AMNPS: Pellets Versus Powder???

[tx smoker]

Got a little problem and thought I'd check with the experts. I have an AMNPS that I use in my electric smoker but am continually hitting a road block. Recently I purchased the 20# stainless steel digital smoke house from TSM. Overall the quality of the unit is outstanding but I believe there may be an issue where the AMNPS is concerned. I can't seem to keep the pellets lit after they go into the smoker. I believe that the problem may stem from the fact that there are no bottom vents in the smoker thus there is not enough air to keep them going. The only vent is at the very top of the unit. I recently read a post by one of the gurus here that he was using dust in his AMNPS, and even showed a picture of it....and it's the same one I have. My question is this: Can anybody tell me whether or not I'd have a better chance keeping the dust burning? I'm about out of pellets and getting ready to order a mother load of stuff from Todd but wanted to see if i could get some feedback from the group before ordering more stuff that may not work, and it's been a real struggle with the pellets thus far.

Thanks to all and happy Thanksgivng!!
Robert

 

[daveomak]

Have you tried the wood chips Sausage Maker design the smoker to use ???

20 lb. Digital Stainless Steel Smoker

123456

 

[daveomak]

Pellets burn hot and need lots of oxygen to smolder... Make dust from 1 cup of pellets and try that....
Put the pellets in hot tap water and stir... they will fall apart into the original dust... dry them at ~250 ish and try them in your smoker.. They burn cooler, take less oxygen and provide awesome smoke....

 

[pushok2018]

Well... I have TSM #30 which is almost the same as #20 but a little bigger. I used to use AMNPS before but started usning A-MAZE-N 12" tube later just because it is easier to place it on the bottom of TSM smoker. I can tell you that I never ever had any issue with neither of these two "devices". AMNPS gives smoke for 6 hours and tube does the same for 4 hours. I use pellets only. Only once I tried to use wood dust with my AMNPS with no success and I have no idea why. I know it should work because the reps from TSM told me over the phone that dust works perfectly but burn much faster.... Hope this was helpful for you.

 

[SonnyE]

Air... must have air....

I was just looking at those TSM (The Sausage Maker) Smokers yesterday. Sexy!
Without some air inlet, it may not be possible to use your AMNPS inside it.
So you may be reduced to:
1. Use it as it came, but turn your pellets into dust by wetting them, then dehydrating them into dry wood dust. I did that a few days ago and made a 2 gallon pail full of great dust from 5 double handfulls of pellets in a big pan, and adding water as the pellets dissolved into a dust mush. Then dried them in my smoker at 275 degrees. Cheap dust.
2. Modify it by adding an air inlet to the bottom of it. Many ways to effectively modify it.

It says it has a drip pan, does it have a drain to the outside? If it does, placing your AMNPS over or near it might be enough oxygen to help it burn. From what you say it sounds like it is air tight when closed.

If it were me... I would probably opt for having a hole in the back, or bottom under where you have room for your AMNPS. Then, install a valve there to let it be air tight when closed, or admit air in when opened. That would be the least invasive modification and allow you to go back to air tight. The natural convection of the heat rising would draw air in through a fairly small opening. Using a ball valve would allow 1/4 turn closed to wide open, and I would use a small valve, 1/4" to 1/2" to start.
This could also give you a dual fuel capability . With the air closed, it operates as built with it's dust pan over the heater. With the air open, you could use your AMNPS and pellets for a long smoking capability. (Bear and I have experienced 11 hours on a full load of pellets)

There are a myriad of ways to modify it. But all of them require surgery that may or may not void your warranty ultimately.
If that is a concern, put your AMNPS aside for another day, and make your pellets into dust as needed. Not to much makes a nice pile of dust. Then bake them dry in your smoker outside. Spread on a shallow pan or cookie sheet to get the most surface exposed.
I used my RO filtered water to deconstitute my dust because it is filtered of all crap I don't want burned onto my meat and smoked creations. (Mainly chlorine and algae.)

So take heart, there are ways!

 

[tx smoker]

Once again I thank everybody for the input. It appears however that I may have answered my own question and solved the problem. Apparently my mistake was following the manufacturer's recommendation on using the smoker. I should have known better :-) They say to have the top vent all the way open when you start up the smoker then close it half way when it warms up. On a whim I decided to try leaving it all the way open and that seems to have solved the problem. I guess that is allowing enough air into the cook chamber to keep the AMNPS going. It's been chugging along nicely for about 2 hours now and making beautiful work out of a batch of Kielbasa I made yesterday. Now to go to the A-Maze-N site and get enough stuff to keep Todd in business for another week or so.

Thank you again!!
Robert

 

[daveomak]

Todd has a discount going now....

Black Friday ~ Cyber Monday Sale!



Sitewide Sale! Save 25% off your

entire purchase now thru Monday, Nov 26, 2018. Cannot be combined with

other coupons, and cannot be used for prior purchases or clearance items.



www.amazenproducts.com



Use Coupon Code: THANKS2018

 

[tx smoker]

"Todd has a discount going now....

Black Friday ~ Cyber Monday Sale!"

WOO HOO!! Thank you Dave. Hmmmm...let's see now: Wife is out of town, I have one of the credit cards for emergencies (this is definitely an emergency), and Todd is having a sale. Sounds like a recipe for the perfect storm :-)

Vini, Vidi, Visa That's Latin for "I came, I saw, I did a little shopping"
Robert






Use Coupon Code: THANKS2018[/QUOTE]

 

[daveomak]

This message will self destruct in 5 seconds.... HAHAHAHAHA......

 

[wade]

Pellets burn hot and need lots of oxygen to smolder... Make dust from 1 cup of pellets and try that....
Put the pellets in hot tap water and stir... they will fall apart into the original dust... dry them at ~250 ish and try them in your smoker.. They burn cooler, take less oxygen and provide awesome smoke....

I use both the AMNPS (pellets) and a ProQ (sawdust) but I only keep pellets. When I need dust for the ProQ I just pop some pellets in a coffee grinder. That works well and is quick.

 

[chopsaw]

Vini, Vidi, Visa That's Latin for "I came, I saw, I did a little shopping"

That's perfect ,,, love it .

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Glad you got it figured out Robert. Remember to turn those pellets into dust and you have a perfect cold smoking setup.

Dave