Hi
Great smoker pops and great invention. We can get an American Mailbox in the UK for £35 quid so that's a one on the list of "to do's"
But back to the wooden Hot /Cold smoking debate...................... You obviously can hot smoke in a wooden enclosure as they did for many many years up and down the Northumberland coast. Fishermen smoked the deluge of Herring that used to come to our shores in huts on the beach or upturned boats. However the savvy ones realising wood and open flame done mix built brick smoke houses, Craster Kippers you may have heard of them?????? well they built theirs in 1856 and its the only one left.
I suppose you could hot smoke in any type container, its just what happens next???????
Pops has been using his for 5 years so got to be OK for Dusty? Only an opinion mind but................
Forth Worth TX is a different weather environment to North Scotland so I'm with wade on the bacteria and cleaning implications, environmental health springs to mind after some dodgy chicken?
Also pops smoker is 3.5 times the volume of Dusty's, so better heat distribution over a greater area (longer to heat though). Less chance of directed hot spots for spontaneous combustion.
With 1 inch paving slabs surrounding the burner there's less chance of a flame over to the wood if any fat splashes down, which it will.
Pops also had drip trays arranged as a "Catcher" I imagine for the same reason.
I would imagine that Pops has a bigger back yard for his smoker (well everything in Texas is bigger isn't that so Danny?) so burning the house down may not be a concern.
But can you just imagine the conversation with Insurance loss assessor and the fire brigade in the UK...................."So what your saying is you had a naked flame gas burner linked to a propane tank in a enclosed small wooden enclosure?" "Yes" - "And you had it near to your house and left it burning for 8 hours" "Yes" "And you didn't open it to have a look to see if there was a problem?" "No didn't want any heat loss" "Didn't you notice the smoke?" "Its a Smoker!!!!!!!!"
Morals of the story, either, should have had accidental damage cover on you buildings insurance
or think again about putting gas burners in small wooden boxes. Just saying.
A Neighbour of Pops, Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage once said to a buyer from the UK (not a quote but you will get the gist) " We aint got the restrictions or regulations you have, this is the USA man! possibly Moral number 3?
Protect it, line it or.................don't do it!