Can I improve my mailbox mod?

[bladeguy]

I decided to do a mailbox mod for my A-Maze-N Tube I bought for cold smoking. I purchased the mailbox at Walmart and the flex pipe and fitting at HD. Drilled out the holes and hooked it all up. Decided to go for a test run right away to see what happens. Loaded up the tubes lit it, and thought it might be best to warm the smoke vault to help create some draft.

Questions I have......there is a lot of smoke leaking around the first flange fitting on the box....should I tape that up, or not worry about it. I didn't drill any extra holes as the box has plenty, and had no trouble keeping the smoke rolling, but should I seal up some of the upper holes where smoke is pouring out? Maybe drill some extra holes on the bottome of the mailbox door? I'm just not sure how much smoke I have to get to the smoker. I am getting some smoke there, but it is barely visible, but maybe that is a good thing? Would take your thoughts, here are some pictures.


Pic with Big Joe sandwiched in between.

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• bladeguy
• Dec 31, 2016

Pic doesn't show it, but good amount of smoke coming out the flange on the left and the holes on the right.

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• bladeguy
• Dec 31, 2016

A side pc.

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• bladeguy
• Dec 31, 2016

 

[dirtsailor2003]

My mailbox mod for the tube has one hole drilled in the door. It is a bit bigger than the tube. The tube slides right in to it and it works great.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Here's mine.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/159801/the-mailbox-mini-mod

 

[bladeguy]

Here's mine.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/159801/the-mailbox-mini-mod

Thank you DS. Maybe what I should do is tape up the holes on the top of the box to keep the smoke from pouring out of them, as well as around the flange. I've got some very good sticky metal tape around and it wouldn't take much. I'm just not sure how much smoke I should try to make sure gets to the cabinet.

 

[wild west]

What temp was your smoke vault at. The only time I have smoke leaking out the mailbox is if the temp on my mes is too low creating a backdraft. I also have more holes in my mailbox.

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• wild west
• Dec 31, 2016

more holes in the bottom that you can't see in the picture.

 

[hillbillyrkstr]

Hole in the bottom front of the door. 1" is what I have. I use a fridge magnet to open or close the hole as needed.

 

[bladeguy]

What temp was your smoke vault at. The only time I have smoke leaking out the mailbox is if the temp on my mes is too low creating a backdraft. I also have more holes in my mailbox.

20161231_162229.jpg

• wild west
• Dec 31, 2016

more holes in the bottom that you can't see in the picture.

I just started the vault on high for maybe 5 minutes to warm up the smoker. Assuming if I'm at 90 degrees steady on a cold day, the draft would keep the smoke flowing that direction.....

 

[bladeguy]

Hole in the bottom front of the door. 1" is what I have. I use a fridge magnet to open or close the hole as needed.

Thanks hillbilly, I will cover up the top holes and put in some holes on the bottom. Clever thinking on the fridge magnet!

 

[dirtsailor2003]

When it's cold, and I am cold smoking I put the tube right in the smoker. It only raises the temp 10-15 degrees when the ambient temp is 30-40.

 

[mr t 59874]

Bladeguy,

Although your setup will work as is, you will find it much easier to work with and better airflow if your pipe was on a gentle incline to the Vault. As heat rises, a light amount of heat such as from a candle will be all that is needed to get the smoke moving. Once it is moving your concerns about smoke leaking around your mailbox will most likely disappear.

You will find that rigid pipe easier to work with also.

Tom

 

[daveomak]

I would shorten the flex pipe to about 2'....  get it up off of the snow so it is on a steady incline to your smoke chamber....   The MB and 2' of pipe should adequately cool the smoke... 

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• daveomak
• Dec 29, 2016

 

[cmayna]

Agree with Mr. T.  Use rigid alum duct, maybe 4 feet long which will cause the pipe to run slightly uphill as it goes to the smoker.    I would also raise the mailbox up off the ground by maybe a couple inches by installing some legs.  This will allow any holes you might have on the floor of the mailbox to breathe better.

