Electric Smoker Question

[Larry1953]

I've been interested in smoking for over 50 years. That by no means is to say I was active. But tinkered with it. I've mostly used Little Chiefs. We could go Traeger.. maybe in time. I feel that I would use the smoker part more than the grill.
Anyway, my question for all of you is this:
I'm thinking of getting both a Little Chief and a Big Chief, and building a simple cedar enclosure for them. Basically just to prevent temperature variations. Would it be possible? Do something for ventilation and air flow. But there wouldn't be any significant temperature changes from wind or weather.
Thanks

 

[old sarge]

Sounds feasible. But if it were me I would go the insulated blanket route and save the enclosure for storage/protection when not in use. You mentioned Traeger and that is quite a step up. If it is just smoking you are interested in, have you considered a well insulated electric smoker like a Smokin-it or a Cookshack? Just another couple of options to think about.

 

[Larry1953]

I have. What I wish I could find is an old circa 1950s Refrigerator. Used one out in Washington State, best Sturgeon, Salmon, Smelt, Clams & Elk we ever had. I picked oysters, but never tried smoking them.

 

[daveomak]

I've smoked in 0 F weather here in Omak... I changed out the 400 watt element for a ~1200 W element... All the controls for the counter top burner were installed in the bottom of the smoker.. It all works together for really good temp control... I also have a "welding blanket" that covers the smoker to even out the temps...
I have several smokers and this unit is my favorite... Makes the best smoked salmon... That's all I use it for... Fish....
..

 

[Larry1953]

I Like that idea, Especially the 1200 watt element. I've built a few different smokers, Some worked, Some didn't. Done both electric & propane, Electric by far trumps propane.
My worst attempt was when I made one out of 100% cedar...propane powered. After a couple hours, the whole damned thing was on fire...filled with salmon.

 

[daveomak]

I had a concrete block smoke house go up in flame... The fat from the fish along with the brown sugar caught on fire... 300#'s of Neah Bay silvers...... GONE ...... Smokehouse survived.....

 

[Larry1953]

That's a big loss. I don't feel quite as bad now.

Do they allow a Sturgeon Fisherie yet on the Colombia?

 

[daveomak]

Sturgeon... Yes... A longer fishery now.... Even a few Green sturgeon are allowed in certain areas...

 

[Larry1953]

Oh Man...I gotta get back there. I ran a paper motor route back then, I saw this one guy who had in illegal one, had he been caught they would still be pumping daylight to him...It was 11' long...Huge.

 

[daveomak]

I hope he was caught.... That's stealing from generations to come.....

 

[Larry1953]

The real butt nuggets never get caught. He was probably the biggest violator in Pacific County..and arrogant to boot.

 

[daveomak]

Fish and Game can always get a search warrant and check the freezer.... Seen that on California fish and game TV program..

 

[Larry1953]

This was back in 1995. He got popped then for something, but only had his captains license revoked for a year. Was something to do with swapping out fish to the pukers they took out.