Question about smoker temps and making smoke.

[rexlan]

I have a rocky mountain vertical smoker - propane.

Temperature control is tricky to keep it in the 140 range.  When I do, it is virtually impossible to get the pan of chips to produce smoke.

I get high quality hickory chips free at the local saw mill (by the garbage can load).  The are free of bark, clean, dry and really nice.  I use a cast iron frying pan in the smoker to hold them (sometimes a coffee can) but the fire needs to be set high enough to get them to start up which brings the smoker up to 170-180 even fully vented.  I've tried leaving the door open but then I lose most of my smoke

Is there another method to make the smoke that does not require the use of the commercial chips or pellets?

Thanks

 

[alblancher]

Just curious what you are smoking at 140 degrees?

You may try placing them in a tin pie pan with a soldering iron.  Cover it all with aluminum foil and punch a couple of holes in it.  At 140 degrees you are not running the fire very often in the smoker so you need an alternate heat source.  I'm willing to bet that the smoker would be at 120 degrees with no flame, living in Florida and having the kind of weather we are having.

 

[smokinhusker]

I have an MES 40 and it won't produce smoke at low temps either, so I use my version of AMNPS or a can and soldering iron. You might try getting them started with a torch or heating a piece of charcoal and placing that in there with the chips. 

 

[driedstick]

I'm having the same problem with my fridge smoker and I even put holes in the bottom of my pan to get more air, I think if you did pellets you could get them started with a torch and put them in and go with that but I am going to have to buy a amps smoker I am sure. good luck

 

[rabbithutch]

From reading the post, it seems that rexlan is saying that he expects the chips to burn using only the heat produced by the smoker at 140*. I think it unlikely that they will ignite and burn at that temperature. Even using the AMNPS, we light the pellets and get them going good before placing them in the smoker no matter what temp we plan to use. I doubt that they would ignite spontaneously. In fact, I spritz them with rubbing alcohol and light them with a bernzomatic, let them flame a bit to be sure they are burning, then blow out the flame and place the unit in the smoker.

Combustion will require oxygen, too. Placing chips in a CI pan might work if the pan is shallow. Using a coffee can, I would think that it would need to have sufficient holes punched in it to let enough air in to support combustion.

JM2CW

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Try using a thin aluminum pan, like a pie or round cake pan.
As close to the flame as possible.


~Martin

 

[rexlan]

Thanks for the replies.  I am smoking my sausage and salami using the 130 gradually up to 170 routine.

I had not thought about a soldering iron ... might work.

I will try a pie tin instead of the cast iron skillet and see if that helps.  I have actually tried to light the chips first but they seem to go out with that low of a burner.

Right on about Florida ... hot as the dickens now!