The first run, it was late, we didnt have time to smoke, so we cranked up the heat, added 4 sticks on hickory about the diameter of a beer can, threw on some ribeye's and some squash/zuchinni. temp maintained 400, I am used to my DCS grill, and searing steaks, so i misjudged the cook time, I pulled the steaks off when they were about medium or a little past, pulled the veggies off the same time. I love a good medium rare/rare steak, but I will say that was the most tenter juicy steak I had ever cooked, my grill really takes the moisture out of veggies, but this smoker, it seemes the veggies were full of flavor and bursting with moisture but still a tad crispy instead of soggy like my grill turns them. I consider test run 1 a huge success considering i way over cooked the steaks and they were still mad tender and juicy. The 4 sticks of hickory produced smoke within 3 minutes of putting them in the burner and remained producing ALOT of smoke for 1-1/2 hours. Next test I will build a full wood fire and go with some Butts and Ribs. After we were done cooking I added 4 more sticks of wood, the Ashe did not affect the gas rail, I could cut it off, and just turn the propane back on for instant heat if needed, it works better than I had hoped. The next test will really tell!