Pit boss and pellet tubes or trays

[Smkryng]

Anyone using the tray or tube in a pit boss, where is the best location for them or does it really matter?

 

[smokerjim]

tube works much better in pellet grills I lay mine on the grate, if you want to use the tray you may have to put it under the metal heat shield on the bottom

 

[Smkryng]

tube works much better in pellet grills I lay mine on the grate, if you want to use the tray you may have to put it under the metal heat shield on the bottom

I’ve got the tube. I loaded it with pellets from the hopper and had a heck of a time getting it to stay lit. I laid it right over the fire pot. At first I was thinking maybe the location was giving me to much or not enough air flow. But after thinking about it I probably should have used pellets fresh from the bag I guess. Done a batch of chicken drums and couldn’t taste any smoke at all.

 

[smokerjim]

you can try microwaving the pellets for 2-3 minutes to dry them out, yeah the hotter you go with pellet smokers the less smoke ya get,

 

[Woodguy00]

Yup, used the tube right on the grate today on my Louisiana/Pit Boss. Two pork butts and a packer brisket all at 250. Took about 9 hours and then foil pans for about two more hours. Ran the tube for then first nine hours refilling midway for double smoke ( burning middle and end of tube). Great bark and flavor tonight.

 

[bdawg]

Anyone using the tray or tube in a pit boss, where is the best location for them or does it really matter?

I use the Amaz-n Tube in mine.
I put it on the grate all the way to the far right end away from the hopper, because I don't want it near the temp probe.
I use these "Perfect Mix" pellets from Amazon. These are the best value for the dollar I've been able to find. -- $40 bucks for a 40 lb bag.

I've tried pure hickory and pure mesquite in mine, but the tube has a hard time holding the smoke with those pure pellets.

Another trick is to be sure to pack the pellets in. I fill it and knock it against a hard surface like I used to pack a cigarette before smoking it back when I smoked cigarettes. Doing that helps keep the pellets lit.
I also tried adding small amounts of charcoal to the tube to help keep it lit, and that seemed to help a little when I only had pure hardwood pellets on hand.

I have a propane torch that I use to light it. Nothing else will heat it up enough to stay lit.

 

[Smkryng]

Packing the pellets may have been the trick, can’t believe I never thought of that. Got an extra two handfuls in it. Still had to keep messing with it for about 30 minutes before I got it going good. Kinda strange because I’ve never had an issue with it in my MES.

 

[mike243]

Microwave the pellets for a couple of minutes then light and let burn 5 minutes, blow out and put anywhere except next to your probe, the smoke will circulate all over

 

[smokerjim]

ya shouldn't have to fill it all the way to get it to burn sometimes I fill mine to 1/2 sometimes just a 1/4 depending how long I what smoke and what i'm cooking. the hardest thing I run into is trying to put them out after my food is done. not sure if you have a vent cover, mine has one that I can close up or open, if so make sure it's opened up for more air flow. just trying to think of everything.