Hello everyone:
I have used my Smoke Hollow about four times since getting it for Christmas. I have been reading the posts about temp problems with these units. Yesterday was my first warm weather smoke where we had temps in high 60's in Buffalo. I did a Chuck and two fattys.
My door thermometer is way off so I dont even use that one. My digital has been calibrated and is accurate. Doing this smoke I had to constantly monitor and adjust things because even on the lowest gas setting the unit will run above 300*. I tried turning down the valve on the tank but that adjustment is such a precise turn that I could not get it to a proper setting, so turning it down would then cause my temp to fall below 200*. Having to monitor things so diligently was rather frustrating and if I had my kids here it would have been impossible.
I read the posts on modifying by putting in thermostat, pilot generator, gas control valve and such, but I am a little concerned about how complicated this may be and am a little hesitant to take on this endeavor.
At this point the fattys came out fine. I foiled the chuck at 160* and finished in the oven to 195*. Cooled it and put it in the fridge cause it was late. In a bit I am going to see how it turned out.
What can some of you tell me about how difficult the control valve mod is? Would I be better off putting in a vent down low? I also read somewhere about using ice in the water pan, what do you think of this? As the weather improves here I am going to have more trouble with temps and really need to do something. Thanks in advance for the help.
Matt
I have used my Smoke Hollow about four times since getting it for Christmas. I have been reading the posts about temp problems with these units. Yesterday was my first warm weather smoke where we had temps in high 60's in Buffalo. I did a Chuck and two fattys.
My door thermometer is way off so I dont even use that one. My digital has been calibrated and is accurate. Doing this smoke I had to constantly monitor and adjust things because even on the lowest gas setting the unit will run above 300*. I tried turning down the valve on the tank but that adjustment is such a precise turn that I could not get it to a proper setting, so turning it down would then cause my temp to fall below 200*. Having to monitor things so diligently was rather frustrating and if I had my kids here it would have been impossible.
I read the posts on modifying by putting in thermostat, pilot generator, gas control valve and such, but I am a little concerned about how complicated this may be and am a little hesitant to take on this endeavor.
At this point the fattys came out fine. I foiled the chuck at 160* and finished in the oven to 195*. Cooled it and put it in the fridge cause it was late. In a bit I am going to see how it turned out.
What can some of you tell me about how difficult the control valve mod is? Would I be better off putting in a vent down low? I also read somewhere about using ice in the water pan, what do you think of this? As the weather improves here I am going to have more trouble with temps and really need to do something. Thanks in advance for the help.
Matt