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I bought a #3 several years ago with the intention of adding an auber PID controller later. I got so that I didn't feel the need to have that much control. I just use a Smoke thermometer for remote viewing of box and meat temps.
I have a 4 qt cossori for the camping trailer, an 8 qt instant pot pro for main home cooking, an older 6 qt bluetooth instant pot for our snowbird digs. I like the 8 qt for making stews, soups and cheesecakes, just don't get enough leftovers with the 6 qts. My SO won't get rid of the slow...
I have been taught that you have to get every molecule of rust/iron off or it will keep coming back. And that you can't do anything that will leave a molecule of iron on the stainless steel from something like a wire wheel with iron bristles.
Buy it, for $200 it is a bargain. I use my #1 frequently instead of my #3 because of the ease of use when cooking small butts or a single rack of ribs.
Check the blade for chips/damage. It should run smoothly. If the sharpening stones are there, are they intact?
Does the tray table slide ? Is the hand guard intact? Does the thickness adjustment go to zero and adjust smoothly?
Are the screws holding the blade on frozen or stripped?
Check out the Smokin-It #1. I take that camping a lot. I think you could use some 2 in tubing to get the smoke out of your garage. But I would just park it under a pop-up canopy.
Senate Ham and Bean soup as made for the US Senate is my favorite recipe.
It is also what I use to get people started using an Instant Pot for making soup as it is so easy and quick.
Attached is the recipe I use.
I would look on Craigslist and FB Marketplace for a used Smokin-It, Cookshack or SmokinTex electric smoker.
They are all stainless steel, and most models are analog controlled which is less susceptable to weather when being stored outdoors.
I have never had the bottom hole plug up during a smoke except one time when it was so cold the dripping fat solidified and pyramided to seal the hole.
Enlarging the bottom hole will increase airflow and may diminish the smoke profile. Increased airflow may also increase likeability the wood...
Here's some of my thoughts:
Did you somehow bend the element down so the distance to the wood box isn't where it needs to be?
The other possibility is the connections to the element may be corroded and not allowing full current to pass.
Are you using a new extension cord that is not able to...