Mailbox problems continued.

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I reposition mailbox to side of smoker and made tube as short as it would let me. Gonna try once more. I found my old hand meat grinder and tried to grind some pellets but no cigar. Will just microwave and try. I gonna do bacon next week so need this thing to work.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Looking at that picture better move away from fence. Used that fan to help get going but after turning off and closing up just dies again. Wish me luck. Install a fan next.

 

[Winterrider]

Are you using tube or tray for pellets?

 

[dr k]

I have a real short set up. Maybe try short with one of your elbows and add on once it stays going.

 

[Winterrider]

If using tube, maybe try this mod. Promotes better airflow around pellets.
https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/attachments/thin-blue-jpg.386875/
if using tray, may want to make dust out of your pellets and give that a try. I have better luck personally with dust.

 

[fivetricks]

Ok.

1. It looks like your outlet hole for the dryer tube is too low. Inlet air needs to be low and outlets need to be high to promote the best possible draft.

2. Your dryer hose in that configuration is too long. You would be best served by pulling the mailbox forward and rotating the elbow so that there's a path with only one bend in it to the smoker. Visualize an arc. This is what I'm talking about

3. I'd also raise your mailbox off the floor a bit. It's hard to tell if your smoker is inside or not. Mine is always inside and the draft into the garage isn't quite as good at floor level. I'd guess mine are 12" or so off the ground.

4. Make sure the natural wind of your smoking area isn't blowing across the smoker. Sounds weird I know, but I've had big problems with negative draft with the mailbox mod when the stuff was positioned wrong in relation to the wind.

5. Check out https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link.140859/ that thread on how he lights his tray. It's how I light mine and it's bulletproof. So much so that if you light it exactly that way with the mailbox drilled how you have it, you will know that you have some other problem besides the mailbox itself, the tray, and the pellets.

Hope my rant brings you some ideas and improvements. I'm here if you want/need anymore help!

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I thought about that out being to low. Guess nothing can do about it accept start over with new box.

 

[indaswamp]

So @Holly2015 you don't have legs on your tray to raise it off the floor of the mailbox?

Also your last attachment is not working Holly...

 

[fivetricks]

Not true. You could block that hole off with foil or something similar and cut a new one on the top area of the side of the box

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I have a real short set up. Maybe try short with one of your elbows and add on once it stays going.View attachment 391630

Did just use one of these?

View attachment 391661

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I do have tray elevated. That older image. When try suggestions when get home.

 

[chopsaw]

Brian , everybody has a setup that works for them . One thing they have in common is consistent unrestricted flow from mailbox to smoker .
Smooth out your upper connection . Spin the fitting back into an elbow . Cut the pipe to length and attach straight to the upper elbow .

 

[dr k]

Did just use one of these?

View attachment 391661

This link isn't working. Says error.

 

[fivetricks]

I do have tray elevated. That older image. When try suggestions when get home.

I also tried that tray elevation mod with a very similar setup to yours and it caused my tray not not burn at all for some reason. Once I took the "legs" off of the tray, it burned perfectly as it had before.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Got some good ideas now.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

First thing broke the elbow and had to be the part attached to the mailbox but worked around it. Gave up the table and just used elbows. Not crazy about mailbox sticking out but looks like it gonna work. Might have tape up some of the hole. It going to hard now.

 

[dr k]

What was the problem?

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Pretty sure this to much?

20190328_151318 by Brian Trommater, on Flickr

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Burned through half tray all ready. Should I close top vent some or tape holes? There is light at the end of the tunnel;

 

[chopsaw]

Leave the vent open , especially if you have something in there . Try taping a hole .