding AMNPS into mini WSM

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gaijinjoe

Newbie
Original poster
May 6, 2015
4
10
Hello all,

Newbie here who built a mini WSM. I ordered a AMNPS and tried using it inside the smoker on top of the terra cotta diffuser but I can't get it to work consistently. The pellets seem to burn up really fast...I guess because it's so close to the heat? Anyway, I want to try something like the mailbox mod and connect the AMNPS to one of the smokey Joe bottom vents. I bought a sink pipe like this:
It fits the vent great, but I didn't think about the material until after the fact. I'm pretty sure it's chrome plated but have no idea if it's steel or some other metal underneath. Question is, would there be any health risk using this to bring smoke from the AMNPS to the smoker? The pipe would be nesting in/touching the metal of the mini WSM close to the charcoal gate but would not come in contact with the charcoal. Would there be enough heat to cause poison fumes from the chrome plating? I appreciate your help.

Joe
 
dirtsailor,

Did you drill those holes or are they vents on your model smokey joe?  Also, what metal is your valve made of?  Thanks!

Joe
 
First off, I wouldn't use that downtube for any purpose anywhere near food. Especially not with heat involved. Many of those are chrome plated plastic or PVC. Even if it is metal, who knows what it's coated with?
And secondly, If you're hot smoking, mixing the wood in with the charcoal works perfectly. It's not difficult to get perfect, consistent smoke for many hours.
And for cold smoking, there is plenty of airflow for the pellet smoker to chug along happily for many hours. It shouldn't raise the temp in the smoker more than 20°-30° over ambient. If the weather is too warm, one or two frozen 2 liter bottles of water on the second grate will keep things cool.
The beauty of the mini, at least to me, is its simplicity.
 
mdboatbum,

Thanks for the advice.  Glad I asked about that chrome pipe.  I'm going to try some more with the AMNPS inside the mini WSM.

Joe
 
Ok, so I rigged up a test using some disposable aluminum pans.  I cut the bottom out of one and rolled it into a tube and then made a hole in the other pan and fed it to the smoker vent.  It worked pretty good but afterward there was a ton of smoke gunk on the pan.  It was also dripping onto the AMNPS.  I want to go with something more permanent next.  Does this happen with the mailbox or does the gunk drip to the sides because of the arched top?  What are your thoughts on using an upside down aluminum mixing bowl with holes drilled for vents and the feeder tube?  Thanks for any advice.


 
dirtsailor,

Did you drill those holes or are they vents on your model smokey joe?  Also, what metal is your valve made of?  Thanks!

Joe

Sorry for the late reply. I used s smokey joe silver so there were no holes in the side. I used a step bit to drill holes that were just slightly smaller than the threaded nipple. Then screwed that in to self tap. The nipple is black pipe and the valves are brass which have a stainless ball inside.
 
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