 

[bladeguy]

Thanks everyone for the input.....I will at a minimum shorten the pipe up and use something to give it a steady rise to the smoker. Another question.....I mainly did this for cold smoking and getting a better smoke flavor. What I had read was that running the smoke through that tube will clean some of the creosote from the burn. It seems I get a pn ashtray taste on the meat/cheese if I just put the tube right inside the cabinet, so I was hoping this would help solve some of that. Is this mod only for smoking in warmer temps, or is it also for purposes of better smoke flavor? If only for the former, this mod wasn't a complete waste, but my main goal was better smoke flavor.

 

[daveomak]

It's not a waste at all......   A little tweaking...  coping with the extreme cold weather can be a PITA..   You'll get control of it....  

 

[mr t 59874]

I have found in my experience that the longer the run from your fire box to the product chamber the cooler and cleaner the smoke. If your setup is in the shade it will allow you to smoke at or below ambient temperatures. Try different lengths of 3 inch rigid pipe along with different fuels and proof it to yourself.

Tom

 

[bladeguy]

Thanks, I will post more results once I get a chance to shorten things up. For now, I'm going to stick with the flex pipe since it is what I have, but will figure out a length and setup that will allow me to have the flex pipe continually rise.......maybe put the smoker a little higher on some blocks. I'll definitely play around with it. After all, this is a hobby, half of the fun is figuring it out, isn't it?

 

[bladeguy]

So decided to work on my mod and take some suggestions from here.....thanks all, your experience is so helpful. I'm shortening up my run and going to make sure it inclines the whole way, so I pulled the flex pipe tight to where the box is, and cut it off at that point. Once I clamp the pipe on, as long as the tension doesn't move the box, I'm good. If it does, I can weigh down the box. Then, I am taping up all of the holes in the box over ther top of the tube, and going to drill a bigger hole on the bottom of the mailbox door. So, I'm going to get to it, pics to follow. In the mean time, I have jerky drying in my smoker, so I wan to get this mod done to use it for the jerky. I could use wood chips in my pan, but this is a good time to test my mod I think. I do have a separate thread going for the jerky.

 

[cmayna]

If ya quit sitting in front of yo computer and get out there to finish your mods, you can be providing smoke in minutes

   Seriously, sounds like you've already gone past 3rd base.  Getter done!  You'll be happy with the results.

 

[bladeguy]

Ok, here are some pics.

Holes all taped up......I love this tape, just need to find where to buy more before I run out. Have had the same roll for probably 15 years. Sticks great to metal.

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• bladeguy
• Jan 2, 2017

Hole drilled in the bottom of door.....can fit my tube through the hole as suggested by dirtsailor.

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• bladeguy
• Jan 2, 2017

Pull pipe to shorten and get tension on it......if I could just remember the exact spot where my mailbox was the first time.........

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• bladeguy
• Jan 2, 2017

Setup and ready to go....just waiting on the jerky to dry a little and warm up, then I will test her out.

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• bladeguy
• Jan 2, 2017

 

[bladeguy]

If ya quit sitting in front of yo computer and get out there to finish your mods, you can be providing smoke in minutes :yahoo:    Seriously, sounds like you've already gone past 3rd base.  Getter done!  You'll be happy with the results.

Easy there, lol.....I can walk and chew gum at the same time.....I'm making jerky as I work on this. See here, http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/256500/next-project-jerky

Plus, iPads make it easy to document while you work. Sometimes I document as much for my own sake as I do to share with the forum. Helps know what I did before, and it is a great reason to post here. I must confess, though, I'm a little anxious to get the smoke rolling, but I want to get the surface of the jerky a little drier first as I just put it on right out of the brine.....didn't pat it down with towels or anything.

I'm trying to learn to be patient.......you aren't helping me.....:devil::biggrin: