Temp too low to ignite wood chips.

[DAW]

I was smoking salmon at temp of 200 and the wood chips did not get hot enough to create smoke. Has this happened to anyone else. Im using a MB electric smoker. Any suggestions ?

 

[Fueling Around]

Common complaint.
Some have tried the cold smoke attachment.
Most use the mailbox modification with a pellet tube or sawdust tray

 

[Big_John]

 

[forktender]

Mix 50/50 chips and dust, microwave it for a minute or two before lighting in to make sure it's dry. I microwave until I see the first hint of smoke, then add it to the chip pan or smoke bomb. You always turn up the heat and crack open the door an inch, that way the burner is running hotter without the cook chamber temps going up.

 

[Timber II]

I use a smoke tube w pellets- get them going good before putting in the smoker.

 

[chopsaw]

temp of 200 and the wood chips did not get hot enough to create smoke.

You're saying the chips don't burn up , or you don't see smoke ?

If your smoker is intact and you're using the chip loader here's a couple things to consider .

Pre heat the smoker for at least 30 minutes after it gets to temp . I think Masterbuilt says 1 hour , but I go 30 minutes at 250 . Heats everything up . Then adjust to the temp you want .

Don't overfill the chip tray . If you do they won't want to burn .

Keep the ash out of the tray . You may have to dump it during the cook .

If you're using the chip loader , load a batch of chips and dump it .
Then load it again and put it in the smoker , but don't dump . Just leave them to warm up .
When the first load stops smoking , dump the next one and refill , install , no dump .
Less is more . Again , if you over fill they won't want to burn .

At 200 if you pre heat at a higher temp , the chips should burn , but that's right at the line .
Are you having chips left in the tray ? You may not be seeing a lot of smoke , but the chips are burning .

I use a tube and a mailbox for low temp stuff , but burn actual wood chunks at higher temps .
I get good results pre heating , watching the size of the chunks , and keeping the ash tray clean . Mines gutted .