Disrespect for gas smokers

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drunkenmeatfist

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
May 28, 2017
486
187
I have a Smoke Vault and I am having trouble maintaining a good temp. After doing some research I realized that I could be in the market for a Bayou Classic regulator. I am no expert so I went to a local outdoor cooking store. It is not a chain store and it appears to be locally owned. When I got there I saw they carried the product I was considering. They have always been nice and they were today too. However, when I explained my problem the guy said "I have never seen a gas smoker other than pictures on the internet". He then followed up by being completely unhelpful with my struggle. I feel he was trying to besmirch my name and propane smokers in general. 
 
 
I have a Smoke Vault and I am having trouble maintaining a good temp. After doing some research I realized that I could be in the market for a Bayou Classic regulator. I am no expert so I went to a local outdoor cooking store. It is not a chain store and it appears to be locally owned. When I got there I saw they carried the product I was considering. They have always been nice and they were today too. However, when I explained my problem the guy said "I have never seen a gas smoker other than pictures on the internet". He then followed up by being completely unhelpful with my struggle. I feel he was trying to besmirch my name and propane smokers in general. 
Some people believe that what they know is the end-all-be-all of knowledge when it comes to situations they deem themselves to be good at.  

What is worse is when people believe something is impossible and they think they are are absolutely correct even though they have never tried the new thing you are discussing with them and have they have never even been part of an attempt to try this new thing.

It takes heat and good smoke to cook a smoked meal.  However the heat and/or smoke are supplied can be done in as many combinations as a man can come up with.

If you really want to meet a bunch of the stuck in their way, never wrong, naysayers, then I would wager you can find them in almost any local gun store in Texas.  Just start discussing hunting and firearms and be prepared to be amazed at what information comes out of peoples mouths as the absolute "word" on any subject of your discussion.  

If you believe even 25% of the nonsense that is likely to be spewed out you will be hunting 90 pound TX whitetail deer with a 375 H&H Magnum rifle and a 7 x 20 power scope to make sure you ethically kill this deer at 50 yds away but still have the option to take it down if you see it over in the next county.  Also, you better buy 1000 rounds because in a week or two there won't be any left because of <insert any fear inspiring quote here>.  Finally, they will install your scope and boresight your rifle for you for the low fee of $120 and it will be ready in a quick 6 week turn around time 
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Ok, enough ranting from me, it just irks me sometimes to hear how people with legitimate situations/questions have to deal with this type of situation hahaha.

Don't let anyone get you down.  Do your homework, get the most accurate info you can, and don't be afraid to SAFELY investigate things on your own that you can't find answers for.  Then when you make the most amazing meal be sure to go drop some off for the guy to try and if he asks how you made such amazing food you can educate him on your propane setup 
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Best of luck on solving your problem :)
 
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its funny to me how obtuse people can be.   the only question that should be asked about a smoker....can it make good food.  if the answer is yes.... who really cares how it accomplishes it if they aren't the person running it.  I have charcoal, and gas units now, I was going to add electric, but i dont have electricity where I want to use my smoke house so its going to be LP as well.   educate the ignorant,  and screw the arrogant.
 
as a business owner that was pretty unprofessional if that was a sales rep in the store. id inform  the manager of his sales associates poor skills. im a hardcore  in my views on BBQ i use wood for my heat and smoke only. but id never disparage someone else  choice for how they do BBQ esp not if i was working in a BBQ  store totally  unprofessional 
 
Don't go back.

Pretty simple.

I've owned my gas smoker for over 12 years. It's a great smoker and I have used it to hot and cold smoke.

Save yourself Sometime and order the part online.

Post 14 in this post has what you need. Amazon has it, and my local Lowes stocks it this time of year.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/237718/the-beginings-of-my-disco-burner
That is the exact reason I went to this store to begin with. I was unsure if I should try the 10 psi or the adjustable 1-30 psi regulator. I wanted to ask if the 10 psi was adjustable or just always putting out 10 psi because it seems like that would be too much for my smoker. 
 
That unit in my post is what you need. I've installed two of these on friends amoke vaults. With patients and angood wind break or no wind they can control their smokers from around 130-500+ . Lower temps like 110-120 during the winter months. I can do the same on my 12 year old Great Outdoor Smokey Mountain.

At the lower temps you still have to babysit it a bit as the wind will get ya.
 
