Getting Fed Up with my Smoker - Just a Rant

morkfrompork · Aug 27, 2015

"$2000. What smoker can I get that needs minimal supervision once it gets going?"

With that as a goal, a quality pellet unit seems to fit perfectly.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/products/category/pellet-smoker

noggin · Aug 27, 2015

TJohnson said:
Send back the AMNPS 5x8 and I'll send you a 12" Tube Smoker

The Tube Smoker will work great right inside your gas smoker

Then you can use what you already own!

Todd

I can't, in good conscience, do that. I've had this thing for a couple of years now. I may have had some issues keeping it lit, but I've had plenty of good cooks where it stayed lit, and if I can get the mailbox mod working properly I'd seriously regret not having the AMNPS for the increased smoke time over the tube smoker.

But if you're telling me that a Tube Smoker has a better chance of working properly in my gasser, then I'll buy one today and test it next weekend. I'm having some friends over in a few weekends and I'm planning on making at least 6 racks of ribs. I'd love to not have to worry about smoke generation, and I'd love to not have to change smokers.

Though I've decided, based on this thread, that I want a UDS if I do change smokers :)

noggin · Aug 27, 2015

Someone else also suggested that one, looks like it could replace my smoker and my grill. I'm happy with my grill (propane, need to convert to NG) though and think I've decided on a UDS with a blower controller if I make the change. I think I'm going to pick up a tube smoker from Todd and give it a shot. If it doesn't work, I'll start looking for parts or a kit for a UDS. Just have to finish with all the "new house duties" before I can spend time building a new smoker.

bmaddox · Aug 27, 2015

Noggin said:
Someone else also suggested that one, looks like it could replace my smoker and my grill. I'm happy with my grill (propane, need to convert to NG) though and think I've decided on a UDS with a blower controller if I make the change. I think I'm going to pick up a tube smoker from Todd and give it a shot. If it doesn't work, I'll start looking for parts or a kit for a UDS. Just have to finish with all the "new house duties" before I can spend time building a new smoker.

Sounds like you and I are on similar paths. I built my first UDS earlier in the year and now have two more drums ready to build more. I also just got an 18" tube and will be testing it out this weekend. Good luck.

dirtsailor2003 · Aug 27, 2015

I can attest to how well the tube smoker works in a propane. I have the 18", 12", and 6" AMNTS. They all work great in the propane smoker.

Question for you, have you done a needle valve mod? I can run my propane smoker from 100°-500°+ with little fiddling. At the lower temps (below 140°) I do need to watch it.

Here's my set up, this is the 12" AMNTS in action. Water pan used as a diffuser. One note if you try and smoke above 285° the pellets will ignite in the tube. For higher temp smokes I also made a mailbox mod for the tube.

20845441815_7c89c2c7e1_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003
Aug 27, 2015

This was at low temps, 140°-180°

Here is a shot at higher temps and you can see I moved the AMNTS I did this to get it away from the burner.

19623700766_dd05a15f44_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003
Aug 27, 2015

16863501445_fd45650812_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003
Aug 27, 2015

Just firing up. You need a flame like that to burn for a good 5 minutes then blow out. I light the tube outside the smoker then move it in and blow it out.

As for other smokers I too will recommend the UDS or the WSM. Both set and forget, especially if equipped with a blower and pid. On my UDS and WSM I maybe have to make 3-4 adjustments early on as temps settle and that's fine by me.

noggin · Aug 27, 2015

I do have a needle valve, and I'm also driving it with a PID controller of my own design. There are two things I want to do right now... first, I want to get a tube smoker now. Second, I want to move my mailbox port down to the bottom of the smoker. When the gas is up high, it blows air back out through the mailbox. This air is apparently low in oxygen and it chokes out the pellets.

I couldn't see where your mailbox comes into your smoker though. I don't know if moving the mailbox port lower in the cabin will help or not.

2014-11-08 11.23.01.jpg

noggin
Nov 30, 2014

dirtsailor2003 · Aug 27, 2015

13536684173_7065ed8080_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003
Aug 27, 2015

13528263444_ee9987fc09_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003
Aug 27, 2015

Here's a pic of it attached to one of my mini-wsms. I know I have a photo of it attached to my GOSM somewhere. I use the same connection to the GOSM. It goes in the side of the smoker, down low near the bottom.

noggin · Aug 27, 2015

haha, I cut a huge 3" hole and shoved the dryer tube into it. Didn't think to use a smaller hole and a valve.

westby · Sep 1, 2015

With that budget, I would go for a Yoder YS640 and use the remaining money to do a bulk buy of pellets that would last you a year or more. Not sure if you want a pellet smoker, but it sounds like you have as much time as me and the pellet grill is a blessing and temp consistency is rock solid. I currently have a Rec Tec and love it, but with that budget, I'd go with a Yoder. Good luck.

boboso · Sep 2, 2015

dirtsailor2003 said:
I can attest to how well the tube smoker works in a propane. I have the 18", 12", and 6" AMNTS. They all work great in the propane smoker.

Question for you, have you done a needle valve mod? I can run my propane smoker from 100°-500°+ with little fiddling. At the lower temps (below 140°) I do need to watch it.

