Little Chief Element Modification (pics included)

[daveomak]

Amazon.com: Electric Single Coil Burner, CUKOR Portable Hot Plate 1100 Watt Powered, Kitchen Cooktop with Non-Slip Rubber Feet - Perfect for Outdoor Cooking: Home & Kitchen '] Hot Plate [/url]
$20 seems a bit much... Might find it cheaper at Wal-Mart...

 

[daveomak]

Modifying a Totem/Big Chief Smoker with a Hotter Element for Colder Climates and Hot smoking.... | Smoking Meat Forums - The Best Barbecue Discussion Forum On Earth!

 

[BigTony]

I've been looking around on line and I think the days of the $10 hot plate are gone. Over the past couple years inflation has hit everything. Anyway all the under $20 hot plates I've seen have terrible reviews regarding quality and durability. I'm going to get into McMinnville, OR. Today and I'll see what BiMart has to offer. I won't go into it here but I'll never go into a Walmart again if I can at all avoid it...

 

[old sarge]

NOT exactly what you may be looking for and definitely over $10. Also from a company that has been in business for many decades. But here goes:

Electric Smoker Replacement Heating Element

This is the replacement Heating Element for the Old Smokey Electric Smoker. If your Electric Smoker isn't getting hot enough anymore it's either the Heating Element or another part called the Cord & Heat control... or both. If it doesn't get hot at all, the Heating Element part may be the...

www.oldsmokey.com

 

[BigTony]

That element won't fit my Little Chief. If someone made an upgraded element, I think they'd sell. Anyway I tested the element with an ohm meter and it read 50 ohms. That seemed pretty good so I plugged it in and it got up to 400 degrees before I was concerned about damaging my instant read thermometer. I'm wondering if the extension cord I've been using with it is bad. Anyway I didn't get a chance to look around for a hot plate but it's one of those things I can put on the back burner so to speak...

 

[daveomak]

You want an element about 1000 watts so when it comes on, it gets the wood smoldering FAST before the tiny smoker gets too warm... That way you can smoke fish at a cooler temperature... My smoker works awesome for fish... Fish like 10-12 inches it works perfect... Or slices of filet salmon....



Brown sugar / Rum glaze is pretty good....

 

[cmayna]

BigTony, Look into a Proctor Silex burner. I removed the element and wired it into my Big Chief.

 

[BigTony]

Will do. Those pix of smoked fish made hungry and considering going salmon fishing this year... It's been a drought year here in Oregon and I wasn't going to bother getting a fishing license but salmon season is just around the corner...