Getting mailbox going.

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BrianGSDTexoma

Legendary Pitmaster
Original poster
OTBS Member
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Aug 1, 2018
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North Texas, Texoma
Tried mailbox yesterday but gave up. Had corned beef on and temp problems. Start back today. Took chip loader out. Got going and went out. Left cover open until smoking good than closed little at a time. Have it about inch open now and going good.

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That cool, I have never tried using chips in my ANMPS, I have only used pellets. I tried using ANMPS/tube in the smoker with higher temps (400 degrees) this week; trying to figure out how to do a pizza with good smoke flavor and still keep the temps up. My pellets kept going out. I think my problem was a good air flow over the pellets. So I still need to do more testing with air flow and temp recovery with this setup. I was hoping the extra heat from the pellets might help keeping temps up. I did try a chip tray inside the smoker the first time I ran the smoker. The electric element light the chips on fire and the smoker hit 500+ very quickly, All flame and no smoldering. Lucky no damage was done and the smoker handled the temps well.

I have a mailbox the I use it for all of my other smoking both with ANPMS and 7-12" tube. I have kept the pellets lit without a problem in the mailbox. My problem is that out of 12 smokes I have had 2 flair ups were the pellets actually started back on fire. I usually watch the smoker really closely for the first 20-30 minutes to make sure the pellets stay lit and that I do not have a flair up, but I still had a flair up happen to me last week after I headed out to church. I did have a nice paint job on the mailbox, but now it is darkened and paint chipping off. I did have a 2.25" risers for the ANMPS/Tube. My next smoke I will shorten the risers to 1.25" to decrease the air flow under the AMNPS.
 
I had the same problem with the tray. I could get it burn dust, however it too wants to go out. I an using the 12 inch tube now and it works great. I also bought a usb powered fan off of Amazon 12.00 and I place it in front of the mailbox.
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I was looking at those fans today. Probably get one. With lid cracked open doing good now. I had fire from pellets in my 30. Started grease catch pan on fire. Pretty scary. One of reason I bought the 40.
 
Maybe try to add extension to your exhaust if can't keep burning. It helped mine. I can still take off and adjust damper if needed. 20181102_144216.jpg
 
I had the same problem with the tray. I could get it burn dust, however it too wants to go out. I an using the 12 inch tube now and it works great. I also bought a usb powered fan off of Amazon 12.00 and I place it in front of the mailbox. View attachment 391303 View attachment 391304
Looking at your pictures, if you drill a hole at the top of the mailbox lid, it will help with draft....
 
Brian a couple things you could try. Light the tray outside the mailbox and leave it outside tje mailbox untill its burning good. Use a torch to light it for about 30 seconds and use the torch another time or 2 over the next 5 minutes to ensure its well lit. Keep the mailbox off the ground and not on a solid surface so you can utilize the holes in the bottom for more air flow. Place the tray close to duct end of the mailbox so the air coming in gets pulled across the burning pellets. It looks like you have the tray raised off the floor of the mailbox which is a must. Ive also removed the upper part ot the chip tray components to improve air fow inside the cabinet
 
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