That unit in my post is what you need. I've installed two of these on friends amoke vaults. With patients and angood wind break or no wind they can control their smokers from around 130-500+ . Lower temps like 110-120 during the winter months. I can do the same on my 12 year old Great Outdoor Smokey Mountain.

At the lower temps you still have to babysit it a bit as the wind will get ya.
Heck yeah bub! Thanks for the advice. I will pick one up tomorrow. Thanks for the help.
 
I was just worried because the box has a warning that says not to use on gas grills. I guess they need to put that on there so when someone tries to use the thing at full throttle and burns their neighborhood down they can't get sued. 
 
That unit in my post is what you need. I've installed two of these on friends amoke vaults. With patients and angood wind break or no wind they can control their smokers from around 130-500+ . Lower temps like 110-120 during the winter months. I can do the same on my 12 year old Great Outdoor Smokey Mountain.

At the lower temps you still have to babysit it a bit as the wind will get ya.
I have two propane smokers and have the same regulator you purchased and I love it. Definitely makes controlling the temp easier.
 
I had a " discussion " with a Good Ole Boy who swears no good Q can come from anything but sticks. I argued that it's the cook not the cooker and told him to come over for Pulled Pork cooked in my electric MES. He scoffed but said he and his family would try it. I served him pulled pork and all the fixin's. He thought he would never admit it but said that was " some Damn Fine Q ." I got the last laugh as l proceeded to tell him that the pork was ROASTED at 350 and that was Liquid Smoke in my Finishing Sauce! Some folks is so Silly...JJ
 
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Being snubbed for using propane or electric cookers is EXACTLY why I'm here and not on another popular smoking website (to remain nameless).
As soon as they hear propane or electric nothing you say is pertinent nor any question worth answering...
I've got a WSM, an old Okie Joe stick burner, an MES 30 and an XL 40 MB propane and do mighty fine on all of them...I like the set and forget (almost) of my MES and the ease of portability and no mess of my propane unit. My 18" WSM gets used for butts almost exclusively and my stick burner is at our hunt/fish camp where I'm also building an UDS.
I'm of the opinion that smoke and heat are all that's necessary and how you achieve either is of no consequence as long as you're in control of both.
 
That unit in my post is what you need. I've installed two of these on friends amoke vaults. With patients and angood wind break or no wind they can control their smokers from around 130-500+ . Lower temps like 110-120 during the winter months. I can do the same on my 12 year old Great Outdoor Smokey Mountain.

At the lower temps you still have to babysit it a bit as the wind will get ya.
Got it and put it on earlier today. Much easier to control the temps. Still need some time to work with it. Do you fully open the tank and the smoker and then just use the regulator? I have been messing with it and I am already doing way better than without it. Thanks
 
Yep I've had to deal with people who can Never Be Wrong. Usually I can brush it off but when they confidently tell me that it's impossible to do something that I've been doing for years, my respect for them evaporates.

I'm burning sticks in an offset but I'd like to watch someone run a gas rig. You can always learn more.
 
You nailed it..that's exactly the way I use mine tank wide open, burner wide open then use the needle valve to control the temp...
Could work some other way I supose but that's the way I found to work easiest

Walt
 
I have a Smoke Vault and I am having trouble maintaining a good temp. After doing some research I realized that I could be in the market for a Bayou Classic regulator. I am no expert so I went to a local outdoor cooking store. It is not a chain store and it appears to be locally owned. When I got there I saw they carried the product I was considering. They have always been nice and they were today too. However, when I explained my problem the guy said "I have never seen a gas smoker other than pictures on the internet". He then followed up by being completely unhelpful with my struggle. I feel he was trying to besmirch my name and propane smokers in general.
Following.
But wanted to ask, for a gas smoker, would it help if we have enough room to place a large water pan(to fill with water or sand) to maintaining heat?
 
The guy was both rude and stupid, a very bad combination in life! I'm all for supporting the brick-and-mortar retail outlets, but sheez, can't they at least TRY?

Tallbm, as usual, is right: it all comes down to just heat and smoke and there's lots of combo's to get there. For all that salesman knows, you're using your gas burner to light a wood fire above it. Or a bed of charcoal.

Narrow-mindedness is the worst form of blindness there is. Some never learn to open their eyes.
 
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