Should my fire pot be open or closed?

[albow]

I bought a second hand expert pellet grill/smoker. I just realized the instructions do not indicate whether the smoker should be operated with the fire pot being open or closed. I assume it should be closed but that's just my guess, figuring it only needs to be open for manual lighting or observation that it's being filled with pellets and then to be able to clean it after use. How should it be operated?

 

[SmokinEdge]

How do you “close” the fire pot exactly?

 

[mr_whipple]

Is there an ash dump that opens like my camp chef? I'm not tracking. I just looked at what I think is the manual for an expert pellet grill / smoker and am at a loss.

 

[albow]

How do you “close” the fire pot exactly?

There is a lever you push or pull that slides the pot cover. Technically it's infinitely adjustable

 

[albow]

Is there an ash dump that opens like my camp chef? I'm not tracking. I just looked at what I think is the manual for an expert pellet grill / smoker and am at a loss.

No ash dump. The fire pot has to be scooped, or better yet, vacuumed out. If it's not supposed to be operated covered, then why have a cover for that at all?

 

[Brokenhandle]

Closed for smoking

Open for direct grilling, with lid open.

Ryan

 

[mr_whipple]

And there you have it.

 

[SmokinEdge]

View attachment 706383
Closed for smoking

View attachment 706384
Open for direct grilling, with lid open.

Ryan

So not the fire pot itself but the deflector plate has a daisy wheel. Ok I get it.

 

[albow]

So not the fire pot itself but the deflector plate has a daisy wheel. Ok I get it.

Mine is made different than that but that makes sense. The deflector plate/pot lid.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Mine is made different than that but that makes sense. The deflector plate/pot lid.

I’ve never seen one in person, but looks to me that you close it to “smoke” and open it to grill.

 

[DougE]

I reckon it has a searing option like mine that has a plate over the firepot for smoking, but lets you slide it out from over the firepot for searing.

Not a very well thought out feature, since:

1) It doesn't really get hot enough to reach searing temps. 500°F is about where my Camp Chef maxes out.

2) You're limited to the small area directly over the firepot for searing even if it did get hot enough.

For smoking, leave the plate over the firepot.

 

[albow]

Thanks everyone!

 

[albow]

So not the fire pot itself but the deflector plate has a daisy wheel. Ok I get it.

I’m suddenly more clear on what you’re saying. Actually the deflector plate is only a deflector plate. The fire pot has a cover that steadily slides from fully open to fully closed depending on how far you pull the lever but it’s essentially the same thing.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I’m suddenly more clear on what you’re saying. Actually the deflector plate is only a deflector plate. The fire pot has a cover that steadily slides from fully open to fully closed depending on how far you pull the lever but it’s essentially the same thing.

A picture of what you actually have would be very helpful.

 

[DougE]

A picture of what you actually have would be very helpful.

A setup something like this, from the description.

You pull this knob and it slides the deflector plate aside, exposing the firepot for direct searing.

More of a gimmick to sell a pellet grill that can also cook over direct flame. It doesn't really work for obvious reasons.

 

[albow]

A setup something like this, from the description.

View attachment 706441

View attachment 706442

You pull this knob and it slides the deflector plate aside, exposing the firepot for direct searing.

View attachment 706443

More of a gimmick to sell a pellet grill that can also cook over direct flame. It doesn't really work for obvious reasons.

Could be. I'm thinking that closed would be for smoking and open for a traditional type grilling but it still wouldn't actually be an open flame, but yes, it's similar in appearance to your picture.

 

[DougE]

Could be. I'm thinking that closed would be for smoking and open for a traditional type grilling but it still wouldn't actually be an open flame, but yes, it's similar in appearance to your picture.

The smoke and grill feature is more of a marketing gimmick than a useful feature. The open flame is limited to directly over the firepot when you pull the baffle plate aside, then you still have the drip tray between the meat and flame in that limited area ........