Attaching external cold smoker box to Traeger?

[Lisa2000]

Any ideas how to attach a Masterbilt cold smoker box to my Traeger? The hole on the box is 2.25". The hole on the Traeger for the temp probe is 1/2". Thanks!

 

[912smoker]

Only way I could think of would be to drill/cut a hole in the Traeger.
Have you tried a smoke tube or tray for additional smoke?
What brand of pellets are you using?
What is your goal?

Keith

 

[normanaj]

Tube would be the easiest and cheapest solution. A Bella style smoke generator would be much easier than the MB attachment but cost much more.

 

[sandyut]

Only way I could think of would be to drill/cut a hole in the Traeger.
Have you tried a smoke tube or tray for additional smoke?
What brand of pellets are you using?
What is your goal?

Keith

agreed, its gonna require some cuttin. Trager made one, but seems like they stopped. might get lucky on eBay or FB Marketplace.

 

[Lisa2000]

Only way I could think of would be to drill/cut a hole in the Traeger.
Have you tried a smoke tube or tray for additional smoke?
What brand of pellets are you using?
What is your goal?

Keith

Hey Keith,

Thanks for responding. Just for some background, I keep a really clean Traeger, and have tried several different brands of pellets with the same results. Unless I have the temp at 185, I barely get any smokey flavor, and even then it's not much. I smoked a pork butt at 225 for 6 or 7 hours till it reached about 170 before wrapping, adding moisture during smoking, and the smoke was not detectable. I might as well have used my crockpot. I have tried using smoking boxes, but I never can get much out of them. I have not purchased a tube yet, which seems most promising. Since I already have the external cold smoker attachment, it made sense to try to hook it up with some sort of tubing.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Lisa2000]

Tube would be the easiest and cheapest solution. A Bella style smoke generator would be much easier than the MB attachment but cost much more.

Thanks Norman. I appreciate it. That is what I was thinking.

 

[912smoker]

All pellets are not created equal.
From what I've read here Lumberjack is a preferred brand. And a smoke tube is cheap and easy addition.

Keith

 

[Fueling Around]

Welcome to SMF
I don't know the specs of the MasterBuilt smoker attachment.
Does it have a fan to blow the smoke? If not, it won't work in a pellet pooper. A pellet pooper is basically a convection oven. Convection means blown air. If the Traeger blows more air than the MB unit it may not work.
Still want to pursue?
Measure and find a place on the hopper side of your Traeger to punch a hole. If it doesn't work, plug the hole

 

[sandyut]

All pellets are not created equal.
From what I've read here Lumberjack is a preferred brand. And a smoke tube is cheap and easy addition.

Keith

I tried several before Lumberjack. I use the competition blend on everything. Not changing away from them. hands down my fav.

as for smoke flavor. smoke tube/tray or generator may be your best bet. I am not familiar with Tragers...do they have a feed adjustment? Rec Teq does. also found by mistake if I leave the winter blanket on when its warm it smokes like crazy.

 

[Lisa2000]

All pellets are not created equal.
From what I've read here Lumberjack is a preferred brand. And a smoke tube is cheap and easy addition.

Keith

I have not heard of that brand. I'll have to check it out
. Thanks Keith!

 

[Boris1]

I run a sable smoke generator a larger version of the Bella anytime I turn my pellet smoker on and I notice a big difference

 

[bill1]

I agree. Start with something like the Bella...the MB takes a lot bigger hole.
And not everyone loves the MB...you might want to do a search. There's no forced air with the MB, and they're optimized to be used with simple low-flow boxes, so you could get mixed results in a pellet machine with lots of air movement...either interfering with the draft or (the opposite extreme) creating a venturi vacuum effect.
That said, my preference with a pellet machine (which I agree does not produce enough smoke) is to yank out all the factory heat diffusers and grease slide plates and position a large cast iron pan over the crucible. (I made a stand out of 3/8 rebar.) I put some chunks in it to start, and then add pellets every hour or so. I keep it covered with a lid with a couple dozen 1/4" holes to limit the oxygen so they don't flare up.
The cast iron seems to diffuse the heat good enough for me although I have no doubt I'd fail a flaky biscuit test for temperature uniformity. But I consider knowing your hot and cool parts just part of cooking.

