I seem to recall seeing some threads where people converted commercial warmers to hot smokers without taking out the foamed in polyurethane insulation. I would like to hear you thoughts on how well this worked, and any issues you have run into related to the factory insulation being left in.
I'm at a cross roads on if I should pull mine and replace it with roxul high temp insulation or just leave it alone.
The control dial on my warmer can be set to 210 degrees and the thermometer installed in the unit goes to 250. I think the absolute highest I would want to go would be 275 and mostly will be 225 with a electric element on digital controller (Omega CN76000 from an old project, and a 2nd controller for a viewable thermal limit setting instead of trusting a traditional limiting switch). Will be using one of Todd's pellet trays for smoke source. The warmer is a hard wired, fixed mount type and not a rolling warmer (it's huge). It also has a two fan air recirculation system already installed which is one reason I wanted this unit. Heating should be very even with the top intake and full side discharge this cabinet has in place. It's 100% stainless inside and out for easy cleaning also.
I know generic polyurethane does not start to have issues until around 350 or 375 from the info I've found online. I just can't imagine a commercial warmer like this not having a huge margin of safety on the insulation before there would be issues.
So before I tear an already nice cabinet apart needlessly, or before I smoke myself into oblivion with fumes, I guess I need a plan of action (or leave it "as is").
So those of you who have left things "as is" please chime in. (other comments also welcomed)
I'm at a cross roads on if I should pull mine and replace it with roxul high temp insulation or just leave it alone.
The control dial on my warmer can be set to 210 degrees and the thermometer installed in the unit goes to 250. I think the absolute highest I would want to go would be 275 and mostly will be 225 with a electric element on digital controller (Omega CN76000 from an old project, and a 2nd controller for a viewable thermal limit setting instead of trusting a traditional limiting switch). Will be using one of Todd's pellet trays for smoke source. The warmer is a hard wired, fixed mount type and not a rolling warmer (it's huge). It also has a two fan air recirculation system already installed which is one reason I wanted this unit. Heating should be very even with the top intake and full side discharge this cabinet has in place. It's 100% stainless inside and out for easy cleaning also.
I know generic polyurethane does not start to have issues until around 350 or 375 from the info I've found online. I just can't imagine a commercial warmer like this not having a huge margin of safety on the insulation before there would be issues.
So before I tear an already nice cabinet apart needlessly, or before I smoke myself into oblivion with fumes, I guess I need a plan of action (or leave it "as is").
So those of you who have left things "as is" please chime in. (other comments also welcomed)
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