I need help

[meat-man]

Hey all I am new to this game and got a really dumb question, I am going to do my first smoke this weekend so I got my smoker out for the first time, It is eletric and I am useing sawdust. Here is my question, do I put water in the pan, or do I soak the sawdust or just throw it in. My first try I put just sawdust in the pan with no water, I ran up town , I was gone maybe 15 min when I got back the wife said it sounded like all the dust caught on fire, I open the door and thats what happend. So I soak some dust for my second try and no fire but it don't seem to be putting off the smoke like it should .

What am I doing wrong ?

It's a dumb question like I said but you guy's are the pro's, lol is there any hope for this newbie lol.

 

[fireguy]

I guess I would just start using chips or chunks....Ive never tried dust.... but maybe you could wrap some in a foil pack with a few holes.... maybe then it would last longer... but i cant imagine much longer.... but if you dont change your wood i would make some sort of holder for sure

 

[mulepackin]

Remember no dumb questions here. You'll find lots of varying opinions on this topic, and it often is variations in equipment and personal preference as much as anything. Your owners manual should give you a start on this topic too. Personally I like to dampen my sawdust and chips a bit. I feel I get a longer lasting more controlled smoke that way. I do this for my electric refer conv. as well as my ECB. I have had the same experience as you otherwise. I haven't ever "burned" blocks or logs so not sure on those. If this is your LEM, I would think it would work better dampened, but not soaked.

 

[meat-man]

Ya it's a LEM, I went over that booklet 5 times and my wife went 3 and we didn't say a word about it. But I finally got more smoke out of it.

Hey thanks alot I will try both idea's
Thanks again
Matt

 

[travcoman45]

Cover with foil, poke 3 ta 5 holes in it, prevents them flare ups. I use homemade wood chips an chunks, ain't used dust in years, but chips an dust won't last as long as chunks. I would cover any of em with foil just ta control the fire.