 

[Lisa2000]

I agree. Start with something like the Bella...the MB takes a lot bigger hole.
And not everyone loves the MB...you might want to do a search. There's no forced air with the MB, and they're optimized to be used with simple low-flow boxes, so you could get mixed results in a pellet machine with lots of air movement...either interfering with the draft or (the opposite extreme) creating a venturi vacuum effect.
That said, my preference with a pellet machine (which I agree does not produce enough smoke) is to yank out all the factory heat diffusers and grease slide plates and position a large cast iron pan over the crucible. (I made a stand out of 3/8 rebar.) I put some chunks in it to start, and then add pellets every hour or so. I keep it covered with a lid with a couple dozen 1/4" holes to limit the oxygen so they don't flare up.
The cast iron seems to diffuse the heat good enough for me although I have no doubt I'd fail a flaky biscuit test for temperature uniformity. But I consider knowing your hot and cool parts just part of cooking.

Thank you Bill. That is a good explanation as to why the MB smoker will not work with the Traeger. I knew the pellet grill could never compete with my dad's smoker. He was the real deal. Even chopped down his own hickory trees. (Lord do I miss that man) But I didn't expect so little smoke from such an expensive cooker. I got more out of my MB once I got the cold smoker box, but I did not like using that smoker at all.

I love your ingenuity. So I think I may start with buying the suggested pellets and a smoker tube first. If that doesn't work, I'll try rigging something up like you've done. I like using the Traeger, which is why I'm determined to make it work! I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me learn to use this thing to best of its ability.

Lisa

I agree. Start with something like the Bella...the MB takes a lot bigger hole.
And not everyone loves the MB...you might want to do a search. There's no forced air with the MB, and they're optimized to be used with simple low-flow boxes, so you could get mixed results in a pellet machine with lots of air movement...either interfering with the draft or (the opposite extreme) creating a venturi vacuum effect.
That said, my preference with a pellet machine (which I agree does not produce enough smoke) is to yank out all the factory heat diffusers and grease slide plates and position a large cast iron pan over the crucible. (I made a stand out of 3/8 rebar.) I put some chunks in it to start, and then add pellets every hour or so. I keep it covered with a lid with a couple dozen 1/4" holes to limit the oxygen so they don't flare up.
The cast iron seems to diffuse the heat good enough for me although I have no doubt I'd fail a flaky biscuit test for temperature uniformity. But I consider knowing your hot and cool parts just part of cooking.

 

[Buddy55]

I have a Smoke Daddy attached to my smoker. I did not purchase it separately; it came with my purchase. Well, I tried to attach photos, but I am unable to do so. It is attached to right side of the smoker, slightly below and in front of the pellet hooper. I have not been able to try it yet. mostly because I have a smoke tube and did not get the air pump to test it. But the tube worked really well smoking 3lbs of cheese.

 

[Lisa2000]

I have a Smoke Daddy attached to my smoker. I did not purchase it separately; it came with my purchase. Well, I tried to attach photos, but I am unable to do so. It is attached to right side of the smoker, slightly below and in front of the pellet hooper. I have not been able to try it yet. mostly because I have a smoke tube and did not get the air pump to test it. But the tube worked really well smoking 3lbs of cheese.

That’s good news the pellet tube worked for you. I gotta shop for a tube on Amazon. Do you use a particular brand of pellets as well?

 

[Buddy55]

That’s good news the pellet tube worked for you. I gotta shop for a tube on Amazon. Do you use a particular brand of pellets as well?

No, I am really just a REAL amateur. This is my first (or third) time cold smoking. and I am only really starting to learn about smoking and grilling, even though I have been doing that for twenty years (or more).

 

[normanaj]

Do you use a particular brand of pellets as well?

A lot of folks here really like the Lumber Jack brand,myself included.Bear Mountain is another popular brand.Problem can be is finding them locally.

 

[millerbuilds]

Agree with what many said above, I have found success with a tube and A-Maze-N smoker tray.
I would try one of those if you have not already before cutting a hole into your Trager.

- Jason