A-MAZE-N Pellet placement question - File Cabinet Build

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fuzzy0026

Fire Starter
Original poster
Feb 21, 2016
43
12
I am still trying to get my file cabinet smoker build done and just purchased a A-MAZE-N pellet smoker to place in the bottom drawer.  I have a couple of questions on the placement.  If I am using a propane stove element in the bottom drawer in the front of the drawer, can I still place the A-MAZE-N in the back of that same drawer or will it be to hot from the stove, or do I have to put a heat shield in-between them?  Also for air movement, do I need a couple of vents on cabinet near the bottom, 1 on each side?  I plan on having 2 exhaust pipes on the top.  Is there a formula on the size of your smoker to the size of air holes needed?
 
Propane can be very dangerous...   In a closed environment, like a filing cabinet, it can run out of oxygen and flame out.....  NOW you have a HUGE propane bomb....   abandon the propane heat source and go with electric......    a whole lot safer.....
 
Thanks for the input DaveOmak, that is one reason that I am posting the questions.  If I have vents on both sides, shouldn't that be enough air to let it work?  Like most people I am trying to get by as cheap as possible, and I got the propane stove pretty cheap.  Also, being in Northern Minnesota, I wanted to be able to smoke in the winter and with a file cabinet not being insulated, I figured I needed as much heat as I could get.  But I am new to all of this, so all the input that anyone gives is surely welcomed.
 
 If I have vents on both sides, shouldn't that be enough air to let it work?    How many BTU's is the burner ???  How many holes ???  How big are the holes ???      Shouldn't that be big enough ???   That will get you in trouble...

Consider installing the burner OUTSIDE the smoker so it is in free air..... 

......click on pic to enlarge.......

 
DaveOmak Thanks for the input.  I am using a file cabinet for my build so having the burner on the outside would be difficult.  I read last night the blog from Glenwillits on his digital temp mod and using a mr. heater sensor, and that might be the way I go.  I also read another listing where the guy is doing exactly what I plan on doing.  Same burner and same AmazeN.  I would think that this should give it enough air flow with both sides wide open.  I am planning on using the drawer, but I will just cut the sides out of the drawer so the air can move through.  and that way I can put some rails and a shelf in there to get the AmazeN above the air holes so the smoke doesn't go out the sides.  On the top I am going to put 2 exhaust stacks, 4 inch, from a grill, I just need to figure out a way to close them off if needed.  Let me know your thoughts.

 
I am curious if I will have enough air movement for my A-maze-n to work properly.  Most of the holes are in the back of the cabinet and drawer since that is where my burner will be.  If needed I can drill some more in the front.  Here are some pictures of my set up. 




Also, I might move the silver pan up about 4-6", but should I drill some holes in the bottom of it for air flow?
 
I have read different posts in which Todd (creator of the AMNPS) mentioned something about propane burners using up too much oxygen to give the AMNPS enough oxygen to burn. He recommends the tube for propane smokers.
 
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I guess I will try it and see, I already purchased the AMNPS, so I will try it and maybe cut a couple of more holes in the front of the file cabinet and see what happens.  If it fails, I guess I will be purchasing (or making) a 12" tube smoker. 
 
That is an option I will keep in mind.  I'm just starting this whole smoking thing and just trying to get my feet wet before jumping in the deep end...
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I sent him a message yesterday.  I just tried it last night to see what I would get for temperatures and if I would get any smoke.  It seemed like I didn't get much smoke at higher temps like 275, but otherwise, it seemed ok.  I need to clean my smoker up and season it so I can try it for real.
 
Dave - would it help to put something in between the 2?  I have the back part of the lower drawer that I cut out that I could place in  between the AMPNS and the burner. 
 
You want the AMNPS to be in a somewhat cool environment or it will burn too fast...   If you could plumb the smoke, into the smoker, above the flame, that works...   

Even in my electric, I plumb the smoke in above the heat to keep the AMNPS cool....  I use the MB mod....

 
Fuzzy.....

My boy living in San Antonio, sent me a pic of a File Cabinet Smoker.   The builder uses wood in the bottom drawer. It's not like your throwing LOGS in it to smoke your meat.  He had just 6" wood pieces burning in the bottom. I will try to download the pics off my phone tonite, after I get off work. He did a good job on his build. Don't know how long it will hold up to the heat, but hey, you can't Give a cabinet away if you tried. So I'm think no problemo, just build another when it fails.
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One fairly simple way to add safety to the propane burner would be to use something like a cheap Rex-C100 temperature contoller (~$14) in conjunction with a solenoid propane gas shut off valve (~$10)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-220...461809?hash=item43ecf7a671:g:GbgAAOSwLmVXEMaa

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/propane-solenoid

The Thermocouple that comes with the C-100 is rated at 400 C (750 F) so you would not be able to put it directly in the flame however you could fix it close by. Program it such that if the temperature drops below 100 C (212 F) it is assumed that the burner flame has gone out and so shut off the gas and sound the audible alarm. It would also be straightforward to add in a switch which bypasses the C100 relay to open the gas valve whilst the burner is first being lit.
 
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Flame also consumes smoke.... 
That was the major problem I had when I converted a side box smoker to propane.  All the smoke from my AMNPS mailbox mod simply got sucked from the cook chamber into the firebox.  I   didn't seem to be able to supply enough fresh air to the burner to overcome this.  So, as you said Dave, I simply went electric and bought a MES 30.

Gary
 
Wade, I have a mr. heater safety valve and thermocouple that will be installed to help in the case of the flame being blown out.  I don't know much about electric items so I wanted it to be as simple as possible.

 
 
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