New to the world of pellet smokers...

[Sleeperdude]

I just received a new Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet smoker for daddy's day...trying out my first cook today...my initial observation is that it maintains temps and does everything it says it does with the exception that it seems to make very little smoke..or at least what I thought it would...I'm using applewood pellets and cooking a butt at about 270 degrees...any of you seasoned pros want to tell me why so little smoke production? Do different woods produce more or less smoke? Thx

 

[mike243]

turn it down low to get the most smoke out of it, give it 2-3 hrs then crank up the temp. also you can buy a tube to put pellets in and light to add xtra smoke.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

I can't speak for all other pellet grills, but at the temp you're set at, my Rec Tec doesn't put out very much smoke. Turn the temp down to around 200-225 for a while and see what happens. If you get good smoke at those temps, smoke it for a couple of hours, and then you can turn the temp up to speed things up.

 

[Berettaclayshooter]

not a pellet guy, but at hot smoking temp pellet cookers burn too clean to get any real smoke. Most people I know with pellet grills use a tube to obtain smoke. They work very well for set it and forget it cooking so long at your power doesn't go out.

 

[Winterrider]

Don't own a pellet but from what everyone says, low temps are needed to produce smoke. May need to read a little more into your owners manual. May explain further.

 

[Winterrider]

Whoops two previous posts best me to it.

 

[mike243]

Congrats, yes the pellets make a difference, I love hickory but all flavors are good with certain items. Buy pellets that are 100% of the tree flavor you want. What brand are you using ? I like several brands but like hickory from Lumber Jack, they are on sale at rural king and a few other places for $4.99 a 20lbs bag, just bout 10 bags,limit 10 sale ends june 22

 

[texomakid]

Pellet grills burn clean and a cleaner burn is actually better (IMO). Should be more of a thin blue smoke and with the fans it actually cooks more like a wood burning convection oven. Pellets are critical to the aroma and flavor of your cook. I can't speak for your particular cooker but mine produces more "smoke" flavor @ 180 to 230 deg. The AMPS is one of the more popular ways to increase smoke & smoke flavor. I too occasionally use a 12" AMPS tube.

 

[Sleeperdude]

Thanks for the good info...so how does the tube thing work? You are pushing extra pellets directly to the firebox?

 

[normanaj]

I like several brands but like hickory from Lumber Jack, they are on sale at rural king and a few other places for $4.99 a 20lbs bag, just bout 10 bags,limit 10 sale ends june 22

Wish I had a rural king around here.That's a fantastic price for a 20lb bag of LB pellets.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Wish I had a rural king around here.That's a fantastic price for a 20lb bag of LB pellets.

If you have Dick's Sporting Goods near you, they sometimes carry Lumberjack pellets, and will normally price match.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Thanks for the good info...so how does the tube thing work? You are pushing extra pellets directly to the firebox?

You fill the tube with pellets, and light the end with a small torch. Let it burn for a few minutes, and then blow the flame out. If you have good ventilation in your grill, it should give you good smoke for several hours.

 

[mike243]

for heavier smoke lay it down, for long lasting smaller amount prop it up