A maze n tray and traveler pellet grill

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matt r

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Oct 7, 2014
152
22
Long Island, New York
I'm just getting started with a traeger pellet grill. I have heard, and agree, that the smoke isn't great. I would like to use my A Maze N tray as a supplement. Question is, how do we get air to the tray with the grill lid down? I can't seem to keep the tray lit. Is there something I'm missing or not thinking of? Where do I place the tray?
Thanks folks!
 
I could not keep my tray lit either, but my tubes work just fine. I do not know the difference other than the tubes work good. I put my tubes to the far left where I run my thermometer wires through and they burn great.
 
Tubes need less oxygen to burn then the tray. They are recommended for grills and higher altitudes.

Chris
 
I use the 6-inch tube in the Traeger or the GMG with equal success, and keep the tube on the right side of the cooker near the chimney, and its opening (burning end) pointed toward the hopper.
 
I use the 6-inch tube in the Traeger or the GMG with equal success, and keep the tube on the right side of the cooker near the chimney, and its opening (burning end) pointed toward the hopper.

Why the right side near the chimney? Wouldn't that take all your additional smoke right out without impacting the food?
 
It tended to go out when I put it on the left side. I'm thinking the added air flow across the burning pellets kept them lit. I'm also sure smoke went out the chimney, but enough remained to add flavor to the meat - there appears to be more smoke produced than went out the chimney.
 
I use the tube and a tray all the time in my K.C. pellet grill.
It has nothing to do with not enough air in the grill, there is a fan pushing positive pressure air through the grill at all times of the cook. (How much more air do you need?)
You have to really get the first 1'' of the pellets burning on the tube and the maze, I use a Mapp gas torch and hold it on the pellets for a full minute. They both work great!
 
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I use the tube and a tray all the time in my K.C. pellet grill.
It has nothing to do with not enough air in the grill, there is a fan pushing positive pressure air through the grill at all times of the cook. (How much more air do you need?)
You have to really get the first 1'' of the pellets burning on the tube and the maze, I use a Mapp gas torch and hold it on the pellets for a full minute. They both work great!
Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a shot
 
It has nothing to do with not enough air in the grill, there is a fan pushing positive pressure air through the grill at all times of the cook. (How much more air do you need?)

You're correct, it's not the amount of air that's important it's the amount of oxygen. In most pellet grills, the fan pushes air through the firepot, where most of the O2 is consumed by the fire, leaving little for a pellet tray. In may work fine in your pellet grill, but did not in either of mine.
 
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