Here's my set up, this is the 12" AMNTS in action. Water pan used as a diffuser. One note if you try and smoke above 285° the pellets will ignite in the tube. For higher temp smokes I also made a mailbox mod for the tube.

20845441815_7c89c2c7e1_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003

Aug 27, 2015

This was at low temps, 140°-180°

Here is a shot at higher temps and you can see I moved the AMNTS I did this to get it away from the burner.

19623700766_dd05a15f44_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003

Aug 27, 2015

16863501445_fd45650812_k.jpg

dirtsailor2003

Aug 27, 2015

Just firing up. You need a flame like that to burn for a good 5 minutes then blow out. I light the tube outside the smoker then move it in and blow it out.

As for other smokers I too will recommend the UDS or the WSM. Both set and forget, especially if equipped with a blower and pid. On my UDS and WSM I maybe have to make 3-4 adjustments early on as temps settle and that's fine by me.

I noticed in your pics with the AMNTS, looks like a piece of foil in the end. Is that to keep the pellets from falling out? I've had that problem myself, also have had a problem getting and keeping it lit. Just bought a small propane torch to use instead of a bbq lighter. Hope that works better. Might be my pellets aren't dry enuf either. I use a 6in on my Jumbo Joe set up. Was just wondering about the foil. Thanks.

dirtsailor2003 · Sep 2, 2015

Boboso said:
I noticed in your pics with the AMNTS, looks like a piece of foil in the end. Is that to keep the pellets from falling out? I've had that problem myself, also have had a problem getting and keeping it lit. Just bought a small propane torch to use instead of a bbq lighter. Hope that works better. Might be my pellets aren't dry enuf either. I use a 6in on my Jumbo Joe set up. Was just wondering about the foil. Thanks.

The only time i use foil around the tube smoker is to seal off air leaks in my mailbox mod, or a tent over it to keep drippings off or to prop the end of the tube up a bit to keep the pellets from falling out.. If you fill the tube full you will have some pellets fall out, no big deal. I exclusively use a propane torch to light the pellets. You really need a good flame rolling for a good five minutes prior to blowing it out.

americanflannel · Sep 5, 2015

Get a kamado (I recommend the BGE) , smoking is as easy as putting in a place setter or pizza stone as a heat deflector , empty aluminum foil pan to catch drippings (so they don't) burn, using a BGE full of lump with chunked wood for smoke mixed in - then wait 10-20 hours and meat comes out awesome.

It also can get over 800 degrees easily if you want to destroy evidence or sear steaks and stuff.

Also a good community of users and aftermarket parts.

dj-ia · Sep 5, 2015

If you want a stand alone dedicated smoker go with the Humphrey's Battle Box http://www.humphreysbbq.com/smokers/testing
they're within your budget, hold rock solid temps, and well built. Or as others have said go with a kamado/ceramic grill which will give you grilling and smoking and extremely easy to maintain temps with minimal effort.

retfr8flyr · Sep 6, 2015

If you want to do more than just smoking with your grill, then a Kamado is the way to go. You can smoke, grill, or bake with one, they are very versitle. I would recommend the Kamado Joe Big Joe over the BGE XL. The KJ grill is extremely versatile, with their Divide and Conquer grill system and runs a little less than the BGE, when comparably equipped. I absolutely love my Big Joe and highly recommend it Another Kamado style grill you should check out is the Primo Oval XL. The Primo has an oval shape and allows longer cuts to fit the grill, compared to a round grill. All these grill are well within your $2000 budget.

jbgates · Sep 7, 2015

Go to LoneStarGrillzs in Willis ,TX (north of Conroe ). You will be very impressed with the people and facility. Be prepared to order the best smoker on the market.
I have their 60" x24" offset pipe smoker.

image.jpg

jbgates
Sep 7, 2015

noggin · Sep 14, 2015

Felt that I needed to come back and give an update as to my current situation.

I thank everyone for the advice and suggestions given on purchasing a new smoker. Todd (owner of amazenproducts if I'm not mistaken) contacted me and offered to exchange my old AMNPS 5x8 for a new tube smoker. I declined the offer as my AMNPS was quite old and thoroughly used. I did, however, purchase a new tube smoker from him. I used it yesterday to smoke 6 racks of ribs and 60 ABTs. No pics of the finished products unfortunately... too many beers. However, the tube smoker did perform better than the AMNPS as it stayed lit and generated smoke the entire time.

The two trays of ABTs acted as a heat shield at the bottom of the smoker. This was keeping the temperature from reaching 225°F at the top where the ribs were located, while the bottom rack was over 300°F. In an effort to get the temperature up to 225°F, the PID controller had the gas cranked wide open. It was with the gas cranked wide open in previous smoke sessions that the AMNPS failed to perform, while the tube smoker had no issues.

Due to yesterday's performance, I plan on sticking with the gasser a while longer. If I do experience more issues in the future, I'll revisit this thread to take another look at everyone's suggestions.

noggin · Dec 5, 2015

One final update... I've done multiple smokes since my last post and haven't had a single issue with the tube smoker. That thing is kicking butt and chugging away at at this very moment. I'm so much happier with the tube than I was with the AMNPS.

2015-12-05 12.44.58.jpg

noggin
Dec 5, 2015

bmudd14474 · Dec 5, 2015

Thanks for updating us and I'm really glad to hear that the tube works way better.

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